Alright, folks, gather ’round! Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure with building a BBQ pit – a “bbq plans brick” project, as I called it. It all started with a simple craving for that smoky, grilled goodness, and a stubborn refusal to buy one of those flimsy, overpriced metal grills.
The Spark of an Idea
I’ve always been a hands-on kinda guy. I like making things. And what better way to enjoy the summer than with a proper, homemade BBQ? So, I rolled up my sleeves and got started, with zero experience, I might add.
Digging In (Literally)
First things first, I dug a hole. Yep, a good ol’ fashioned hole in the ground. I figured a rectangular shape would be easiest, so I went with that. I made it about 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, and about a foot deep. I’m no engineer, just eyeballing it, really.
Laying the Foundation
Next up, the bricks. I got myself a bunch of regular old red bricks from the local hardware store. Nothing fancy, just the standard stuff. I started laying them around the edges of the hole, stacking them up like I was building a tiny, delicious-smelling castle. I even used some mortar mix between the bricks to hold ’em together. That part was messy, let me tell you, like playing with mud pies, but way more important.
Building it Up, Layer by Layer
- Layer one: Just the base, outlining the pit.
- Layer two: Staggering the bricks, like you see in walls, to make it stronger.
- Layer three: Keep going, keep going…
- And so on! I built it up about five layers high, which seemed like a good height for grilling.
The Grilling Grate
Now, I needed something to actually cook the food on. I found an old metal grate from a discarded oven – score! – and placed it on top of the brick structure. It fit perfectly, almost like it was meant to be.
The First Fire
This was the moment of truth. I piled some charcoal in the bottom, lit it up, and waited. The smoke started curling up, carrying that unmistakable BBQ scent. Success! I threw some burgers and hot dogs on the grate, and they cooked up beautifully.
Lessons learned, and a lot of yummy food!
It wasn’t perfect, mind you. Some bricks were a little uneven, the mortar was a bit sloppy in places, but it worked! And that’s what mattered. I built a BBQ pit with my own two hands, and it cooked some darn good food. It gave a rustic feeling, and that’s awesome!
So, there you have it. My “bbq plans brick” adventure. It was messy, it was fun, and it resulted in some seriously tasty meals. If I can do it, anyone can!
