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[Brian Beasy]

This is for all you do it yourselfers. I did a project last year on a cajun microwave. Whats that? it is a box in which you cook a pig in. The charcoal is put on top (the lid) and the fire radiates down inside the box and cooks the pig. Im going to try and get all the pictures and how i built it put on here
Brian
Special Projects
How to build a cajunmicrowave.
Every cajun wants a cajunmicrowave but does not want to spend the thousand dollars it cost to buy one. It is simple to build if you have a few tools and some common knowledge. You first need to figure out what size you want to build, so you will know the deminsions you need. My microwave was 42” by 24” inside the box. Once you have all that, you can get the cypress wood that you need to do the job. Cypress new can be bought at any local lumber yard. I bought two 1x12”-14' and one 1x8”-8'. After you purchase the boards it is best to mark out all your cuts on the board first. You will need a tape measure, a 90 degree triangle, a straight edge, a calculator and your deminsions. Once all your deminsions and cuts are drawn you can start cutting. I used a new rigid saw but a hand saw would work fine. I used a table saw to rip the wood to make the handles and lid boards. After cuting my handle boards I had to cut 1 inch off the bottom where your hand would go so that you can pick it up when the lid is on the ground. When I finished cutting all my lid boards I put the four sides together. I squared them all up and screwd them together. Once the sides where square I could put my top boards on and screw them down. My long top board went over the short side boards for strength. After screwing it all down, I hand sanded it with some 80 grit sand paper.
Since the wood on the lid is finished you can now move onto the box. The box consists of ten peices. There are two bottom pieces, four side pieces, and four end peices. First you put the two 1x12” side peices and two 1x12” end pieces together. After it is all squared up you can srew the side pieces into the end pieces. Once the sides are together you can go ahead and put the bottom in. The bottom fits inside the box. To screw the bottom two boards down you have to screw through the sides and the ends. The extra box boards will be added to the sides and ends to increase the height of the box by 3”. The higher the box the less likely the pig will burn. You square the sides with the ends and you screw together just like the lid. I used a biscuit joiner, biscuits, and screws to join the the top portion of the box.
The aluminum drip box was tricky. Aluminum welds awesome if you clean your weld area and the machine is set right. I purchased the 14 gauge aluminum and I had it bent to my specifications. I had a side and a end bent together. This way I only had to weld two sides not four. Once the sides were in place and square up I welded them. Then i dropped the bottom in and welded it all up. I welded a ¾” aluminum plug to the bottom so that my juice can run out. I used some aluminum angle to make me a handle so that I can pull the box out of the microwave. Once it was all welded up, I used a stainless steel wire brush on a hand grinder and buffed the entire box inside and out.
After that i went on to my coal box. The coal box was made out of 1/8 steel. I also purchased the steel and had it bent to my specifications. Welding the steel was not as bad. All you had to do was square it up and tack it together. After its tacked if its still square, then you can weld it all up. Once it was welded I used a center punch to mark where my 8 holes needed to be drilled. I marked them 5 inches from each corner. Then I put the coal box on the lid. I used a center drill to start my hole. Then I drilled a 9/32 inch hole through the metal box and the wood. I used ¼ bolts that were an inch and a half long with washers and lockwashers.
Finally once the lid and box is finished you have to make a stand for it. I made my stand out of some 2x2x1/8 angle iron. I measured the bottom of my box and added a quater of an inch to each side for clearance. Then I cut the angle in needed in a band saw. After cutting my frame I had to knotch out the ends of my two long pieces with a plasma torch. Once they were knotch out I squared them up flush on the table. I then welded them up making sure they were straight. Finally, once the frame was all welded, I welded each leg making sure they were straight with the frame.
Finally after its all said and done you can invite all your buddies over. Not only can you cook them a deliscious pig but you can also show off your work. Yes anyone can go out and spend the money to buy a cajunmicrowave. But its the pride in making one yourself for a third of the price.






















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Light travels faster than sound some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak.

[Pelon]

All I can say is Brian your the man. That thing is awesome.
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Paul Marx

If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them.

[edro20]

Very well done! I have seen much wimpier cajun microwaves (caja china) for sale that aren't nearly as heavy duty and not as big either. Congrats on a great job!
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[Brian Beasy]

I also need to add that there is Expanded metal on the bottom with some little 2" legs and I drilled a hole through the wooden box and alm box for a thermometer!

This page is for the do it yourself'ers but if you have the $$$$ this is for you!
http://cajunmicrowaves.com/store/?style=h&cols=5
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Light travels faster than sound some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak.

[waterguy]

I've had one for a few years works great we call them a cuban cooker here is a link to where I got mine http://www.lacajachina.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

[Brian Beasy]

[bartman]

Can you detail how to prepare and cook a feral hog in one of these?

[mley1]

Great stuff Brian!! Thanks for doing such a good write up with pictures and everything. That's great man
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God bless,

Marty Ley
NAHC Life Member
TDHA Member
http://www.inheatscents.net/

[Deepcpaul]

Some of my buddies in Morgan City was telling me about one of these not too long ago. May need to get one for the lease!

[Brian Beasy]

[KGerstner89]

that looks like it could double as a ice chest for a lot of beer when not in use for cooking.

[Brian Beasy]

[Raymond Gendron]

Hey Brian...
Gotta give you PROPS bro...
I'm impressed
Nice to see another guy as good with wood as he is with metal.

Does the cypress wood take the heat better or was that your choice

I want to know how the first pig tastes

Good work buddy

Ray
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[Brian Beasy]

Yes Ray cypress takes the heat better than most wood and it lasts longer!
The first hog tasted GREAT! im waiting to catch a young shoat and cook em this winter!

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Light travels faster than sound some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak.

[Raymond Gendron]

Really cool bud
You got yourself some true talent bro


I got 9 right now all about 65 lbs. in the freezer.
I was going to try a smoke house adventure with them.
I got one big enough for possibly 12 that size
Needs to be cold for a week and it's on

Once again KUDO'S

Ray
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"Making the WORLD a better place one family at a time"
www.p-o-r-k-i-e-s.org

[Hangman]

That is awesome. Thank you for all the photos. I'd love to build one when I've got some downtime. Looks like a great investment & project.

[Kerry Redden]

Brian
that is a real good looking piece of work. how long does it take to cook a small hog 40-50 lbs?
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The only good hog is a DEAD HOG!!!

[Brian Beasy]

i did a small hog one time and started it at 7am and was finished for 12 something like that. so Time wise i would say about a 12pack!!!
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Light travels faster than sound some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak.

[Brian Beasy]

MY uncles cooker they are cooking tonight for new years in TX!!




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Light travels faster than sound some people appear to be bright until you hear them speak.

[sam lawhon]

Man. Nice job on everything wish I had one.
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God Bless Our Troops!!!!!