I was going to cook some Beer Can Chicken, but on the planned day, it was blowing about 40 MPH. I looked around for a suitable wind screen. I had a sheet of ¾” birch ply that I could cut down to a 4 panel - 2’ X 4’ hinged screen, but that would weigh a ton and I couldn’t get to the plywood without cleaning out half the garage. It wasn’t outdoor ply so I would have to put a finish on it to withstand outdoor conditions. Too much work!
I then spotted a portable dog fence that I no longer use. It had 24” wide panels, 3’ tall.
They normally come with eight panels. I removed some of the hinge clips to make it into a four sided section. You can buy these as well as a cage 4’ tall X 24” – 8 panels. at places like Petco. Split the cost with another cooker and each use four panels
I went to the local BORG bought two rolls of 4’ X 10’ Reflectix Foil Insulation, which has a bubble wrap type interior clad in a Millar type exterior. I also got three rolls of Aluminum tape, however, I ended up reinforcing that and finishing up with duct tape, so I’d skip the aluminum tape and go with the duct tape.
I cut the panels 23 ¾ wide so they would fit inside the wire, so it would fold up a little better without crushing the edges too much, and attached them to the wire frame with the tape, two top, two bottom and one in the middle.
I used the full 4’ height and double sided each panel to add a little rigidity to the un-reinforced top section. I slipped the tape under the wire, sticky side up and gently pressed the second panel to the tape. I then bound the top, bottom and un-hinged edges completely with tape.
On the hinged edges, I slipped a three inch length of tape between the wire edges and folded it over the Reflectix, top, middle and bottom, to hold it in place. Don’t wrap it around the adjacent panel edge as the Millar will stretch. I then folded the panels up in “storage mode”, and ran a length of duct tape down each outside corner of the folded panels. I flattened out the panel and ran a length of duct tape down each inside corners.
This is what it looks like with two panels installed, without the hinge strip.
Completed four sided panel.
I placed my WSM and the panels on a drip pan so there is some air draw to the lower vents. When needed, the front panel may be opened.
This is the screen folded and ready for storage.
I then spotted a portable dog fence that I no longer use. It had 24” wide panels, 3’ tall.
They normally come with eight panels. I removed some of the hinge clips to make it into a four sided section. You can buy these as well as a cage 4’ tall X 24” – 8 panels. at places like Petco. Split the cost with another cooker and each use four panels
I went to the local BORG bought two rolls of 4’ X 10’ Reflectix Foil Insulation, which has a bubble wrap type interior clad in a Millar type exterior. I also got three rolls of Aluminum tape, however, I ended up reinforcing that and finishing up with duct tape, so I’d skip the aluminum tape and go with the duct tape.
I cut the panels 23 ¾ wide so they would fit inside the wire, so it would fold up a little better without crushing the edges too much, and attached them to the wire frame with the tape, two top, two bottom and one in the middle.
I used the full 4’ height and double sided each panel to add a little rigidity to the un-reinforced top section. I slipped the tape under the wire, sticky side up and gently pressed the second panel to the tape. I then bound the top, bottom and un-hinged edges completely with tape.
On the hinged edges, I slipped a three inch length of tape between the wire edges and folded it over the Reflectix, top, middle and bottom, to hold it in place. Don’t wrap it around the adjacent panel edge as the Millar will stretch. I then folded the panels up in “storage mode”, and ran a length of duct tape down each outside corner of the folded panels. I flattened out the panel and ran a length of duct tape down each inside corners.
This is what it looks like with two panels installed, without the hinge strip.
Completed four sided panel.
I placed my WSM and the panels on a drip pan so there is some air draw to the lower vents. When needed, the front panel may be opened.
This is the screen folded and ready for storage.
