How to Make a Planter out of an Old Charcoal Grill
- 1). Completely empty the old charcoal grill, preferably outdoors. Turn the grill completely upside down if necessary to shake out as much dirt and ash as possible. If there is any rust or baked-on debris on the inside of the grill, brush those areas extensively with a wire brush. Be particularly careful to brush away rust spots entirely. When you're finished brushing, turn the grill over again to dump out everything you've scraped up.
- 2). Use the garden hose to spray some water over the entire grill to dampen it. Use dish soap and a coarse sponge to scrub the entire grill clean, inside and out. When you're done scrubbing, rinse away all of the soap with the garden hose. Allow the grill to air dry or dry it yourself with paper towels.
- 3). If there are no holes or cleaning filters in the bottom of the grill, drill a few holes using an electric drill. Make sure that you use a bit strong enough to go completely through the grill and large enough to allow water to drain through. Drill at least a half dozen holes near the center of the grill's bottom, avoiding the legs and other hardware below.
- 4). Use masking tape to cover any hardware that you do not wish to paint with the rust retardant spray paint. If the lid handle and legs on your grill are shiny chrome and you want to leave them that way, be sure to tape them up. You can spray the entire grill, hardware and all, if you want to; just try to avoid wheel axles and moving joints.
- 5). Shake the rust retardant spray paint can well and spray all of the areas of the grill you wish to paint. A second coat will likely be needed, but because spray paint dries quickly, it won't take long before you can see all of the areas that need touching up. When the grill has been sprayed evenly, allow it to dry completely.
- 6). Fill the grill with a few inches of large gravel. The gravel will leave a porous surface on the bottom that will allow water to drain through, and they will also help to anchor the planter against strong winds.
- 7). Pour at least 6 inches of potting soil into the grill, spreading the soil around so that it is flat and even.
- 8). Plant seeds or transplant seedlings or small plants into the soil and sprinkle on some water. Care for the plant per the recommended care instructions of its variety.
Source...