Hi everyone! I would like some advice on building a Pig Roaster box like the one on the pics. I know the wood part should be easy, but I don’t know nothing about metal working or if it would be better buying one than trying to build one. Any advice would be appreciated, also help offerings. thanks!
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As a fellow person of Puerto Rican heritage, and roster of many pigs I might be able to help here.
My family mostly spit roast our pigs but I have cooked them similar to this as well.
The number one rule when building something like this is to not use Galvanized/Zinc plated steel, because it is not food safe and can be toxic. Sadly that rules out a lot of the material that you could buy at Home Depot/Lowes.
As far as skill to make this goes, it is pretty simple. Lots of bending and some tack welding/spot welding might be needed.
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thank you! Ill start by checking materials availability…
As another that has roasted full pigs, the racks are also optional. I’ve done a roast with a crate, sand, hot coals, tin foil and banana leafs. It works and you can mulch everythinh but the box and tin foil when your done.
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Not very portable, but…
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304 Series Stainless Steel is a common type used in BBQ’s and ovens.
When I worked at United Technology Fuel cells, the High Temp Reformers used 310 series, it cost more but we warranted it for 20 years and was higher temp.
Edit:
I forgot what gage our shear and brake will handle, @TBJK @hon1nbo. But you’ll want to keep it to no thinker than that if you want to cut and bend it on DMS equipment. It can be TIG welded or riveted. You’ll want some insulation between it and the wood frame, something like this Ceramic Fiber Blanket
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Matters on your definition of portable, That only requires wood, banana or palm leaves, a shovel, and a pig. That is pretty darn portable. 
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Stainless steel is commonly used in the restaurant business for those very reasons.
You could do this too.
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that’s how they do it in my hometown… its my option #2
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Not very thick, but the manual is on the committee drive. I’m currently at an airport so I can’t load it at the moment to check (thanks for shutting off ssh today certain someone** :P)
however it can also be cut on the plasma table, and I would be willing to lend a hand if needed. Our table can actually do Expanded metal plasma cuts, which would give you great results for grill racks like these.
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90% sure they’ll handle up to 16ga mild, 20ga stainless…
from the brake manual:
EDIT:
from the shear manual:
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Thanks! Important for folks to note: Gage Thickness varies by material type.
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If you do build it yourself I’ve got a rotisserie motor from a 42 inch viking grill that has never been used. It should be enough to turn the spit for a suckling pig or anything smaller you want to roast in there.
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I’m not saying I’d turn down your generous offer if I were Mr. Torres, but if he replicates the setup he originally posted, there’s no spit, no rotisserie.
Check out the videos on this web page:
the fire goes on top. The pig is clamped down between 2 racks, and placed in the “tub”. Then flipped 1/2 through.
Seems to me like it uses a shytetonne of charcoal, but what do I know?
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Honestly, Im just brainstorming for options… I just love roasted pork and want to try to make a whole one at some point this next summer.
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That is a sweet setup.
I wonder if you could use the rotisserie motor to build a flip mechanism so you don’t have to get in and flip it yourself. Then again, I do tend to over engineer things 
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Or make an optional domed lid with the spit.
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I volunteer to experience all roast pigs - I would love to help with this because I’ve always wanted to do it
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