Introduction: The Perfect Carrier for Your Perfect Barbecue.

My Dad has been barbequing for most of his life as a hobby and for the family. Over the time that he is grilling, he noticed that he had begun to forget essential items before he had gone out to the grill, creating an annoying problem. As a result, he creates many trips of inside the house and back out to the grill.

He needed help and I wanted to help him.

My idea was simple, a carrier made out of wood. However, the main question is, how big would you need to have it? The carrier that I have created fits seasonings, thermometer, tongs, gloves, a knife of your choice, and other utensils. This design is simple with three dividers and a basic wood finish with a custom engravement.

Supplies

  • Seven 12 in x 2 in pieces of 1/4 thick plywood. (14 in x 14 in) (May Require multiple pieces of wood that can fit that dimensions.)
  • Glow forge Pro Laser Cutter
  • Access to the internet.
  • Laser Cutter Cooling Fan
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Handles of your choice (I got mine from Home Depot)

Step 1: MakerCase

First, head on over to MakerCase - Easy Laser Cut Case Design.

  • Select "Box with Dividers"
  • Make sure your units are in inches.
  • Set Width = 12 inches
  • Set Height = 2 inches
  • Set Depth = 12 inches

Then, scroll down and make sure your dimensions are on the "Outside" and your material thickness is set to 1/4 inch. (You can set to your preferable thickness, but this is what I had available at the time.)

For your divider rows and columns, you should have 3 divider rows and 1 divider column.

Finger size relates to the number of divots inside each piece of wood, this also translates to how long your piece could take. I chose the max which is 0.6667 inches.

Finally, hit "Download Box Plans" and set panel labels to "Disabled." and download as an SVG file. (Make sure to download in a place you can access easily.

Step 2: Glowforge

For the next step in the process head on over to, Glowforge and be ready to continue.

  • First, select "Create New Design" and hit upload file. (This is where the saving comes into a big play.)
  • When inside, you may notice that all of the pieces do not fit. (You will have to laser cut in 2-3 separate occasions depending on the size of your printer.) Make sure to only put the pieces that can fit on your first time, try to fit as much as possible.
  • When satisfied with how much you have on the printer, go to the left side of your screen and select "Enter Settings"
  • Select "Cut" then "Manual" and put in the settings from below.
  • Speed = 130
  • Power = Max/Full
  • # of passes = 1

Then, you need to enter a material. At the top left of your screen, select "Unknown Material" and then "Use Uncertified Material" submit "0.25 In." and click out.

Now you are ready to Laser cut!

In the top right corner of your screen select "Print" and make sure your printer is on/online.

From this, it will generate a amount of time that it will take to cut, if any part of your pieces is off the printer, the piece will become red, if it is on the printer, it will be Orange.

Turn on your Laser Cutting Fan and turn the knob 3/4 of the way, you will hear it turn on.

Then, on your printer the button on top will blink blue.

If your wood inside does not fit, you may have to use a skill saw or even a jigsaw to get the wood to fit inside. (Be careful and sue proper eyewear.)

Hit the Blue Button and watch the Magic Work!




Step 3: After the Printing

Once you have your pieces ready, it's time to assemble.

Grab all of your pieces and your hot glue gun.

  • Line the boundary of your 12 in x 12 in base with hot glue.
  • Carefully place your walls on the glue with the fingers/divots facing upward.
  • Make two lines of glue down the middle for your dividers with however much space you want in between.
  • Hot glue your handles on the sides the dividers do not go perpendicular to.
  • Let rest for thirty minutes to an hour.

Just like that, you have assembled a caddy that allows you to more efficiently carry your grill supplies.