How to assemble a practical electric grill with your own hands

Many of us are accustomed to cooking meat using skewers. But for cooking large pieces of lamb, pork or chicken, it is recommended to use a spit. It is a long rod with a handle and clamps for fillets or small animal carcasses.

For this we need a barbecue, round steel and necessary tools. Experts recommend using profile rods to eliminate the risk of the carcass slipping. you can do it yourself without much effort.

A manual structure can be built in a few minutes. And if you have certain experience and skills, you can implement a device with an electric drive. Let's look at several options for making the device.

DIY hand spit

For the simplest design we won't need complex drawings. Determine the length taking into account the width of the grill and add about 15 cm. The materials used must be hard and heat-resistant. The best option is stainless steel, which can last a long period of time.

Manufacturing instructions:

• We weld plates with slots and holes along the edges of the grill, as shown in the diagram above.
• We prepare a rod with a thickness of 10-12 mm.
• We weld two rods to the base to secure the meat.
• We fix the handle.

This model will be noisy and will not last long. If you can find rotation units with bearings, then use the drawing below.

In this case, you need to initially decide on the height of the spit so that the meat is well fried and does not burn.

Automatic spit with electric drive

If you want to completely relax in nature, then it is better to make an electric version of the device. A regular motor from a car windshield wiper is suitable for this.

To manufacture the gearbox, we perform the following steps:

• We attach the sprocket from the bicycle to the motor shaft.
• We weld a small gear on top and fix the structure to the body of our engine.
• On the other side of the base we also attach the gear through the bearing.
• We attach the motor to one of the legs of the barbecue and pull the bicycle part between the small and large sprocket.

If such a task is difficult for you, then buy it already finished device with a motor in a specialized store. The assembly process takes a few minutes. You can watch one example in the video clip:

Modern manufacturers offer various models, so you can choose one based on your barbecue or oven.

Hiking option

If a spit is only in your plans, but you need to cook meat, then you can use the means at hand.

To cook a rabbit carcass, you can use an ordinary thick branch that does not bend, so trees coniferous won't fit. We clear a suitable branch of bark and sharpen the end on one side for easy stringing of meat.

Place the carcass along the spine. It will take about 3 hours to prepare.

If you like your kebabs cooked on skewers, try using a homemade skewer as an alternative. The whole process will take you a little time.

You can make your outdoor recreation comfortable by using a barbecue with electric skewers. It is purchased at finished form or do it yourself. To do this, you need to install an electric drive in the brazier, which performs mechanical work instead of the cook. All that remains is to remove the meat from the fire in time so that it does not burn.

Required Tools

If you have a ready-made grill, you will need:

• Electric motor.
• Drill.
• Bulgarian.
• Pulley.
• Belt. The use of a bicycle chain is permitted.
• Gears (about 8 pieces. Depends on the number of skewers).

A 12 V car drive or a working toy drive is suitable as an electric motor. Gears can be purchased ready-made or made independently from of stainless steel.

Preparing the grill

If there is no ready-made barbecue, then you can make it yourself:

• Each plate is clamped in a vice in turn. Small holes (about 10 mm) are drilled with a drill. They should be at the bottom of the wall. The step is made at least 3 cm. This will ensure the supply of air to the fire. Holes in the bottom are made in smaller increments.
• A structure is welded from prepared plates with holes.
• A corner is welded along the perimeter (at the seams).
• A corner is used as legs. It is welded to the bottom of the structure.

Ancient ancestors preferred to spend time near the fire, cooking the meat they caught on it. Tens of thousands of years later, preferences have not changed. The only thing that has changed is that you no longer need to get meat, and the process has become much more pleasant and comfortable.

Tip: Cuts are made in the upper part of the product. They are necessary for laying the spits. To determine the distance between the skewers, you need to measure the diameter of the prepared gears and take a length 0.5 cm larger.

Installation of an electric drive on a grill

In order to make a system for electric rotation of skewers with your own hands, you just need to know the basics of physics from the school curriculum, as well as know the structure of a bicycle chain.

Steps to create an electric drive:

• Engine installation.
• Construction of a chain of gears.
• Chain tension.

The engine design uses a device powered by 12 V. With its help, the simplest electric grill is made.

After selecting the drive, a gearbox is made that transmits the frequency of the rotating torque to other devices. First, the pulley is attached to the motor shaft. And on the other side a gear of larger diameter is attached.

Tip: The chain between the gears is tensioned after all the parts are installed.

The structure is mounted on a plate. On the latter, a shaft with a bearing is pre-installed.

The finished engine is installed on side wall structures outside. To do this, metal hooks are welded. The device is suspended from them.

The difficulty of the work lies in the fact that:

• The structure is not easy to install.
• Repair becomes difficult.
• Quite expensive.
• There is difficulty in finding the right part.

Video: do-it-yourself grill with electric skewers

It’s good if you have the necessary electric drive for the barbecue. But if it is not there, then finding it will take a lot of time. If we talk about repairs, this will cause a lot of trouble for the owner who is poorly versed in technology. It will be difficult to repair the damage.

Instructions for making a chain of gears

After attaching the 1st six, the rest are mounted:

• The 2nd gear is attached to the drive housing on the motor shaft through a bearing.
• A 3rd gear of larger diameter is attached to the grill itself.
• The 4th is soldered to the 3rd.
• The 5th is attached to the 4th, etc. The number of gears depends on the number of skewers.

Gears are attached to a metal plate, one next to the other. The first gear drives the second, the second drives the third, etc.

Due to the fact that a gear works on each skewer, rotation is ensured. One gear transmits movement to another. Due to this, the skewers rotate at the same speed.

When all the gears are installed, the chains are tensioned:

• Between the pulley with the 1st gear installed and the 2nd gear on the drive.
• Horizontally through the gears, on the drive housing and the 3rd gear.

Tip: The last gear controls the speed. The device can be configured so that the spit rotates once every 30 seconds. It is advisable not to overdo it. If rotation is carried out less than once every half a minute, the meat will burn.

After installing the gears, you need to hide them with a metal strip. This will ensure safe work devices.

Preparing the skewer

Before you make a spit yourself, you need to decide on its parameters. Do not confuse a spit with a skewer. The latter is intended for cooking small pieces of meat, fish or small chicken carcasses. But the spit is used for roasting pork carcasses, because the skewer can no longer withstand such weight.

First of all, you need to consider the length. It should be larger than the width of the grill. The thickness must be at least 16 mm. This will allow the pork carcass to age.

The thickness of the skewer varies from 7 to 10 mm. It depends on the size of the pieces of meat. For small pieces, a rod with a diameter of 7 mm is suitable, and for large pieces (for frying chicken) - 10 mm.

Spit for . The racks of the structure can be attached to the grill, and the spit itself can be connected to an electric drive

Then you need to make a handle for the spit. The easiest way is to bend the end of the rod or give it a shape so that it is convenient to hold it.

The following skewer shapes are used:

• Rounded.
• Square
• Flat.

For small pieces of meat, a flat pan is suitable. And the square one is ideal for preparing minced meat dishes, as it will not allow the meat to slip off. But the round one is the least practical, because the meat can scroll and slide off the spit.

Tip: Using a spit with teeth will help you hold the meat firmly, preventing it from spinning. The teeth are made of metal rods in the shape of an arc. They are then welded or screwed to the skewer.

Skewers drive

If you don’t want to do it yourself or have difficulties in assembling, you can purchase a ready-made skewers drive. This mechanism runs on batteries. He slowly rotates the skewers. The drive is an attachment that is placed on any surface for frying: barbecue grill or bricks.

The device from the store is quite compact, so you can take it outdoors without any problems.

The advantage of the finished mechanism is the ability to regulate the frequency and speed of rotation.

Do you need an electric drive for skewers?

Many barbecue experts claim that electric rotation of meat on the grill is not necessary. After all, frying should occur in bursts. Therefore, the kebab ripens better if you turn it from one side to the other from time to time. But in reality it's a matter of everyone's taste.

This often happens when the meat is browned on the outside but remains raw on the inside. To prevent this from happening, you can use an automatic grill. A ready-made drive for skewers, like a do-it-yourself electric drive for a barbecue, will allow you to:

• Fry the meat more evenly. Due to this, the juice does not flow out of the kebab. The dish will turn out very soft and juicy.
• Fat from the meat will not drip onto the coals. Due to this, the kebab will not burn.
• The cook will get rid of the monotonous mechanical work of rotating skewers.

This electric drive eliminates the need for constant control over the kebabs. The skewers rotate automatically at a certain frequency. All that remains for the cook is to prepare, marinate the meat and remove it from the skewer in time.

Automatic spit for barbecues with an engine is designed for autonomous use in hiking conditions, in the forest, on the lake shore, the engine can be powered by a conventional 12-volt battery, and in the absence of one, you can use a special handle and rotate the spit, with a lamb carcass attached to it, using the appropriate hand power, and in stationary conditions at home, in the country, using a regular 220 volt outlet as a power source for the electric motor for the spit. This engine can operate either from a battery or from a 220 volt network via an adapter. The design of this spit is quite compact, the volume is approximately equal to the volume of two shoe boxes, and the weight is 6.5 kg. The volume is 0.02 cubic meters. Motor power 50 watts. The spit itself is 160 centimeters long, consists of two parts, the diameter of the spit is 22mm. The spit can be adjusted both in terms of installation height, using two hooks on the stands, and by extending these stands from the persistent tripod. The delivery set also includes two clamping forks and clamps, between which the product required for cooking is clamped. If a whole carcass of, say, a lamb is being cooked on a spit, then the hind legs can be secured to a special lever with two clamps, coaxially installed on the spit along with clamping forks, which helps to better secure the carcass on the spit. The delivery set also includes a special bracket for attaching the carcass spine to the skewer. When installing a carcass on a spit, a bracket is pierced from the outside in the middle of the spine between the ribs and the bracket is secured inside the carcass with two fastening wings, through a plate with two holes. After which the lamb's spine is pulled motionless to the spit, it does not unbend, and the carcass becomes elongated along the spit. The more the carcass resembles a cylinder, the more uniform the roasting.

All of the above parts are made of high-quality stainless steel, when assembled they are quite compact, will not take up much space in your car and will help you have a good rest in nature in the forest and in the country.

After a little modernization, this spit can be installed permanently in stone or metal barbecues, large barbecue complexes with a barbecue.

Type 1:

This spit is designed to be built into various kinds barbecues and ovens, adjustable rotation speed and reverse, spit length 68 cm. Food grade stainless steel - profile 1x1 cm. Recommended load no more than 3 kg.

Price: 9000 rub. (68 cm.)

Type 2:

Electrically driven spits on our grills will help you fry lamb, suckling pig, or just big piece meat.

And this wonderful spit is equipped with a very powerful drive capable of providing long, continuous rotation, for different speeds. Can work both from a car battery and from a 220V network. Conveniently folds and fits in the trunk of a car. Made in Greece.

A new, improved spit has gone on sale, with more powerful engine. The old one had a power of 30 watts, the new one 50 watts. You can install a carcass of lamb, pig, etc. All parts are made of stainless steel, the adjustment functions for the height of the spit have been improved, the mounting forks have been improved, and devices have been added for attaching the hind legs of a lamb and a pig.

New spit - new opportunities

stainless steel spit with more powerful motor

Motor size: 185x140x105mm
Spit length: 1600 mm

Price: 13,000 rubles

Type 3:

After a little modification, our spits can be installed either in metal barbecues for roasting lamb or pig, or built into stationary stone barbecue kitchens. Electric skewers for installation in barbecues, as well as electric skewers for barbecues, are designed for the weight of your lamb up to 20 kg of balanced product.

Type 4:

Ready to work on any heat source, with the possibility of using any source of electricity, constant or alternating current. This is a fairly mobile spit. The mobility of the spit is ensured by two fireproof wheels and three wooden handles preventing your hands from being burned. A mobile electric spit will help you enjoy both a wonderful outdoor recreation and work in production while serving your customers in a restaurant.
This spit is designed for a weight of up to 20 kg of balanced product

Skewers are an essential attribute for preparing kebabs. But they can be successfully replaced by one skewer. At the same time, you don’t have to buy it; anyone can make it with their own hands.

In contact with

A skewer is a long pin/rod that ends with a handle on one side and a sharp point on the other. Equipped with clamps to hold meat on it.

Initially used for cooking whole animal carcasses over fire: pig, lamb, bull or their large parts. But you can also see quails on a spit, legs and a row of bacon, strung one after another.

On a note! The thickness of the skewer is selected depending on the weight of the meat you will cook.

Experts advise choosing the diameter of the skewer 10 mm for small pieces of meat. If you plan to regularly fry uncut carcasses, you need to count on 12-16 mm thickness.

Round or square in cross section?

1. The meat can slide off the round axis of the spit, and there is a risk of undercooking. But it is easier to turn the spit and secure the meat product on it.
2. Square rods will ensure that the carcass is firmly secured, but you will need to work hard to thread the piece onto the rod and rotate it during the cooking process.
3. The flat shape of the base is good for medium and small pieces when the thickness of the skewer is no more than 10 mm. The meat is securely attached to such rods and does not fall down.

Types of skewers for barbecue

In addition to the spit driven by hands, there is also one that is equipped with an electric drive. You won’t have to stand near it to monitor the uniformity of frying. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Comparison table between two skewers:

Manual option

Drawing No. 1.

The design of the device is quite simple, and complex drawings are not necessary. The length of the spit depends on the parameters of the grill, an allowance of 15 cm above work surface the box will be enough.

Light alloys that are unstable to temperature changes and also bend quickly are not suitable. The best characteristics Stainless steel is suitable for long-term use.

You need to weld twigs to the skewer rod - clamps that hold the meat.

It is necessary to take care of the spit handle, and remember, the longer the lever, the easier it is to turn the spit.

Note! For safety reasons when cooking, the handle is long 100 mm and more will be very appropriate.

You can find a handle by looking, for example, at your site or sheds: a bicycle handlebar handle, a door handle, or an old refrigerator handle will do. If there is nothing suitable, you can weld a piece of pipe or simply bend the end of the skewer for easy holding. Many people use wooden block, attached to the handle so as not to accidentally get burned, and someone strings a part from a rubber hose.

To install the device above the grill, you need two support plates. One with holes for firmly securing the end of the skewer, the second with oval grooves along the edge for ease of installation and turning of an impressive skewer.

Grooves and recesses are located at different levels to regulate the height of the fried product. Examples in the diagrams:

Drawing No. 2.

Drawing No. 3.

Electric version

The electric motor helps the spit rotate. For it you need to make a body from two welded plates and provide a hole for the rod.

The gearbox that sets the frequency of turns of the meat can be made in several stages:

Drawing No. 4.

For your information! Craftsmen use a motor from car wipers (but admit that its power is not enough), fan speed controllers, and purchased gearboxes (12V, 24V, 50V).

If the hassle of making a drive yourself doesn’t inspire you, a trip to the store will save you from it. Ready-made battery-powered attachments can be purchased in specialized departments. The finished drive can reduce or increase the rotation frequency and its speed.

Field option

If a spit is only in the plans, it is possible to fry, for example, a rabbit without a metal rod. A branch will do, thick and unbending. The branches of coniferous trees are not suitable, they are flexible. It is necessary to clear the branch of bark, leaving it in the place of the future handle so that the hand does not slide along the trunk. The pointed end of the stick will place the meat faster.

Advice. The branch should pass as close to the animal's spine as possible. Cooking time for large carcasses can reach 3 hours.

Conclusion

Spit as an alternative to skewers interesting option for those who are bored with regular kebab. You can do it yourself. The main thing is to focus on the choice of metal, shape and reliable drive - for automatic rotation.

Cooking for outdoors very popular today. And almost everyone summer cottages grills or barbecues are located. Making shish kebab is already considered a classic technique. But the use of a spit is a less common option. Thanks to this component, you can fry massive pieces of meat, and in some situations, even carcasses. It’s not difficult to create a barbecue spit with your own hands. It's not that complicated a process.

Rod selection question

Before independently creating a skewer and all the devices for it, it is necessary to prepare the working material and resolve the issue of its length and shape.

As a rule, they involve flat designs, as well as versions in the shape of a circle or square. Important aspect here lies in the preparation of what dishes the grill is created for. It is extremely difficult to fry boneless meat or minced products on a round structure: it will constantly fall out of there.

For frying shish kebab and small pieces, it is better to use the flat version.

For convenient cooking of the carcass, a square design is used. The meat does not fall off and is fried efficiently and evenly.

The basis of the skewer is the bayonet. It is created from metal. It is very important not to make a mistake with the material for it.

For example, light alloys or scrap metal elements are completely unsuitable for this purpose. The best option– stainless steel.

Another do-it-yourself spit will require the following arsenal:

• Pen.
• Roulette.
• Bulgarian.
• Pliers.
• Welding equipment.

The process of creating a spit

Before the main work, calculate the length and diameter of the future structure. If you plan to frequently fry small pieces of meat, a rod with a diameter of 7 mm will do.

When the carcass of a small-sized animal is fried, you will need a product with a diameter of 9 - 11 m.

To cook massive pieces of meat, you need an option with a diameter of 1.2 - 1.6 cm.

Question about the length of the spit: It is identical to the length of the grill itself.

If there is no grill, a special pedestal is built. It is located above the flame. A skewer with a carcass is placed on it. For these tasks, the rods should not differ in length. This will ensure an even distribution of the load.

Four rods are welded crosswise in two pieces. Grooves are formed. Thanks to them, the spit will be reliably and conveniently concentrated above the flame.

It’s good if you have a drawing of the intended skewer, for example this:

Question about the pen

Its presence - hallmark skewers from a standard skewer. It helps turn the meat over to ensure even cooking. To create it, pens are suitable various material, available nearby. Often a regular bicycle or door handle is used. Some craftsmen use a piece of pipe. It sets a form that is comfortable for use.

The handle is attached (by welding) to the base. If you haven't found one for the pen suitable materials, then it can be done like this: bend the end of the rod. There should be a lever. This will allow the cook to rotate the rod freely various shapes. The speed of cooking action will increase. And you don't need to apply extra effort.

Question about the size of the working rod. The cook's hands should be kept at a safe distance from the fire. For this reason, the section of the rod that ends up behind the limiters must be at least 1 m in length.

The final stage of work is the operation of adding teeth to the skewer. Their the main task– reliable retention of meat. On spits created using industrial methods, such teeth are equipped with a clamp. They are also removable. It is very easy to string a carcass on them.

For a homemade version, you need to create a couple of teeth - metal rods are used. The teeth are bent in an arc and welded to the base structure. They must be securely fixed on the side of the blunt end at a distance of one third of the length.

After these operations homemade spit considered ready. And from this moment on, your site will boast a grill of its own production, and there are also useful devices for him.

Travel version of the skewer

When you go out into nature and you have no way to use the necessary rod, you can create a disposable spit. Tree branches are suitable for this task. Just do not use branches from spruce and other coniferous trees. They are quite flexible.

The rod substitute should not bend under the weight of meat. Suitable trees in this regard: alder, walnut and maple

Before use, the bark is removed from almost the entire branch, leaving only its ends. This way the cook’s hands will not slip during rotation. The required shape of the product can be set using regular ax.

A branch with large knots is used to secure the carcass. They are approximately one third away from the end of the branch. It will be more convenient to place the meat on such a “natural” skewer if you sharpen one end of it well.

This version of the spit was used in ancient times. Having created it, you will plunge a little into those distant eras.