Advocate I
I must say I was inspired by the thread on the Scottle. Lots of input, pro and con on the merits. I very much liked all the discussion on the DIY approach, a perspective near and dear to my heart.
One of the things I have been watching is what folks are heating them with. There seems to be a lot of folks using high output burners and blasting the seasoning off of their discs. Others seem to like the versatility of cooking over charcoal or wood fires at lower temps.
I opted to make one myself, that I could use with either propane or over a fire-pit. I also wanted mine to compliment my pre-existing kitchen. I have used a turkey fryer burner and large pot for decades in camp for numerous tasks. Having a way to boil larger amounts of water for meals, kitchen, cleaning, sanitation, etc. I also like multi-function/ multi-fuel options. Having propane, charcoal, wood options fills that requirement nicely.
As I already had the large burner stand, It made sense to incorporate it into the design. Like others before me, I found a couple plow discs at my local metal recycling yard. It helps that in Idaho, such things as used plow discs show up regularly there. I also picked up a steel truck rim. After filling in the center hole and welding a piece of steel on the outside center, I used a flapper wheel to clean off all the light rust (carbon steel) and gave the rim and bottom of the disc a coat of high heat paint. I will pick up a few horse shoes and weld them to the disc to be used as handles, then will set the rim on the burner, fire it up and season the cook surface with olive oil. Should be grilling by the weekend.
One of the things I have been watching is what folks are heating them with. There seems to be a lot of folks using high output burners and blasting the seasoning off of their discs. Others seem to like the versatility of cooking over charcoal or wood fires at lower temps.
I opted to make one myself, that I could use with either propane or over a fire-pit. I also wanted mine to compliment my pre-existing kitchen. I have used a turkey fryer burner and large pot for decades in camp for numerous tasks. Having a way to boil larger amounts of water for meals, kitchen, cleaning, sanitation, etc. I also like multi-function/ multi-fuel options. Having propane, charcoal, wood options fills that requirement nicely.
As I already had the large burner stand, It made sense to incorporate it into the design. Like others before me, I found a couple plow discs at my local metal recycling yard. It helps that in Idaho, such things as used plow discs show up regularly there. I also picked up a steel truck rim. After filling in the center hole and welding a piece of steel on the outside center, I used a flapper wheel to clean off all the light rust (carbon steel) and gave the rim and bottom of the disc a coat of high heat paint. I will pick up a few horse shoes and weld them to the disc to be used as handles, then will set the rim on the burner, fire it up and season the cook surface with olive oil. Should be grilling by the weekend.
