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DIY Grill Skewer Rack for $12

·3 mins

A lot of store-bought skewer racks are thin metal. For this weekend project I used solid steel angle instead, cut to the inside width of the grill. One four-foot piece from Menards was $12, and it made a sturdy rack for kebabs and shashlik.

Raw kebabs on metal skewers, ready for the grill

Watch the Video #

Quick Summary #

Measure the inside width of the grill, mark that length on the steel angle, and cut it with a hacksaw. A four-foot stick is long enough for both rails on a 24-inch grill. Set the two pieces inside the grill so the skewers can rest across the grates. Clean the steel and wipe on a thin coat of cooking oil before the first use.

Why Steel Angle #

Many racks sold online are made from thin metal. Steel angle is heavier, so the rack stays put while the skewers are on it, and it can cost less than a store-bought rack.

My grill is 24 inches wide inside. Yours may be different, so measure before you buy or cut. The same build works on another grill if you change the cut length to match.

Weber Spirit II grill open on the deck, set up for a skewer rack

What You’ll Need #

The label on the stick I bought reads weldable steel angle, 1/8 by 1-1/2 inch, 4 feet.

Four-foot steel angle with the product label

Measure and Cut #

Measure the inside width of the grill first. Mine is 24 inches.

Mark that measurement on the steel. In my case that mark is at 24 inches. Then cut the angle with a hacksaw. One cut on a four-foot piece gives you the two rails.

Steel angle clamped to the bench, marked and ready to cut

After the cut, the rack is almost done. You are not welding or drilling anything. The two lengths just sit in the grill.

Fit the Rack #

Place the two pieces inside the grill so they span the cooking area. The skewers rest on them instead of lying directly in the grates, which keeps a full row of kebabs lined up and easy to turn.

Two cut pieces of steel angle held in front of the grill

Check the fit before you cook. If the rails are too long, they will not sit inside the grill. If they are short, they will not reach both sides.

Clean and Oil the Steel #

Clean the steel before the first use, then apply a thin coat of cooking oil. The oil helps prevent rust.

Wiping cooking oil onto the steel angle before the first use

Add the Skewers #

The skewers I used feel sturdy and work well with this setup. Set them across the two rails, handles out, so the food sits over the grates.

Metal skewers with wooden handles

Skewers resting on the steel angle rack inside the grill

That is the whole project: two pieces of steel angle, a hacksaw cut, a wipe of oil, and a rack that holds kebabs over the grill.

Tips #

  • Measure the inside of your own grill. The 24-inch cut fits this one. A wider or narrower grill needs a different length.
  • One four-foot piece is enough for two rails when the grill is about 24 inches wide.
  • Clean the steel and oil it before the first cook so it is less likely to rust.
  • Use skewers that feel solid. Flimsy ones are harder to turn when they are loaded.

Final Thoughts #

Solid steel angle makes a simple skewer rack without the thin metal of a lot of store-bought versions. For $12 and a hacksaw, you get two rails cut to the grill, ready for kebabs.