Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Mods, Tables and Customs => Topic started by: Troy on September 28, 2017, 10:47:09 PM
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I love cooking on vintage kettles in my videos (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyZ6nhvVB9h-4evJ7VBtIAQ), but they're so lowwwww.
By the end of the cook my back is dead from hunching over the grill.
I thought about a long leg mod to raise the height, but I'd prefer to keep these kettles original and have a temporary (and classy) way to raise the height.
Having the grill higher would also allow me to be more flexible with camera angles and lenses.
I need something that looks nicer than cinder blocks. I have to be able to hide it, or make it look nice enough to stay visible.
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Looking at your videos, all your cookers are on a concrete pad, correct?
What about pouring a "stamped" elevated pad off your existing one. Stamped is where they make designs in the concrete to give it a unique finish like either stone or whatever you'd like.
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I would either add to the existing legs or cut new legs out of 1" aluminum tubing. I think it would be pretty easy other than having to add a piece of steel rod to the triangle to reach the front leg, or moving triangle up on new legs and using bolts and nuts to hold the wheels on instead of triangle. If I wasn't 5' 9" I might have already tried this but being short it hasn't bothered me enough.
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What about building a basic platform with casters that would raise the grill 4-5” and allow you to move the grill at the same time? The platform would store away easily and you can put any grill you want on it. You can of course make the platform as nice as you want, depending on how much you are looking to spend on it.
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Well? There are many options. I would suspect you want to keep the look the same and not take things apart etc.. Simple.
If you or someone can fabricate a platform, even out of old pallets, you can create a "deck" of any size you wish and just get the grill up there. With the old pallets, less $ investment while not worrying about what happens to the wood. it can look rustic and you can have it stained/painted/treated in whatever color you wish as well. Often they are heavier oak which would also provide strength.
Hmmmm
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Get longer tongs.
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Drywall stilts. Or some maybe some cool platform boots.
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Like the others, the practical way to temporarily raise height is to use a platform. Getcha that, and a ramp and drive the grill up for the videos. Drive it back down and store the ramp when done. No, wait! Knee pads. Work on your knees, that's all you need.
Just finished another leg mod on a 26 here. Bowl height is now about perfect for me, at like 36-37 inches from ground. For me, in my situation, that's the most practical way.
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OR:
Take advantage of low grill height by leaving it alone, and shooting shorter segments/shorter intervals and focus on the direct actions you're doing when AT the grill. The rest of the camera time is in the kitchen or standing at normal stance outside with camera not also trying to capture the grill + you doing something. More editing, but that is mitigated with decent software and good scripting to economize whatever it is you're trying to convey.
Full disclosure: I can't yet watch the roasted salsa video because I can't devote 20 mins to a grilling video regardless of what I'd learn from it. My brain's not wired to think grilling info should take that long to convey.
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No, wait! Knee pads. Work on your knees, that's all you need.
This! Midget-mod all of those sweet f*ckin' grills. @zavod44 and @Craig can surely give you some tips on that.... yup, yup....
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Quit complaining and just get the longer legs for the videos. No one is going to notice or at least care and you'll be soo much more comfortable. :)
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Here's for inspiration!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170929/dc2a2e7e15680f0cf4fab98bd57dbf12.jpg)
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/350231138765458
JV
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Hey Troy,
Longer legs brings the problem of axle length and legs spreading out at the leg bottom. In other words... you would need a triangle from a 26” for longer legs on a 22”
I think the best idea would be a quick and dirty Mini Deck on wheels!
Long enough to put a 26” next to a performer .
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Dig a recessed area in the lawn to stand in, just off the patio.
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Quit complaining and just get the longer legs for the videos. No one is going to notice or at least care and you'll be soo much more comfortable. :)
I'm shooting video every 3 days or so - i don't want to be switching legs.
I think I'm going to try to build something myself. Scary.
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@Troy idea #1 measure the outside diameter of the leg sockets, get steel pipe that will snugly fit over the outside of the leg use desired leanght to achieve the high you want install pin to rest on original leg / leg extension. Idea #2 use 1 inch piping with a flaired end insert tab A into slot B
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#3 Idea don't be so damn tall hahaha
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Quit complaining and just get the longer legs for the videos. No one is going to notice or at least care and you'll be soo much more comfortable. :)
I'm shooting video every 3 days or so - i don't want to be switching legs.
I think I'm going to try to build something myself. Scary.
Leave them on then!
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Do some experimentation with bricks under the legs (or wood or whatever) - to find the most comfortable height.
Then pour a little concrete pad, just an small, raised addition adjacent to your existing concrete that you can frame up and pour. You can frame up a little ramp and make it handicapped friendly. It's a pretty easy job.
Once done, you can pull up your two or three kettles that you are using and cook it up.
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What about using pavers to build a raised platform? Study, temporary, not messy, and you can set your height. Like this fire pit.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/fc/69/b1fc6909d90b6bdc731d6a3935d76a5a.jpg)
You can get all shapes and colors to your liking.
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They might make a water heater drain pan that is large enough. Drill holes to add large-ish polyurethane wheels to the bottom of it. I've seen that setup for WSMs.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-32-in-I-D-Aluminum-Water-Heater-Drain-Pan-20868/206824027
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-5-in-Polyurethane-Caster-with-Brake-4120945EB/203672257
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Hey Troy,
Longer legs brings the problem of axle length and legs spreading out at the leg bottom. In other words... you would need a triangle from a 26” for longer legs on a 22” ...
Yes, increasing leg length only nets a smaller corresponding grill height, but you can still achieve a meaningful height increase without tripping over what you've made. The front leg can have a curve introduced so that you don't trip over it. Doesn't matter as much if the rear wheels extend beyond the bowl diameter.
I've tackled the triangle issue two different ways. Both involve retaining the original triangle regardless of grill being worked on.
So consider: If you're already in a project where you're measuring and cutting up shower curtain rods for legs, it's not much of a challenge to drill holes into them for the triangle ... furthermore, an added benefit of (probably) not getting the hole positions 110% lined up is that the triangle will finally emerge as a legit structural component, thereby helping protect legs from wobbling and maybe also, sockets from bending from the constant lever motion of moving legs.
I like to roll my kettles. I retain the rear wheels and use a hardware store 3/8" solid aluminum rod cut to size, installed at the ends of the rear legs previously beaten flat at an angle resembling originals.
I'll post a few pics in a separate thread after a while.
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@Troy , how much height are you needing? I just went out and measured one of my 22's and a 30" x 30" box by the height you'd need would be perfect... I don't think you're gonna need more than about 8" in height. Bolt a handle onto the side and it can be picked up and put "away"
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@Troy , how much height are you needing? I just went out and measured one of my 22's and a 30" x 30" box by the height you'd need would be perfect... I don't think you're gonna need more than about 8" in height. Bolt a handle onto the side and it can be picked up and put "away"
That's what I'm thinking. About 6-10".
I think I'm going to find some milk crates
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Switch from heels to flats. Simple enough! [emoji151]
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Maybe get some pavers and build a raised area on your patio using one or two layers of them in a somewhat triangular shape so you can just put whatever grill on it you want to use for filming.
Saw this on home depot and saw the potential for a platform that would line up with the wheels and leg of a grill.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img924/1057/QhgBV4.jpg)
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Troy, all you really need is a adjustable height chair/stool like Paul Prudhomme. You can slide around the studio/set with ease, snap out orders/camera angles to one of your minions, and look really professional.
SJ
PS I finally found a fairly decent answer to the problem of the Smoke temp probe problem. It's not elegant, but it's not in-elegant.
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Troy, all you really need is a adjustable height chair/stool like Paul Prudhomme. You can slide around the studio/set with ease, snap out orders/camera angles to one of your minions, and look really professional.
SJ
PS I finally found a fairly decent answer to the problem of the Smoke temp probe problem. It's not elegant, but it's not in-elegant.
LMAO
@Craig @zavod44 @LightningBoldtz
Here we go on the Paul Prudhomme thing again
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Too funny
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What I want to see is @Troy doing a lit Dom Deluise
playing Paul Prudhomme!
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What I want to see is @Troy doing a lit Dom Deluise
playing Paul Prudhomme!
It's been done :P
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A Prudhomme sauce was my go-to steak sauce back in the day!