Chulengo (sudaca's BBQ)

Desde que me mudé a mi casa actual en 1998, usé para las "grandes ocasiones" una parrilla convencional, con techo de ferrocemento en forma de campana, y parrilla que sube y baja colgando de un par de cadenas. Los días ventosos o muy fríos me veía obligado a tapar la carne con bandejas o papeles, para que se cocine más o menos pareja. Como promedio, estimaba en una hora y media el tiempo total, desde que encendía el fuego hasta que la comida estaba sobre la mesa.

Hace dos años mi hijo se compró un "chulengo", y me sorprendió la rapidez con la que hace el asado, y lo bien que le sale. Por lo tanto decidí construirme uno, y acá va la historia de cómo lo hice.

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Since I moved to my current home in 1998, I used for "special occasions" a conventional grill, ferro-roofed bell-shaped, and grill up and down hanging from a pair of chains. The very cold or windy days I was obliged to cover the meat with trays or papers, so it cooks more or less even. On average, estimated at one and half hours total time since I started the fire until the food is on the table.

Two years ago my son bought a "chulengo", and I was surprised how quickly it does the roast, and how well it goes. So I decided to build one, and here's the story of how I did.

Step 1: Materiales (materials)

Compré en 50 pesos (unos 10 U$S) un tambor vacío de aceite automotor, de 200 litros. Lo cargué en el portaequipaje del auto  sin ningún inconveniente, porque es liviano. Recuperé de él algo más de 250 cc de aceite SAE 20-40 que conservo para usarlo como lubricante ocasional.

Compré también algunos metros de hierro L de 3"/4 x 1"/8. Posteriormente también compré pintura de aluminio para alta temperatura, dos retazos de alambre tramado ornamental y 1 Kg de electrodos de 2.5 mm para soldadura. Las demás cosas las tenía en casa, ya he contado que soy de esas personas que no tiran a la basura ni la pelusa del ombligo.

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I bought for 50 pesos (about 10 U$S) an empty drum of motor oil, 200 liters. I loaded it in the trunk of the car without any problem, because it is lightweight. I recovered from it more than 250 cc of SAE 20-40 oil that I keep for use occasionally as a lubricant.

Also bought a few meters of 3"/4 x 1"/8 L iron. Later I also bought aluminum paint for high temperature, two pieces of woven ornamental wire and 1 kg of 2.5 mm electrodes for welding. The rest I had at home, I have already told I'm that these people do not throw away even navel lint.

Comments

[carlo$]

Companero, eso esta buenisimo. Yo quisiera tener sus abilidades.

[rimar2000]

Gracias, Carlos. Creo que cada uno tiene lo suyo, solo hay que hacer lo que a uno le gusta (thank you, Carlos. I think each one has its own, you just have to do what you like).

[cjavier19]

Viva el chlengo, el asado y mi país. Como extraño argentina

[rimar2000]

Gracias por tu comentario, Javier. Cuando vengas a la Argentina traé el asado, porque acá está mucho más caro. Genialidades del "modelo nacional y popular"

[blackfister]

exelente trabajo!!!! felicitaciones, muy buen explicado.
un solo detalle si puedo preguntar: el engranaje y el "tornillo" para subir y bajar la parrilla, de que son? bicicleta?
un abrazo grande! ya me dieron ganas de hacerme una!

[rimar2000]

Hola blackfister, gracias por comentar. El reductor está detallado en otro instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Screw-gear-reductor-reductor-a-sinfn/

[Michael1970]

Hello !

Perfect work ! I will build some chulengo here in germany for me and my family !!!

Greeting to you and your familie and much fun with your chulengo !!

[rimar2000]

Thanks, Michael!

Last Friday the old masonry grill was demolished. Having the chulengo, it was not necessary.

[misko13]

Es genial, lo tiene todo. Estoy segura de que la gente pagaria por tenerlo!
Mis primos y yo hacemos a menudo carne a la parrilla pero siempre tarda mucho en hacerse. Ahora solo tengo que convencerles de que se pongan a trabajar unos cuantos dias ;D

[rimar2000]

Gracias misko13 por el comentario. Realmente lleva unos cuantos días hacerlo, por lo menos a mí. Creo que sacando cuentas sale más barato comprarlo, pero si uno evalúa el gusto de ir viendo cómo va tomando forma de a poco, la cosa se balancea un poco.

[misko13]

"...el gusto de ir viendo cómo va tomando forma"  eso no tiene precio!!

[l8nite]

love the adjustable grill and the adjustable legs! can you add a couple more pics of the leg mechanics please

[rimar2000]

OK, I added two photos in step 2. I can't take off the litlle presses to take a better image because they are between the upper and the lower part of the chulengo. Further, it is raining!

[l8nite]

Thank you Rimar ! They actually help me understand a lot better, there is a lot of work in just those 2 clamps. Most people would just drill some holes and use a bolt to "adjust" the legs but yours are infinitely adjustable, great idea for what is a small detail

[iminthebathroom]

fantastic as usual, I made one similar a couple years back but outfitted it with a section for charcoal/wood and a section for propane. My new one will be constructed with a large stainless steel float drum i found. Much thicker and quite a bit larger. What really made me smile was your screw mechanism for raising the grill. "I was going to put in a blurb about using galvanized metal in your construction however you are not welding, brazing or melting the steel. So in theory should be safe. However if galvanized steel is welded, ensure you have a respirator rated for it. Zinc Fume Fever is nasty, you'll be sick for several days. Neurological long term effects are still being evaluated though and looks like it does have long term health implications." Either way, the heat your Barbecue produces is too low to cause any health effects

[rimar2000]

Thanks for your comment!

It is not galvanized, is painted with high temp aluminum paint. Anyway, your advice regarding zinc fumes is very useful.

[iminthebathroom]

Oh, no I meant the flat section you used on the rim of the door, thought i read it was galvanized strips, my mistake. I have to admit, i have welded galvanized steel many of the times in the past, just always with a strong wind. Either way no issue for your application, once again, awesome!!!

[rimar2000]

Oh yes, I forgot those strips, that are galvanized. But the heat barely warms them.

[Tuerto]

Te felicito por difundir el chulengo, ando con ganas de hacerme uno. Saludos!!

[rimar2000]

Gracias, pero creo que ya se usa por todo el mundo.

Hacelo, pero que no te pase como a mí, que creía que lo iba a hacer en dos o tres días, y fueron más de tres semanas.

[manimal_b]

Impresionante trabajo. Mis felicitaciones.

[rimar2000]

Muchas gracias!

En realidad lo comencé pensando que sería tarea de menos de 5 días, pero fueron tres semanas. Como siempre, bah...

[electronixTech]

Wow that looks great! A very ingenious design.

[rimar2000]

Thanks for your kind comment.

[vlezcano]

Me quito el sombrero ante usted. No es dl más bonito, pero si es el más funcional BBQ que he visto en Instructables. Acá en mi país nada más se ven los BBQ estilo americano, pero usted me ha dado la idea para hacer unos mucho mejores que cualquiera que se venda acá. Gracias

[rimar2000]

Gracias a ti por tu amable comentario. Acá también hay chulengos muy baratos, por menos de 100 U$S, pero yo me dije "ya que me pongo a hacerlo, trataré de hacerlo como a mí me gusta".

Thank you for your kind comment. Here too there are very cheap chulengos, less than 100 U$S, but I said "because I get to do it, will try to do as I like."

[Valvulin]

Excelente trabajo y el relato del mismo impecable, asi dan ganas de armar uno enseguida.. Además buenisimo encontrar articulos en Español, y aún mejor cuando son de la tierra del Asado..

Un abrazo y gracias x tu aporte a la comunidad de Instructables..

[rimar2000]

Gracias, Valvulín. La verdad es que me divierto mucho, no solo haciendo mis cosas sino publicándolas en Instructables. Un abrazo.

(Thanks, Valvulín. The truth is that I enjoy very much, not just doing my things, but posting them on Instructables. A hug.)

[britman]

This is how we used to make them in the military . But we would just weld 4 legs on and use metal mesh for the grill . Plus its a cheap way to get a great grill . Plus if you dont like the look of it paint it with high heat paint

[rimar2000]

Yes, I have seen some chulengos made as you say. They are very cheap (less than 100 U$S). Thanks for your comment.

[don34685]

Thank you for an excellent Instructable - your grill looks great and seems to work really well too. I especially like the ability to raise and lower the food. Hope you cleaned the barrel carefully to remove the oil residue.

Gracias por una excelente Instructable - su parrilla se ve muy bien y parece que funciona muy bien también. Me gusta especialmente la capacidad de subir y bajar la comida. Espero que limpiar el cañón con cuidado para eliminar los residuos de aceite.

[rimar2000]

Yes, I cleaned the inner of the drum with detergent before paint it. Now I added the matter to step 20.

Thanks for your comment!

[steve5006]

I would caution everyone attempting this project to be very careful as to the source of the oil drum and possibly consider trying to clean the drum prior to cutting. There was an explosion at a high school near me from a project similar to this one. I would hate to see anyone else injured in this way

[rimar2000]

WOW, I forget that step! Thanks for remember it.

Yes, I cleaned the inner of the drum with detergent before paint it. Now I wil add the matter

[INTHERMA]

Estoy apunto de comenzar este proyecto, las ideas y hechos que da son excelentes. ¡Muchas gracias!

I'm about to start this project, ideas & facts given are excellent. Thank you very much!

[rimar2000]

Gracias por tu comentario! (Thanks for your commentI!).

[pfred2]

If the oil you got out of your barrel is "detergent" oil do not use it for anything but crankcase oil. Detergent oil is hygroscopic, that means it attracts water or moisture out of the air. Crankcase oil is like that so your engine can flash any water off in the combustion chamber when it runs. You use that oil on anything else and the attracted water just lays on it. I know detergent oil looks like any other kind of oil, it even kind of works like it too. But it doesn't act like it when it sits around on stuff! You end up rusting whatever you use detergent oil on eventually.

I stopped using it myself after I saw it make water droplets on my milling machine table. Seeing is believing, I've seen it, so believe me!

[rimar2000]

WOW, I did not know that! Thanks for the advice, I will ask the person who sold me the empty drum, maybe he remember.

[pfred2]

If it was for motors it is probably detergent oil. Try it, take a piece of clean steel, put a little puddle on it and let it sit. You will see round water droplets in it after a while. How humid it is matters how fast it happens. Sometimes the oil gets light brownish and scummy. That is it collecting lots of water. Plain oil will not collect water like detergent oil does.

[tholopotami]

I like the lifting mechanism! By the way this s how we prepare charcoal for BBQ with an old bucket: