Stainless Steel Front Table Mod on the Lone Star Grillz Offset Smoker

[@samuelwinful4007]

amazing! 🎉 Thank you. much fun to watch.

[@steveh3734]

4:57 - I think your deck has some built in grease drains already, so wouldnt worry about the drips and you added a new one at 15:18....

[@GrumpusOnFire]

You are so right SteveH! I had so hoped to have that old deck replaced before my new pit arrived. Oh well… maybe this spring. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for watching.

[@steveh3734]

@@GrumpusOnFire lol all good, smoker is more important than the deck anyway, you have one beast of a smoker, new stainless work table looks great, I'm planning to get an LSG as well soon...

[@enyceofnyc]

Wow that was a clean job!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thank you, Smiley! I appreciate you checking out my channel. I checked out your rib roast short, posted last week… looked mighty tasty!

[@tonyputman3398]

Very good idea, implementation and tutorial all in one, Grumpus. This is a must have for my 30" offset vertical LSG. I will make a carbon copy... "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Stay healthy and keep on cooking!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Hey Billy… I made this video to show just how easy a project like this can be, even for someone with average abilities and without special tools. I am flattered to know someone thought my little project is worth copying! Again… thanks for watching. 👍

[@progers5019]

That is a great mod. My offset is not a LSG, but I've been thinking sliding some SS over and extending so It would be easier to lay the ribs right there to sauce and such. I have done it but you need to be careful as to not dump them off when your shelf is not very wide. You really layed it up in there with nice results. You could pull a couple chairs up to that thing and eat your lunch while cooking.

[@tomcrump6675]

Like you, I've been thinking about doing this to my (Yoder) offset, too. I appreciate Grumpus' vid, showing us how it's done.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Hey Phil! This is a game changer for me. I have come so close to knocking stuff off that old 10” shelf. This one is 18”! Now I don’t have to worry about my roasting pans, cookie sheets and cutting boards tipping off. It wasn’t cheap… but neither are briskets on the ground! If you do something similar to your TOP, I don’t think you would be sorry. As always… thanks for watching my stuff…

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thank you, Tom. I think you will get used to the extra work area real fast. Thanks for watching.

[@SDSBBQs]

LOL... nothing like a 2 day job to take a week. As promised I'll do better commenting. I haven't seen this one before and it was pretty awesome!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Yo Dash! Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comment. Also, thanks for letting me try to play with the big boys last night…

[@SDSBBQs]

@@GrumpusOnFire But of course. Thanks for being willing to join us.

[@HeavyMetalBarBQue]

Nice Job! Who doesn't Love Stainless! 👍

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, Ken! Cheers 🍻!

[@bradtanner7056]

Good job grumpus

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thank you, Brad.

[@MarkyBigSmoke]

Hey Grumpus - great mod! thanks for the tip on the caulk gun nozzle too! See you again soon!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Hey Marky!!! So good to here from you. You getting that kitchen about done yet? Hope you share pictures! I am using the heck out of this upgrade. I don’t know how I managed without it. It was well overdue. As always… thanks for watching. 🍻

[@MarkyBigSmoke]

Sure am making progress Grumpus! Will be sharing some photos soon!

[@augustwest404]

Great video Grumpus. Obviously not your first rodeo working with silcone as an adhesive.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, August. This smoker is so nice to cook on. I’m a lucky guy.

[@alzawalich9829]

You got some skills from trimming brisket to calling amazing

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thank you, Al. I appreciate you stopping by to check out the channel. I'm glad you liked the video, and hope you stick around for more!

[@GreenhornBBQbeer]

Nice stainless steel mod !

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, Todd. This is the most useful mod I’ve ever done.

[@pedrolinares9462]

Very nice looking equipment you got there Mr Grumpus.👍 I ordered the 24x40 pipe smoker. I still have time to change a thing here and there before they start working on it. Do you think that there is major difference between the 36in and the 40in? If, you were to get a pipe smoker which one would you get between the 36in and the 40in? I still have doubts. Also, I did not get the weight(balancer), does that make a big difference? I'm trying to stay within my budget.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Pedro… I don’t know what your budget is, so that’s a tough call. There is only a $200 difference between the 36” and the 40”. I would lean towards the 40” … BUT… It comes down to what you are planning to cook. Not just now, but… also think about your cooking a few years down the road too! I bought the 40” with the single door because I “think” I might cook whole small animals someday. These LSG pits are going to last a L-O-N-G time! I didn’t want to limit myself in the years to come. However… $200 is $200! You could add an ash pan (highly recommended, not only for the intended ash catch, but to protect the bottom of the fire box) and their new fire box basket, and still have a few bucks leftover! The wife and I are not getting any younger, so I added the counter weight to the door for easier opening. Again, looking down the road… since the counter weight is already installed, I can add more weight if that need arises. So, to wrap this up, my opinion is… buy the welded and unchangeable things up front… you can always add loose pieces later.

[@pedrolinares9462]

@@GrumpusOnFire Thanks for the advice Grumpus, I greatly appreciated. I just learned about their new fire box basket too. I will give Chris a call next week. Good cooking Grumpus, keep those videos coming!!

[@robertjaramillo2269]

Does the deeper table top ever get in the way?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Not at all, Robert. My cooking grates all slide out so I can reach the back as well as I could before the Stainless was installed. I can also fold the table down to get it completely out of the way if I need to. I have not folded the table down since I installed it. Best upgrade so far…

[@riosecco4142]

Great Job, Buddy!!! Looks good.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

This was a much-needed upgrade. Thanks Rio!

[@trentwatts8670]

Hey bud do you happen to know which model number those temp gauges are by chance?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Hello Trent. The gauges on my pit are the “Tel-Tru BQ300 Barbecue Thermometer, 3 inch” (amzn.to/2UTh2RW (my affiliate link)). These come with a 2-1/2” or 4” stem. On my smoker, the top center horizontal gauge is a 2-1/2” stem and all the rest are 4”. These are top of the line gauges on all Lone Star Grillz smokers. I couldn’t be happier with them. I appreciate you stopping by and thanks for watching.

[@trentwatts8670]

@@GrumpusOnFire thank you for the reply much appreciated! And there is nothing like a tel tru I love how it’s a standard at LSG.I just ordered my first serious offset and went with a Shirley Fab. only because I wanted another reverse flow I’m ready to get it home and get to cooking!

[@milehighed52801]

Great job, Grumpus! That's a huge shelf, almost a table. Heck, you could eat right there on it!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, milehighed. I think this will end up being a new gathering place… especially when the food comes off the pit! 😉

[@JPBBQ]

Awesome video there Grumpus.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, J.P. This was long overdue...

[@papabears-kitchen]

Loved the video. I would love to see more mod and/or Maintenance videos from you. Reminds me of "this ol' house"

[@ronhart6498]

Grumpus, when it's all said and done, would you say that this grill is worth the money it costs to have a LSG?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Hi Ron… For me… Yes. For you… it all depends on what your definition of “Worth” is. I get this question quite a lot. I hope you don’t mind… I’m going to paste a response I posted, maybe last summer, to get your gears grinding and maybe help in answering your question (or raise more)… “A little back story about me, and some things for you to think about… I purchased my first smoker (Old Smokey) when I was 24 years old. After that, I was buying smokers and grills, seems like, every 3-4 years due to burnout or rust. They were cheap, and what I could afford at that time. Fast forward to now. I just turned 65 this summer. When I think of the money I’ve shelled out on cookers over the years… well it’s a lot. I came to the realization that over time I had spent more than what it cost for a quality pit now… I just didn’t have one to show where the money went. This realization is what helped me pull the trigger on a Lone Star Grillz pit. I just wanted to buy one more smoker, one that will outlast me. If you’ve watched my other videos then you have seen the ease and hassle-free cooks from my new pit. This smoker is by far the easiest I have ever cooked on. There is a reason why some pits cost more (i.e. engineering, design, workmanship, materials…). Find a company you can believe in and you’ll get what you pay for. I can’t tell you what to buy. I will say buying the best quality you can afford now will save you money in the long run, with less headaches, and will be more fun.”

[@ronhart6498]

@@GrumpusOnFire Thanks man that really put things in perspective for me. One more question: does cooking with water in the pit make a big difference?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

I’ve noticed more even temperatures across the horizontal cooking chamber if I use a couple water pans. My pit is designed to hold water but, I have not used this feature yet (I just don’t have an area to drain the waste water when finished.).

[@AddictedFishing1]

How wide is the extra wide version?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

The standard front shelf from Lone Star Grillz is 10” deep. The “fold down” feature is an available option. You can also add the Stainless-Steel shelf cover as an option, also at 10” deep. Since I decided I needed to add the stainless myself, I decided to really go all out and give myself plenty of room. I ordered my shelf a full 18” deep, arguably more than I thought I needed. Well, here we are 12 months later. I’ve gotten so used to the extra real estate I don’t think I could get by with anything smaller! It was, by far, the best upgrade on my smoker. Expensive? Oh, heck yeah… but so worth every penny if you use your smoker like I do… a lot!

[@magnadawg1]

Nice job! I'll be doing that to mine!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, EOSGuru. Stainless is the way to go.

[@MrPanthers23]

Love mod videos

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Me too… Thanks for watching.

[@1BigPapas220]

Excellent. Grumpus do you cover your pit? Its still looks new. Going to be ordering mine soon so just wondering if the cover is really necessary ? Thanks

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Adam, I do not cover my pit. I think a cover is great, IF you don’t use the pit very often. I fire mine up about 2 to 3 weekends a month. I tried tossing a tarp over it in the beginning, but, for me, it was more trouble than it was worth. Not only do you have to wait for 1500lbs of steel to cool off… I’m a short guy, and wrestling a cover over them tall stacks was quite the workout. For me… I’d rather deal with a little rust and maintenance every couple of years. Don’t get me wrong… I love my smoker… but I view it as a cooking tool, not a monument to look at. Just my 2 cents. 😉

[@1BigPapas220]

Thank you good to know. I was debating if I really needed it. I can use that money for the stainless shelf instead. Thank you for your response. Keep up the videos they are great 👍

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Great trade off... you won't be sorry with the stainless steel! 👍👍👍

[@1BigPapas220]

Hey grumpus what is the measurements on the stainless and also did you put zerk fittings on your hinges? Just wondering

[@johnknapp6328]

Grumpus you are very articulate. If you order folding shelf from lone star is it similar construction or is it just stainless. Great tips and how to.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, John. The front table on my pit is the standard 10” shelf. Anyone interested should confirm with Chris at LSG, but I believe the stainless-steel upgrade is a skin fastened over the standard shelf. The only difference is I had mine made extra deep. The stainless is one piece, bent, welded, ground and polished at the corners; not cheap, but it is top quality work. The point I was trying to convey in this video was that preparation is paramount for success in even the simplest of projects.

[@franciscorodriguez6166]

Good job..

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, Frank. I appreciate you watching.

[@CookingwithKory]

Heck yeah. You gained a ton of food prep area also.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Now I got room for roasting pans, cutting boards and stuff! Thanks for watching Kory. 🍻🍻🍻

[@BushiBato]

Grumpus! nice mod video,i know that all owners of a great Pit or even a humble cooker take joy and pride in it,glad you enjoyed your afternoon fixing her up a bit better.i forgot,did you ever name your Pit or just fine as is?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, Bushi. This was a simple, but fun mod. My wife already thinks I give that pit too much attention. If I was to give it a name… well she’d probably leave me...! 😉😉😉

[@jwollam]

Love the video!!!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thank you, John. I had a lot of fun making this video.

[@crazymonkey9611]

That’s a great point about dripping. Is the upgrade shelf that deep or is that depth custom too?

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Crazy monkey… My smoker came with the standard 10” expanded metal table. The fold down feature was an option. The option of a 10” stainless skin was also available. At that time, I didn’t think about the drippings falling to the ground. The stainless-steel used in this mod is custom sized to my specification. It is full width of my shelf, plus ¼”, and is 18” deep. To be honest, 12 to 16 inches would have been fine, but as usual, I HAD to overkill it! 😉

[@hanieltrisna]

I looove this video. There's so much knowledge to pass on to youngsters in this video about garage work. Thank you Grumpus!

[@FloggingMicah]

Looks good Grumpus. Are you concerned with being able to reach to the back of the smoker though? It seems like you’ll really have the stretch to get back there. Good vid though man I hope all is well!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Thanks, Micah. I cut a plywood “proto type” to be sure my measurements were workable. My main focus was to be able to still open and close the lid. I can. The goal of this project was to contain the drippy mess while I cook. I can reach the back of the grates when the table is down. When the table is up, I slide the grates to me where I can still reach the back of the grates. I’m loving the added work area! Thanks for watching.

[@victorbenner539]

Howdy Grumpus. I liked how you did this mod. I will say I'm not a big fan of expanded steel. The main reason I don't care for it is the extra work that's involved with cleaning it. I hadn't thought about the mess that can happen beneath it,well done. And great for thought of using the wax paper to make clean up of excess silicone better. I did look at the release date of this video and noticed it was November. That explains why you had your signature Hawaiian shirt on for most of the video and finished with flannel. Fyi, personally I love flannel, its so soft and comfortable. Just too hot in the summer months. Sir, have a great day. 🍻👍🌤

[@licensetochill79]

You know what would have made it a lot easier. Using aluminum rivets period and then you just spray paint the back side the holes that you made. it would have been very secure

[@GrumpusOnFire]

You are correct. I only showed my procedure. My goal was to have a secure and clean installation. I think my effort resulted in a sanitary and visually appealing finished project. I think the Stainless Steel carriage bolts look great. I personally don’t like the looks of rivets. Even though it might have made the job easier, for me, it had to look good in the end. Thanks for watching!

[@licensetochill79]

@@GrumpusOnFire hey to each his own I'm the contractor so you know I'm always going to look for the easier cleaner route

[@mikeoreilly4020]

Grumpus, Chris Goodlander just called. He told me to ask you if you wanted a job.

[@GrumpusOnFire]

HAHA… As fun as that sounds… no thank you… Chris works way too hard…! 😀

[@andrewlathem]

Great vid but I think you may have gone a little big on the stainless shelf. Even though it folds down, seems a lil deep when checking the briskets in the back of the smoker. Love ur vids tho Grumpus!

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Yes… It looks a little deep, but my grates slide out so I can reach all the way to the back. The stainless steel will keep the drippings off the deck and make clean up so much easier. Thank for watching Andrew.

[@ramellin]

You’re going to break your neck on that rotten deck 🤬

[@GrumpusOnFire]

Hahaha… Like “Pa Kettle” always said… "I’ve got to fix that one of these days.” Maybe next spring… 😉