Author Topic: Pig Roaster Dilemma (Read 15962 times)

Jeff · « **on:** July 08, 2006, 06:18:14 pm »

Looks like the pig roaster I have used for every pig I have roasted over the last 10 years is not going to be available to me this year. I have to come up with a down and dirty way to build a roaster before the pig roast. I could do the dig a hole bit but that dont appeal to me. I'm sur eI'll come up with something but I'm looking for ideas and suggestions to spur the imagination. I dont have a welder, so any fabrication of that kind has to be sourced out. I'm thinking maybe some sort of stacked cement block encloser to hoild the heat, charcoal to produce the heat, and since Tammy wants to see a movie tonight, I'm going early to look around tractor supply for ideas. I do have a hit-n-miss engine we could use to turn a spit.

Maybe we'll have to have people bring parts from all thier local junk yards and build one the day before eh?

I wish WE had a junkyard. $:-\$

Tom · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2006, 06:33:53 pm »

The stacked block would work fine if the holes are filled with sand. That would help it to contain the heat and provide some stability too. A roof of roofing tin should be sufficient too. A sheet placed below the pig will save any loose meat from falling into the fire and might stop flare-ups. You have to be careful but sand hilled up on top will help to seal the holes from the corregations.

Leave a hole or two at the bottom so that new coals can be added. These holes can be plugged with a single block.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2006, 07:02:10 pm »

I've done the dig a hole method, it works well.

have the day before crew dig the hole! have the day after crew fill it back in!

pigman · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2006, 07:05:10 pm »

and have a middle crew eat the pig.

Furby · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2006, 07:46:23 pm »

I have a 225 gallon fuel tank that I was planning to make into a roaster but haven't gotten around to it yet. We can use that, or I have one (pig roaster) already made that I'm pretty sure I can barrow, just not sure about getting it up to you in time.

scsmith42 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2006, 10:18:05 pm »

Jeff, I am not going to be able to attend the pig roast this year, but I have a spit that you can borrow if someone is coming through North Carolina on their way to and from the pig roast.

The spit will work with up to a 250lb hog, is operated by an electric motor and it turns at 1 rpm. To use it, you build two fires - one to be under the pig and a separate one to create coals.

I also have a smaller pig cooker on a trailer, that can be made available. It would require you to split the pig into halves, but it is large enough for two halves. It's a pretty nice unit.

Let me know if interested. Regards, Scott

pigman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2006, 11:11:08 pm »

Furby, you have me confused again.

I know how to make a barrow out of a male pig, but I didn't know you could make a barrow out of a roaster. I learn something new every day on the Forestry Forum.

Bob

Furby · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2006, 11:19:42 pm »

Yeah, ya caght me.
Had three hours sleep in the last two days.......... sue me!

Corley5 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2006, 11:23:52 pm »

How's about renting one

Mt Pleasant must have a rental place that has them

beenthere · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2006, 11:32:13 pm »

Corley5 has a good idea.
If building one, consider that I've a brother who roasts a lot of pigs (probably an average of 2 a month each year for the last 20 years) as a side business and he doesn't turn them on a spit. He lays the whole pig spread eagle on a grill-like stainless grate, and slides it in the cooker and closes the top. A lot less fuss keeping it tied together and cooks great with the cover.
Charcoal is kept in side 'doors' that flip open to fill and tip in to provide heat. The coals are kept to the sides and not under the drippings. I'll see if I can round up some pics or drawings.

My first pigs were using the turning-spit method (old coal stoker gear box and motor) and done with concrete block and aluminum foil heat deflectors. More like open-air cooking but it worked over time (usually 10 hours), but was a lot of extra work too.

Cooked a lot of beef, pork, venison, and bear meat in the ground too. Dig a hole (4x4x4'), burn slabs for several hours to get hot coals, wrap the meat in linen, then chicken wire. Pour water on the linen to soak it, then drop it on the hot coals. Cover over with steel plate and shovel dirt over the top. Let it set in this underground pit for 8-10 hours. Remove the dirt, then the steel plate, and lift out some very well done meat. Delicious, but LOTS of work. Would feed 100-120 men with 160# of meat.

thurlow · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2006, 12:24:45 am »

Sounds like I'm missing a good time (piggie roast), but surely there's some good ole boys (or rednecks) around that part of the world that would loan a feller a cooker. Around "here", a good ole boy.......by definition.........owns, either outright, or at least a share, in a cooker that would cook any pig that ever lived.

Jeff · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2006, 12:54:11 am »

Furby and the Stump Jumpers and I may be on the trail of creating an official Forestry Forum Pig Roaster so we will never need to want again. MARCEL! FORGET ABOUT IT! We aint painting it polka dotted.

I have a 40 to one gear box here I need to find a motor for. I'll post info on the gearbox tomorrow to see if anyone can help find a source for a motor.

J_T · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2006, 01:04:13 am »

Here I go to the local bank an borrow one

If you owe them enough they will let you have it .

They got a fire box in the center and has a pair of deepfryers on it .

Stump Jumper · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2006, 08:42:44 am »

If anyone has any pics or measurements or ideas on a pig roaster please let us know.

Jeff do you still the roaster there so as to get some pics and measurements off from it.

Jeff · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2006, 09:51:55 am »

nope, its not here but I got em in my head.

I used that roaster so many hours I got it imprinted on my eyeballs.

Lenny_M · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2006, 10:05:21 am »

I`ve been thinking about making one for years now, but havn`t got roundtoit
got severall small gearmotors 1/3 hp, 40-1 and 60-1 ratio i think and a stainless shaft 1 1/8x 6-7 ft long and sprockets to get a spick rpm of somewere around 1/3 rpm
I can donate for A good cause.

The best roasters i`ve used are slow spick rpm with the coals off to the sides.set the roaster at a slight angle with a drain hole for the fat. The pig doesn`t fall apart from turning fast and no fat flair ups
Let me know if you can use them
Lenny

DanG · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2006, 10:14:21 am »

Here's the plans.

Jeff · « **Reply #17 on:** July 09, 2006, 10:16:20 am »

Lenny, what do you need to have for the gearmotor and shaft? I have a gearbox here but I think I'll have a hard time finding a motor that fits it. I'll post a phto of it shortly

Jeff · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2006, 10:21:41 am »

THis is what I have, I think a motor that actually "bolts up" may be trouble finding. To bad we dont have more members closer and more time. I bet we could build a Forestry Forum pig roaster that you walk a live hog into and it comes out the other side on plates with all the sides

DanG thats a homely eye....

Fla._Deadheader · « **Reply #19 on:** July 09, 2006, 10:27:28 am »

Shouldn't be all that hard to find a motor for that gearbox. Try an electric motor shop. I believe some standard motors will bolt up to that gearbox. Just replaces the front bell on the motor.

Might be bigger than 1/3 HP though

News:

Author Topic: Pig Roaster Dilemma (Read 15962 times)