Building a Mortarless BBQ - HELP!?

Question:I'd like to build something like this:

http://www.askthebuilder.com/b181_dry_st...

Here's what I have:

1 big concrete patio slab.

500 bricks leftover from the house (veneer)

Questions:

Can I use regular bricks, like the ones I have? Do I REALLY need fire bricks?

Can I use my concrete patio as a base, or should I make a new base?

Will a mortarless BBQ be able to withstand heavy winds (I live in Houston)?

Any suggestions on how I should proceed? Have any mortarless BBQ plans?

Thanks!

Answers:
Well, it all depends. Personally, i would mortar them or at least use some of the glue type stuff you can get for bricks, kind of like a caulk.

You will need fire bricks if you plan on building hot fires right in the bricks. However, if you use a steel firebox, you can simply use the bricks you have. either way, only the firebox needs to be fire brick or steel, not the whole thing.

As to the actual design, a lot depends on the type of barbecuing you have in mind. Doe you simply want to cook things over the coals, or do you want to smoke things? You will have to work that out for yourself, for smokers, you want a small fire off to the side and some kind off vented lid. remember your fire will need some air no matter which kind you build. a smoker needs a way to control the incoming air, more so than a regular grill. It helps both. A simple solution is to make or buy one of the half barrel barbecues, andsimply enclose it with bricks. If you have wind that can blow bricks around, you are asking for trouble not mortaring them together.

none will stand up to a tornado, if that's what you mean.

if you wan to risk it. you can build it with no steel or fire bricks.

if you attempt this, build a very small fire in it a few times, then start increasing the size of the fire. This will temper the bricks and remove remaining moisture content. do it to fast and they will just pop, crack and break, even thin pieces of sheet metal to deflect the heat will pretty much prevent it.