Building a Grill for an Oyster Roast – Easy DIY Welding Project

After transplanting from the Northeast of the country to the Florida seaside, we were introduced to a southern tradition called the Oyster Roast. After going to her first Oyster Roast and loving it, my fiancee asked me if I could build a grill for roasting oysters for our backyard fire pit so that we could host our own Oyster Roast. Since I’m always down to build something of course I agreed. Although we’ve only used it to cook oysters, you could definitely use it for cooking burgers and hot dogs over your backyard fire pit.

Oyster Roasts are usually done in the winter when the oysters are best for eating. Traditionally, the oysters would be cooked until warm and the shells just start to open. Wet burlap sacks are laid over the oysters as they cook to create a steam pocket and regulate the temperature. They can be served “family style” on a large table accompanied by saltine crackers, lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, tabasco, horseradish, etc.

Materials Used:
24″ x 24″ Expanded Steel (available at most home centers)
1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″ x 1/8″ Steel Angle Iron – 12 feet
1/4″ round steel rod – 20 inches

***These measurements will fit for a 36 block fire pit but please measure yours and adjust accordingly. Some fire pit blocks are larger or smaller than others.***

In the video I show a type of miter cut that I commonly use when welding angle iron. I use this style of cut for a few reasons. The main reason is to give me that open corner joint for me to weld into. This allows for more penetration and less weld buildup to have to clean (if needed).

As I mentioned in the video, the legs are optional. It all depends on the specific fire pit, the size of the pit, the size of the fire, the type of wood used, the amount of wind, etc. I found that having the legs meant I needed to have a larger flame to the fire. A pile of hot coals wasn’t providing enough heat up to that height. Experiment and see what works best for you!

Check out my website at: https://lucidautowerks.com

Questions? Email me at: lucidautowerks@gmail.com