How to Make a BBQ Burner

For a DIY griddle project I'm working on I need a propane burner that will heat up the cooking surface, I thought the build of the burner would make a good Instructable. Buying a burner was out of the question as the size and power I require is not available off the shelf. If you need to replace or repair a BBQ burner this might help you as well.

But a warningfirst, playing with propane is dangerous, so if you decide to try this you do so at your own risk and peril. At minimum wear safety glasses, gloves and non-flammable clothing. Also do this in a very well ventilated area, outside or in an open garage, you don't want carbon monoxide poisoning.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

This is what I used but other materials could be used as well depending on the application:

• 1" x 1/16" stainless steel tubing (could substitute this with regular steel but stainless will last longer)
• 3/4" to 1 1/2" black iron reducer fitting
• 1/8" brass NPT pipe nipple
• 1/8" brass NPT end cap
• 1/8" ball valve rated for gas
• 3/4" steel bar stock
• Low pressure BBQ regulator and hose (depending on how many burners you hook up you will need to increase the capacity of the regulator)
• Flare fitting to go from the propane hose to 1/8" NPT thread
• Propane Tank
• PTFE tape or pipe dope

Tools:

• Drill and Drill bits
• Small Drill bits (1mm or 1.2mm) - you can get a set off amazon if you can't find them locally
• Tap and Die set (8-32 tap and 1/8" NPT tap)
• Welder with cast iron welding rods or MIG Welder with stainless steel wire (this makes things easier but it is possible to braze the parts together as well with a propane torch)
• Bandsaw or hacksaw
• Center punch
• Angle grinder with cutting disc

Step 2: Theory and Design

So lets talk about theory, at least in my layman's terms:

This burner design works off the venturi effect, as gas is being forced out through a small orifice mounted at the end of the burner, it pulls air along and mixes inside the burner tube. The mixed propane and air then is forced out of the burner holes or slots and when ignited it burns.

Propane needs to mix with air to burn at a specific ratio, but with trial and error I was able to get the burner to burn with a nice blue flame. If you get a flame with yellow or orange, it means that there is un-burnt fuel and not enough air has mixed with the propane to get proper combustion. The size of the orifice hole is very critical to the size of the tube, if the tube is too small and the orifice hole too large you get incomplete mixing and incomplete combustion.

For this design I tested many different orfice holes, from:

• 1/32" - too small - very small blue flame
• 1/16" - too big - lots of yellow but a very powerful flame
• 0.8 mm - too small
• 1.0 mm - just right - no yellow flame
• 1.2 mm - just right with a bit of yellow but a very strong flame

I landed on a 1.2 mm orifice hole.

Step 3: Video of the Construction of Burner

Check out the video for how I build the burner, the written steps follow:

Step 4: Orifice Assembly

The orifice assembly is made from

• 1/8" brass NPT pipe nipple (length is dependent on the application)
• 1/8" brass NPT end cap
• 1/8" ball valve rated for gas
• 3/4" steel stock

The center of the 1/8" brass NPT end cap was center punched and then drilled out using a 1.2mm drill bit, cutting oil was used too. This hole is the orifice and propane will flow out from this hole at high velocity.

Also pro-tip, if the drill bits are too small for the chuck of your drill use some metal tape and wrap it around the drill bit so it will make the shaft large enough to be grabbed by the chuck.

Center punch the 3/4" steel stock and drill a hole that corresponds to the 1/8" NPT tap. Using lots of cutting oil cut threads into the hole. This hole will thread the 1/8" brass NPT pipe nipple. Once the pipe nipple has been threaded through the hole, cap off the opening of the tube with the cap that has the orifice hole drilled in from a previous step.

Thread the ball valve onto the other end of the nipple. Be sure to ensure a leak free seal between all the fittings by using PTFE tape or pipe dope to seal the threads.

Step 5: Building the Burner Tube

The body of the burner is made from a piece of stainless steel tubing, stainless is really hard to work with as it work hardens. I first was going to drill burner holes in it but it would take far too long and far too much work so I decided I would cut small thin slots in the tube spaced 1cm apart for the burner "holes". I used my portable bandsaw and made short work of this but a hack saw could be used too.

The end of the stainless steel tube was heated and then bent closed in a vice. This allows the burner tube to be crimped and "capped" off, making a flat spot where a hole can be drilled and used for mounting the burner. The end of the tube was welded shut after crimping (this could be brazed as well).

Next the tube was welded on to the 3/4" to 1 1/2" black iron reducer fitting, the reducer fitting makes for a great burner intake for air and mount for the orifice. Two 3/4" steel tabs were welded on to the sides of the reducer that were tapped with a hole (3-32 bolts is what I used) to accept a bolt for mounting the orifice assembly. Again if you don't have access to a welder this could be brazed and the holes could be tapped directly into the end of the reducer fitting. I chose to weld on some tabs as it made it easier to work with.

A note about welding the black iron reducer fitting: these fittings are typically cast iron which do not weld very well or easy. Since I am just tack welding, it's not really an issue, also the cast iron should be preheated before welding. I am using a MIG welder with stainless steel wire, which I have heard that can be used to welding cast iron. So far I have had no issues with cracking. A nickle welding rod can be used too.

Line up the orifice of the orifice assembly so it's in the middle of the 1 1/2" opening of the reducer fitting, you want the propane to shoot straight down the burner tube so it can mix with air, clamp in place and mark the holes with a marker. Holes were drilled into the orifice assembly that match the steel tabs with the tapped holes so the orifice assembly could be bolted to the reducer fitting.

Step 6: Hooking It Up and Testing

To hook up the burner to the propane I used a fitting that went from the flare fitting on the propane hose and regulator to 1/8" NPT threads, in my case the ball valve. This will depend on the fitting you used so just use what I have done as a guideline, check your local area for a propane supplier or fitting shop and they will be able to get the proper fittings for you.

The propane regulator I used was low pressure one for a BBQ, it needs to be large enough to handle the capacity of the number of burners, in this case I sized this regulator to 80,000 BTUs, more than enough. It's better to have excess capacity than not enough. Remember the flow rate of the regulator is different than the pressure it can provide. Low pressure propane regulators (less than 1 psi) are very common and are plain gray or silver in color, a high pressure regulator is red in color. An adjustable high pressure regulator could be used as well but it depends on how forceful you want the flame to be.

Clamp the burner securely into vise or table before testing.

Turn on the propane on the tank and open the ball valve 1/4 of a turn ,you should hear gas flowing, using a BBQ lighter ignite the gas flowing from the slits cut in the burner tube. The whole burner should light, if it doesn't turn up the flow of gas. There should be a nice blue flame if everything is working properly. Trying adjusting the flow of gas and see if the flame is burning correctly, it should be blue when turned up low or high. If it isn't try changing the size of the orifice or the position of the orifice assembly.

With this design one could make a large burner provided you find a tube that is large enough to allow for proper mixing of the propane and air. Also remember a stainless steel burner tube will outlast regular mild steel but mild steel can be used as well especially if you are doing a proof of concept.

Good luck and be-careful!

Update: Also if you are interest, here is another Instructable on my other account for the project I used these burners in (Outdoor Griddle): https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-an-O...

Comments

[bvargo]

Don't use PTFE pipe dope with natural gas & propane.

[AndrewW1977]

It's rated for natural gas and propane. A gas fitter told me to use it.

[bvargo]

Well, I was using a ca. 20 yo can of Oatey Great White w/PTFE that said it could be used for natural gas. An HVAC guy who installs furnaces, etc., told me no on PTFE dope. Interestingly, Oatey no longer recommends that for natural gas...
Per Oatey:
Q. What pipe joint compounds are recommended for use in an approved piping system filled with Liquefied Petroleum?
A. The following Oatey pipe joint compound products are approved for use in this application: Oatey Great Blue, Hercules Block, Hercules Megaloc, Hercules Grrip and Hercules Real Tuff.
Q. For natural gas?
A. To the above list add Hercules Pipe Joint Compound and Hercules Pro Dope.
(https://oateyassetscdn.azureedge.net/assets/Document/raw_FAQs_Category2.pdf )

Anyway, it's dicey at best what is permitted in what location but clearly the Great White w/PTFE on NG fittings has fallen out of favor with the manufacturer.

[seasoulman]

Dear friend. Any burner with natural gas ?

[sydex4224]

Bigger orifice for natural gas.

[JeffS327]

Nice one! Is there a reason gas orifices are made of brass? I have to replace one of mine that is no longer made and I can’t find anything like it. I’ve found bolts of other metals that I could drill a hole in to make it work but not brass with the right length and thread. If I could use stainless steel I could make it easily.

[SimonAppleyard]

Hi, do you think copper pipe would be suitable for the burner tubes? Here in the UK most plumbing fittings are copper so it's much easier to get hold of. Thanks

[bigdaddy1099]

Before using non-ferrous piping, consider the health consequences of metal carbonyls.
I have concerns with using stainless because of the nickel content. Nickel carbonyl is produced from carbon monoxide in contacted with nickel and is extremely toxic........... causes irreversible brain damage. All of the metal carbonyls pass the blood-brain barrier............ thus, my recommendation is to avoid base metals all together. If anyone out there know different, please chime in

[Johnny_B_Goode]

It has been my experience that copper pipe will warp and become brittle with extreme heat, the copper fittings may be OK, but Brass or cast steel would work better if you can't get stainless.

[jaylove1469]

why did you use 1/8 brass pipes. And where did you get your brass fittings from. I am having trouble finding what I need.

[Manuel Barroso]

I live in Portugal (Lisbon).
I would like to know where can I get a BBQ system like what appears on this page.
Can you give me any contact?
Thank you very much.
Manuel Barroso

[PaulN180]

How hard is it to design a camp stove burner assembly, and are there regulations covering that task?

[JamesN205]

Did not see on the video or pictures the step of setting up multiple of these to the one tank. Can I assume that the supply will be sufficient for 4-5 of these with a good flame.

Are you answering questions? Just don't see answers below.

[Beagles]

A 1.2 MM bit is equal to a 3/64 inch bit, one smaller than a 1/16 inch bit in a normal fractional set.
That Amazon metric set you referred to gets a very poor rating, BTW.

[Beagles]

Love your videos. If it were spring time, I'd be out there building that griddle right now.
Brazing might be a better choice for those joints on the burner. If you have not tried MIG brazing...you'll love it. And PAL has it!
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/wire-mig-si...

Your videos shout Canadian with that PAL shear, Jobmate, and that MasterCraft vise. The let down came with the use of those useless Phillips headed screws......real Canadians use Robertson screw heads. Tapping threads for those bolts rather than just drilling a through hole adds to the professional theme of your builds.

I have the same shear and it has started to "fold over" rather than shear. Are your blades ground to 90* or something else? What is the clearance between your blades?

On to look at your other vids..........

[sst4270]

Finally! Will be building this shortly... How deep did you cut the slots in the tubing?

[AndrewW1977]

Honestly I just guessed about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way.

[RobertL205]

nice build.

my BBQ is obsolete so now that the burners are at end of lift, I was thinking I needed to purchase a whole new BBQ - but now I can try my hand at making new burners instead! Nice.

+1 new burners are galvanized unless you buy more expensive stainless, in both cases they use really thin material.

A decade ago my father needed a new muffler for his ATV, funds were short at the time but I worked on commercial construction site. I was able to get some large and small conduits - drilled holes in the small ones and welded them into the big one with end caps - this galvanized muffler is still in operation a decade later

[armando817]

Great project! Thank you for posting. What would have to change if I wanted to use a natural gas connection rather than propane? Could it be done? Thank you.

[itsmescotty]

My experience!!

Unless you HAVE TO HAVE SS I'd just use black pipe and thread the ends and a pipe cap instead of flattening and welding. Pipe nipples and by the foot threaded pipe, - any decent hardware store.

If thicker is better, schedule 80 pipe - last forever

Not necessary to preheat that size of cast iron - thick castings, yes. In a pinch you can use 70 series wire on cast, especially small stuff like this.

Drilling SS, slow speed lube and more pressure than steel.