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Altoids Sours BBQ Grill

by vmspionage on May 15, 2010 Table of Contents Altoids Sours BBQ Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Altoids Sours BBQ Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Remove bottom of tin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Upper grill notches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Legs and lower grill (briquette rack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 7: All done! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 4 4 6 7 7 8 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Intro: 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

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Step 2: Remove bottom of tin

Using the small 70mm fan guard as a template, drill 4 holes in the tin slightly inside the screw holes. They don't need to be perfect, but they should be close. After you have the holes use a Dremel tool and cutting wheel to remove the center of the tin, leaving 2-3mm of metal around the holes you just drilled. Remove enough metal so that the "tabs" with the 4 holes can easily bend outwards without altering the shape of the tin or breaking off. When the metal is removed bend these tabs out slightly (~15 degrees) Be careful of the sharp edges when you are cutting and bending, and always wear appropriate safety gear!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Step 3: Upper grill notches

Using the snips and the large fan grill as a template, cut 4 small slots in the rim of the tin. These should be thin so that they will grip the upper grill but not so much that the grill can't be removed. Needle nose pliers come in handy for removing the metal after you snip the edges. When you are done test fit the large grill and make sure it snaps in and out nicely.

Step 4: Legs and lower grill (briquette rack)

The small grill will hold the briquette. It needs to sit about a quarter inch or so below the bottom of the grill due to the thickness of typical charcoal briquettes. First you need to connect the legs. Put all 4 screws through the holes and secure them with a nut, but only thread one completely through. Do not tighten this nut either just yet, it should be loose. Next put the grill on the leg and loosely thread another nut on it about halfway down. For the remaining legs you'll need to screw the nuts in about halfway, align them with the holes in the grill, and then push them all the way through securing them with a second nut on the end. You will probably need to bend your tabs a little more at this point to get the alignment just right. At the end of this step tighten the top nut on all of the screws to secure the legs to the tin.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Step 5: Alignment
The second nut on each leg serves to align the bottom rack. Tighten each one until the lower grill is level and about a quarter inch from the bottom of the tin. All 4 legs should be pointing out about the same amount from the center, and your grill should stand without wobbling when you flip it over.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Step 6: Lid
Using the tin snips and needle nose pliers cut 4 notches in the lid so that it can fit over the tin when the upper grill is installed. In practice you can also use the lid as a tray to keep the ashes off of the table.

Step 7: All done!

Your grill is now complete! To use simply remove the top rack, set a briquette on the lower rack, reinstall the top rack and light the briquette from the bottom. In no time it should be fired up and ready to go! Don't forget to post pictures of your grill in the comments! =)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Related Instructables

eBq BBQ grill (video) by ebqbbqmaster

Altoids Portable BBQ !! by =SMART=

Mini Altoid Gas Grill by HMInnovations

eBq BBQ grill in Action (video) by ebqbbqmaster

Make your own eBq BBQ Grill out of an Altoids box by ebqbbqmaster

DIY bbq in action by ebqbbqmaster

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 140 comments

ch1pm0nk says:

Sep 3, 2010. 1:04 PM REPLY 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"

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

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

Sep 6, 2010. 10:02 AM REPLY

ch1pm0nk says:

Sep 6, 2010. 11:27 PM REPLY 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 says:

Sep 20, 2010. 5:38 PM REPLY 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 says:
yours looks awesome! what tin did u use?

Nov 21, 2010. 10:54 PM REPLY

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

Nov 21, 2010. 11:06 PM REPLY

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

Nov 22, 2010. 8:36 AM REPLY

firefly68 says:

Mar 18, 2011. 3:33 AM REPLY I think this is my favorite of all the Instructables I've read so far. Way to go!! It's a shame about the Altoids but the m&m's tin is a very sweet alternative. Someone was rather nastily ragged on for saying the grill might not be food safe. This is no small point! Many metals might be OK for the food to sit on, but once they're heated it could be a different matter. I think I would cut down a regular BBQ grill.

teche says:
it would be awesome if you made it run on Altoids

Mar 17, 2011. 12:18 AM REPLY

ERNESTRIPIO says:
COME ON !!! ...MARSHMALLOWS OF COURSE!!

Mar 5, 2011. 8:15 PM REPLY

cberry240 says:

Dec 9, 2010. 2:30 PM REPLY I liked the idea and like others couldn't find an Altoid Sour tin. So I put my on little twist to it and created a little Weber grill with vents and all a couple months ago but just got round to shooting it with it with a buddy. Bought the little 5" and 3.5" cast iron skillets of Amazon. The 5" fits perfect and they work great.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Ben_the_Sci_Kid says:
can you please give a link where you got your materials? thanks in advance!

Feb 22, 2011. 10:10 AM REPLY

akoutdoors says:

Dec 29, 2010. 1:44 AM REPLY i will say that looks really freaking cool. if your about 3 feet tall then this is the thing for you. :O I just got and idea you should make a whole bunch of these and have mini-me market them..... gotta love the A.D.D.

vmspionage says:
Wow, that looks amazing! Great job on that!

Dec 9, 2010. 3:16 PM REPLY

gwestlun says:
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!

Feb 15, 2011. 7:29 PM REPLY

oldgrandpa says:

Sep 14, 2010. 7:39 PM REPLY Altoids Sours has been discontinued, per Wikipedia. after a search of local stores (40+), nobody carries them any longer. BUMMER. The Altoids company still has not responded ( a week +) to any inquiries about the sours.

oldgrandpa says:
Yep, Altoids HAS been discontinued, per the company. Finally got their email.

Sep 19, 2010. 9:28 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

Muzzy Slink says:

So that's why I haven't been able to find any of those awesome apple sours! That's irritating.

Oct 3, 2010. 11:07 AM REPLY

phoenyxashe says:

Dec 16, 2010. 12:18 PM REPLY Try the Wonka Exceptionals Fruit Marvels tins... they look like they'd do just as well. I have one sitting in front of me now, but since it's been holding polymer clay, I don't think it would do well for this project. Not this particular one. May have to pick up a new one on payday...

ryhmenocerous says:
I think these tins would work too: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/favortins1.html or something from here:

http://www.papermart.com/Product%20Pages/Product.aspx?GroupName=INDEX_TINS&GOCMP=Papermart%5FCampaign+%231+%96+Main&GOMTC=Phrase&GO 76UCFY5d7AodCUonog or here: http://www.containerandpackaging.com/itemlist.asp?itemtype=Metal_Tins&gad=round_tins&gclid=CJ_kpYu_76UCFQrt7QodeUOTmw

scottymac495 says:
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

Oct 3, 2010. 8:10 PM REPLY

l0rd0ct0d0rk says:

Dec 3, 2010. 1:03 PM REPLY 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.

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

Dec 6, 2010. 4:59 AM REPLY

Ryutso says:

Dec 3, 2010. 9:11 PM REPLY What's also perfect for this is to get one of those Crystal Light juice mix container like this: http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/08710069000_20100722080121454?hei=600&wid=600&op_sharpen=1&qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0 and drop a couple of briquets in there before pouring lighter fluid over them and letting them soak. Nov 22, 2010. 6:46 AM REPLY Totally love the idea of a mini grill. Gonna make one outta a Strepsils mega can...the extra size can smoke stuff! Especially Donnyk's salmon :) did i mention i love salmon?

LordJustice says:

wiggle234 says:
sweet but i dont think i have all of the materials

Nov 20, 2010. 7:56 PM REPLY

iamjello7 says:
great photography.

Nov 19, 2010. 6:00 PM REPLY

dude123321 says:
i am gonna make on of these!

Oct 6, 2010. 10:48 AM REPLY

misobrilliant says:

Sep 18, 2010. 12:19 PM REPLY Where can one buy the Altoid Sours to get the tin? I have checked everywhere in NYC, and can't find them. I have done a websearch and found that Altoids has recently discontinued the Sours, which makes it extremely difficult to buy. Does anyone have two extra tins that they can spare? If so, email me at: misobrilliant@gmail.com Sep 12, 2010. 8:07 PM REPLY

yurfriend says:
Hey you wee featured on coolest gadgets http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20100912/altoids-sours-bbq-grill/ congrats

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

yurfriend says:
also got listed here http://www.astranet.org/forums/showthread.php?t=291139

Sep 12, 2010. 8:11 PM REPLY

JasonQ says:
Cool! Wonder if you could bend the screw eyes on the grill over so it wouldn't be as prone to slide off the sours tin?

Sep 12, 2010. 11:41 AM REPLY

thepelton says:
Cute! You could grill a single (Agaricus campestris) mushroom on it. that's the common commercial mushroom.

Aug 30, 2010. 10:24 AM REPLY

Broom says:
I'm pretty sure they're Agaricus bisporus... but essentially that's no different from A. campestris.

Sep 10, 2010. 7:01 PM REPLY

pjgardens says:
I looks wonderful but if the grill has nickel plating it's not food safe.

Aug 30, 2010. 2:23 PM REPLY

ardrhi says:

Sep 6, 2010. 8:32 AM REPLY Nonsense. While I don't necessarily demand sources from everyone I meet, when someone is dribbling FUD, I would like to hear where they got it. Not all nickel plating is automatically unsafe for food. Older methods of electroplating, using nickel sulfides, are considered suspect by the FDA because the sulfur content makes them vulnerable to leaching. More modern methods of "electroless" plating of nickel use phosphorus instead, and the nickel coating is virtually nonporous, and, if applied properly, is food safe. In fact, according to Paramount Metal Finishing Company, "The food processing industry relies on electroless nickel coatings for many reasons. Originally, its use was promoted to permit low cost metals to be used as a replacement for stainless steel and this continues to be a very cost effective alternative. " Hard Chrome plating, which this probably is since it's a cheap metal grill, is likely safe enough too, since it's not nickel, it's chromium. Hard chrome doesn't leach either, and is used in all sorts of decorative and food-safe environments. Decorative cake servers are usually chrome plated. Just don't put it in the dishwasher, the harsh cleansers will degrade the finish. I will say that there is a caveat to that. Sometimes hard chrome plating is put over a layer of electroplated nickel to provide a smooth surface to bond to. I doubt this is such a case since it is bonding to smooth wire, but I mention it for the sake of completeness. Nearly all of the concerns in the government papers on nickel contamination, carcinogen action, and asthma come from long-term sensitivity and high degrees of contamination from inhaled dusts, work environments, or heavy content in ground water. Not from a plated cooking surface.

Broom says:

Sep 10, 2010. 6:55 PM REPLY Thanks for this. There's always some Debbie Downer, warning us not to do "X" because of some vague, undocumented threat... ... which is usually incredibly unlikely.

pjgardens says:

Sep 6, 2010. 12:59 PM REPLY Maybe I shouldn't have stated my concerns so directly but I don't think food safety is nonsense. There have been many, many instances of people reading DIY instructions online and getting seriously injured or becoming seriously ill. It does happen. I think it's a great tutorial but maybe you could have included this information with your instructions., I've actually done some more reading on the subject and I have to agree not all nickel plating is harmful. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to ask the manufacturer of the fan grills?

Broom says:

Sep 10, 2010. 6:59 PM REPLY ardrhi didn't say "food safety is nonsense." He said your claims that "nickel plating it's not food safe" were nonsense. And went on to make his point. Now you've claimed there are "many, many instances of people reading DIY instructions online and getting seriously injured or becoming seriously ill." Can you back that up, or are you just making more worry-wart claims? Can you show that DIY instructions are more dangerous than, say, eating at a salad bar (deaths by salmonella infections have resulted), or, god forbid, crossing the street (pedestrian deaths from cars turning right are the most common).

vmspionage says:
Thank you so much for the clarification!

Sep 6, 2010. 9:59 AM REPLY

ardrhi says:

Sep 6, 2010. 8:52 AM REPLY Do you mean "nut" where you keep saying "bolt"? You say "put 4 bolts through the holes and secure them with a bolt". I think you mean "put 4 bolts through the holes and secure them with a NUT". Then thread on another NUT. It's hard to thread a bolt onto a bolt, after all.

vmspionage says:
Thanks, I just fixed that.

Sep 6, 2010. 9:58 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/

iJohnwickham says:
(removed by author or community request)

Aug 31, 2010. 6:39 PM

milrtime83 says:
Looks like it is holding the legs in place.

Sep 3, 2010. 5:09 PM REPLY

danica says:
hold the briquette

Sep 3, 2010. 10:01 AM REPLY

zeppomarks says:
Also, I absolutely love this and plan to make it!

Sep 3, 2010. 11:30 AM REPLY

zeppomarks says:

Sep 3, 2010. 11:29 AM REPLY Some of the folks on here do have a point about the fans possibly having chemicals on them that you wouldn't want in your food - however if you are nervous about that I found this possible solution: http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-LMS3-Logic-Miniature-Skillet/dp/B000LXA9YI Sep 3, 2010. 7:59 AM REPLY Has anyone actually used one of these to cook food? Very neat instructable and cute results, but I'm note sure that it would be all that useful (especially compared to an alcohol stove or such). Having to pack in charcoal, lighter fluid, wait for the coals to ash over, etc... doesn't sound all that convenient, even if it worked.

saehn says:

milrtime83 says:
Minor correction to the materials list: Those are machine screws, not sheet metal screws.

Sep 3, 2010. 7:48 AM REPLY

shiftyeyedbunny says:
its the perfect marshmallow bbq!!!

Aug 31, 2010. 3:49 AM REPLY

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Altoids-Sours-BBQ-Grill/