Altoids Sours BBQ Grill

I decided to try my hand at making an Altoids tin grill after reading about the eBq.  This one is powered by a standard-sized charcoal briquette and is capable of cooking a full-size hot dog (cut down to size) or smaller hamburger patties with ease.  It gets mighty hot after it's fired up so use plenty of caution and keep a large glass of water handy.

If you decide to make one of your own please post a picture in the comments!  I'd love to see what you guys are coming up with.  The propane version is coming soon! :D

Step 1 Materials

Materials
1 Altoids sours tin
4x 1.5" sheet metal screws with wide heads (or 4x washers to match)
8x nuts to thread on screws
70mm metal computer fan guard (similar style to the one shown)
92mm metal computer fan guard (similar style to the one shown)

* I scavenged my fan guards from an old computer power supply.  They just happened to be the correct size

** I think these are the same fan guards that I'm using: 70mm and 92mm

Tools
Dremel tool with cutting wheel
Drill with bit slightly bigger than screws
Tin snips
Pliers/Needle nose pliers
Screwdriver
Safety goggles and gloves

Comments

[ch1pm0nk]

Love the idea here. I just finished making my own, albeit a tad bit bigger. I made it out of a 1 cp measuring cup, some fan grills, and screws. Great job on the grill. I call mine the "No-Frills-Hill-Grill"

[vmspionage]

I love it! Looks like you did a great job putting this together. Did you make the upper grill yourself?

[ch1pm0nk]

No the top grill part was cut out of another type of fan grill. Its a 120mm aluminum generic type, just a bit different from your typical circular fan grill.

[donnyk]

I was really impressed by your altoids BBQ grill. I wanted to do the same but couldn't find any altoid sours anywhere. I had some metal food containers laying around and decided to use those. Here's what I came up with.

It's a bit bigger. Holds 4 charcoal briquettes.

I also made a lid and used a drawer handle on top.

I grilled up some salmon today. It was ok. I think it needs to be hotter to get that delicious seared flesh thing going.

Thanks.

[kittigirl123]

yours looks awesome! what tin did u use?

[donnyk]

I really don't know. It was part of a $99, 90-piece kitchen set from Fingerhut.

[vmspionage]

Wow, that one turned out great! Thanks for sharing your project with us =)

[-l WORK l-]

Nice grill but I was wondering what was the bottom fan part of the grill is for?

[mason0190]

Maybe if you used shorter screws this could be collapsible!

[Chumlee]

i live in england an no way near me sells altoids sours, any ideas of other tins?

Joe

[auggie003]

I am soooo gonna make this before next weekend, so I can show it off at the camping trip with the other Boy Scouts in my troop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LegoGuy23]

That's exactly what I'm gonna' do!

[r3cycl3dartrat]

Hi. I apologize for the lack of knowledge which led me to ask this question in the first place (thanks for the great gift idea btw!) but where does one find a fan guard in a computer (which computer part?) and do they need to be those particular sizes? thank you for any help!

[vmspionage]

If you are trying to salvage them from an old computer that's about to go to the dump, you can usually find them on the back of the case and inside on the power supply. The thing is they are not always the same style and size, and what you find may not work for something like this. This website sells what looks to be the same ones I used, but I didn't purchase them so I can't say for sure. Mine came off a dead computer power supply and just happened to be the right size. 70mm http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9406/ffg-21/70mm_Fan_Grill.html?tl=g47c221s996 92mm http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2615/ffg-05/92mm_Fan_Grill.html?tl=g47c221s542 If all else fails, improvise! =)

[vmspionage]

Whoops, looks like instructables removed my formatting.  Here are the links to the fan gills

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9406/ffg-21/70mm_Fan_Grill.html?tl=g47c221s996

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2615/ffg-05/92mm_Fan_Grill.html?tl=g47c221s542

[bbutler4]

any disscount codes?

[bbutler4]

K. Thanks

[bbutler4]

I have a candy tin and everything else but the Computer Fan Guards. I don't have an old computer. Any stores sell them seperate

[profpat]

great for camping!! i like it!

[gwestlun]

Good news, Valentines day and Easter is putting out metal containers of M&M's
you can use instead of the Altoids tin. Made one today and it turned out great!

[hossweightlifter]

nice pics

[gwestlun]

Thanks for the compliment, I used a canvas paper as a backround. worked great!

[auggie003]

How did you attach the handle to the top?

I have one of those tins, and I made one, but with shorter feet.

I just need to know...

[gwestlun]

I used a brass nail, it even had a slight twist to it's body so It looks special. I used JB weld underneath. holds great! good luck and pls post your pics, thanks!

[fogman103]

Can you buy the containers online anywhere? If so please send me a link.

[gwestlun]

I haven't looked on line, just had some from Christmas, Easter, and Valentines day from Walgreens, target.

[chamilton4]

I have a few of these kicking around- I just may have to make one or two of these.

[cberry240]

Looks good. Nice work.

[NE patsrock]

it really looks like a grill

[scottymac495]

if anyone has a pellet gun, you can use larger sized metal pellet containers, thats what i plan to use. should work just the same

[l0rd0ct0d0rk]

You should probably wash them thoroughly, though, they may contain traces of a chemical (lead) that has been proven to cause birth defects in the state of California.

[fogman103]

Lead is also poisonious right?

[auggie003]

If you get too much of it in your system it can lead to problems

[rivalarrival]

Chances are fairly good that he doesn't live in California, so he shouldn't have to worry about that. >_>

[cberry240]

Just did another photoshoot with one that I built. You saw the summer shot with the 321. Here's a starry night camping...

[vmspionage]

Great shot!

[joeand]

What are the dimensions of the discontinued Altoid Sour tin container that you are using? :)

[The nerdling]

everyony your little grills are awesome
here is my fondue recipy for candles and things...
you need
1 big spoon
the grill
chees blocks
carrot celery, etc

steps
light the fire
put your spoon on top of the grill
put chese in spoon
waite untill the chese is melted
dip carrot or things in chese
enjoy.

this recipy is good over a camp fire because the chees has a smokey taste. i did this all night once
yummmmmmm sooooooogooooood

[biggsxlived]

hmmm well i have an altoids square tin hahah im sure that will work but :) i have to say this is definitely one of my favorites on here .

[pak327]

I love this BBQ Grill!!!!!!!!