I hate the little "tables" that are standard equipment on your typical gasser. For me, they just don't work. Kettles? Even the side table on the SNS is nearly useless, other than a thermometer holder. I wanted some work space while tending my SNS and Weber One Touch. So I took a look on pinterest, and man, there are some crazy builds for kettles!
I have *zero* carpentry skills, building from scratch was not an option, so I began to think...
I figured I could find a table that was at least 6 feet long, cut two holes in it, and have 18" of space between them. I checked the thrift stores, Craigslist, I even went so far as to check out new "cheap" tables. After about a month of searching, I found this nearby on Craigslist:
A hundred bucks for a six foot table and 4 chairs. It's laminated length wise with about 1.5" strips, about 1.75 inches thick. I didn't seen any manufacturer for it, but the matching chairs were from Ikea, so I assume the same.
Step 1: Reinforce the legs, and create a place for a shelf:
Step two: Add casters.
Step three, cut the holes:
Note that the two holes don't line up. I wanted to preserve the lid basket on the SNS, so that cut had to be moved more towards the center in order to avoid the table leg. I also had to remove the stringer at the end of the table so the kettle could stick out. A big reason behind the 2x4 reinforcement earlier. Also note that the 1989 vintage $15.00 (at the time) jigsaw struggled mightily. Anytime it got to a joint where 2 strips were glued, it nearly stopped it. But after about an hour, that little saw powered through, and I had my holes.
Step 4, "mount" the kettles. Both Kettles would be "gravity" mounts- the Weber would just rest on it's handles. I found some corner brackets that I could just set the SNS on- the rolled lip fits right over the brackets. No drilling! Yay!
Finished table, including tool hooks, bottle openers and a hole in the middle for an umbrella:
In its place in my "kitchen"
I don't know if I am completely done yet. I am for sure going to slide in a piece of plywood for a shelf on the 2x4 structure. I had planned on running some aluminum flashing around the holes as a heat shield, but after cooking a tri tip on the SNS last night, I don't think it is necessary. The temperature at the wood next to where the fire was never registered more than 10 degrees above ambient.
Final Cost:
Table - $100.00
2X4's - $20.00
Casters- $15.00
Misc nails, screws, brackets- About $20.00
Tool hooks (12) and bottle openers - $40.00
Total Cost- $195.00
Hours spent- About 7, with part of that being the obligatory multiple trips to Lowe's/HD/Ace as the project progressed.
Worth it?
Heck yeah!
I have *zero* carpentry skills, building from scratch was not an option, so I began to think...
I figured I could find a table that was at least 6 feet long, cut two holes in it, and have 18" of space between them. I checked the thrift stores, Craigslist, I even went so far as to check out new "cheap" tables. After about a month of searching, I found this nearby on Craigslist:
A hundred bucks for a six foot table and 4 chairs. It's laminated length wise with about 1.5" strips, about 1.75 inches thick. I didn't seen any manufacturer for it, but the matching chairs were from Ikea, so I assume the same.
Step 1: Reinforce the legs, and create a place for a shelf:
Step two: Add casters.
Step three, cut the holes:
Note that the two holes don't line up. I wanted to preserve the lid basket on the SNS, so that cut had to be moved more towards the center in order to avoid the table leg. I also had to remove the stringer at the end of the table so the kettle could stick out. A big reason behind the 2x4 reinforcement earlier. Also note that the 1989 vintage $15.00 (at the time) jigsaw struggled mightily. Anytime it got to a joint where 2 strips were glued, it nearly stopped it. But after about an hour, that little saw powered through, and I had my holes.
Step 4, "mount" the kettles. Both Kettles would be "gravity" mounts- the Weber would just rest on it's handles. I found some corner brackets that I could just set the SNS on- the rolled lip fits right over the brackets. No drilling! Yay!
Finished table, including tool hooks, bottle openers and a hole in the middle for an umbrella:
In its place in my "kitchen"
I don't know if I am completely done yet. I am for sure going to slide in a piece of plywood for a shelf on the 2x4 structure. I had planned on running some aluminum flashing around the holes as a heat shield, but after cooking a tri tip on the SNS last night, I don't think it is necessary. The temperature at the wood next to where the fire was never registered more than 10 degrees above ambient.
Final Cost:
Table - $100.00
2X4's - $20.00
Casters- $15.00
Misc nails, screws, brackets- About $20.00
Tool hooks (12) and bottle openers - $40.00
Total Cost- $195.00
Hours spent- About 7, with part of that being the obligatory multiple trips to Lowe's/HD/Ace as the project progressed.
Worth it?
Heck yeah!
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