Santa Maria Grills...

[3montes]

Thinking about getting on of these before next season. I have gotten requests to grill for some large parties. Not everyone wants everything smoked I guess. I like the design of the Santa Maria wood fired grills. And they offer a certain uniqueness that appeals to people and could attract more biz.
Showing up with a couple Webers just dosen't have the same impression.
And the prices aren't that bad. This one is under $500
Anyone with any experience with these?

[Vermin99]

I have a 20 X 30 SM grill made by Santa Maria Outfitters and I absolutely love it. It is a very well built grill. Chicken on it is some of the best I have had. A charcoal grate doesn't come with the grill and I suggest you get one or make one and another tip is to use smaller logs when using this grill. using both makes controlling your fire a lot easier.

[Slanted88]

Man Damn!...I was looking at plans yesterday to build something like that. Working on a dudes airplane who is from Chile. Interesting talking to him & he talked about this style.

[SMOKE FREAK]

Curious what the crank at the top is for

[3montes]

Curious what the crank at the top is for

It raises or lowers the cooking grate as needed for temp control.

[3montes]

I have a 20 X 30 SM grill made by Santa Maria Outfitters and I absolutely love it. It is a very well built grill. Chicken on it is some of the best I have had. A charcoal grate doesn't come with the grill and I suggest you get one or make one and another tip is to use smaller logs when using this grill. using both makes controlling your fire a lot easier.

Thanks for your input. The one pictured is from SM Outfitters. I see they distribute through Costco or Home Depot locations in California. I'm wondering if they can ship one from a Home Depot location in Ca. to my local Home Depot.
Think I will give HD a call tomorrow and run it by them

[3montes]

In looking around for Santa Marias I ran across this guys web site. He makes some interesting equipment out of barrels. Even makes a kit that will turn your Weber kettle into a Santa Maria. Kind of spendy though.

http://www.chaneysgrills.com/taleofthetape.htm

[MossyMO]

I like that rib rack design he has in the accessories area...

[3montes]

I like that rib rack design he has in the accessories area...

Yep seen that too but $70? Looks like it is well built like most his stuff though.

[Whisky Fish]

I have that very unit. Been using it for 4-5 years now. Love it. Prolly fed a few thousand people off that grill. You'll love the versatility of it. Around here that's the only way to do justice to a tri-tip or sweet breads

[3montes]

I have that very unit. Been using it for 4-5 years now. Love it. Prolly fed a few thousand people off that grill. You'll love the versatility of it. Around here that's the only way to do justice to a tri-tip or sweet breads

Nice! How much food can you get on that particular unit at one time? Is the firebox built well enough that it won't burn through after a few years? How easy is it to clean the ashes out and do they come with a fire grate for the bottom or is that a add on? Sorry about all the questions but it's nice to find someone with the very unit I'm looking at!

[Whisky Fish]

Nice! How much food can you get on that particular unit at one time? Is the firebox built well enough that it won't burn through after a few years? How easy is it to clean the ashes out and do they come with a fire grate for the bottom or is that a add on? Sorry about all the questions but it's nice to find someone with the very unit I'm looking at!

You can easily do six large tri tips, eight mediums if you need to (Tri tip is about the size of a chuck roast.) Probably ten or twelve whole unshucked ears of corn or two dozen medium oysters. Yeah its fairly heavy guage steel. I store mine outside in the weather and it's not even close to burning through. There is no fire grate so a square nose shovel makes short work of the clean up. No need for a fire grate, works just fine without it. I mostly burn split oak firewood in mine but you can also use a plie of charcoal if desired you just have to start with a clean pit. If you store it outside in the weather you'll need to drill a small hole in the side just above the bottom of the box to act as a drain.
And no problem with the questions, I wish everyone had a chance to use one of these, they are awesome. any tips you need, lemme know.

[curious aardvark]

those chaney grills just look like smaller, less well designed chargriller.

One thing about catering with a big old grill - they don't fold up for transport. after dismantling my outlaw a couple of times I just gave up taking it with me, talk about apain in the arse.

You'd probably be just as well off with a couple of half barrels with seperate stands. Look pretty good too

Just make your own ribracks.

[Whisky Fish]

those chaney grills just look like smaller, less well designed chargriller.

One thing about catering with a big old grill - they don't fold up for transport. after dismantling my outlaw a couple of times I just gave up taking it with me, talk about apain in the arse.

You'd probably be just as well off with a couple of half barrels with seperate stands. Look pretty good too

Just make your own ribracks.

I'm thinkin you might be missing something here Alex. The one 3montes pictured is a small, home version of typical Santa Maria grills. A typical grill is about 3 meters by 1.5 meters, has two wheels and is mounted to a trailer hitch, unless it's a permanant pit and is made out of brick, they are inherently portable. These are not like a Chaney grill. I googled them and they appear to be pretty cool barrel smokers. These are open grills and you don't controll the temp of your fire with air flow, you control the distance between the food and the fire(by raising and lowering the cooking grill).

[Whisky Fish]

Sorry Alex, , ,missed this post

In looking around for Santa Marias I ran across this guys web site. He makes some interesting equipment out of barrels. Even makes a kit that will turn your Weber kettle into a Santa Maria. Kind of spendy though.

http://www.chaneysgrills.com/taleofthetape.htm