6-Sided Santa Maria Grill with Removable Grill Top — Classroom Steel Fabrication Project (DXF + Build Instructions + Lesson Plan + Rubric)
Build something students will be proud to use long after it leaves the welding shop.
This advanced welding project combines a six-sided fire pit with a fully functional Santa Maria–style grill. The hand-crank system raises and lowers the cooking grate, allowing students to control the cooking height over the fire. When grilling season is over—or you simply want an open fire—the entire upper grill structure can be removed, leaving a clean, stand-alone hexagonal fire pit.
Designed for high school agricultural mechanics and welding programs, this project gives students hands-on experience with layout, CNC cutting, press brake forming, welding, fit-up, and mechanical assembly. It is a great next step for students who have already completed a basic welding project and are ready to build something larger, more detailed, and fully functional.
Students will fabricate the six-sided steel base, form the grill grate, construct the removable upper frame, and assemble the hand-crank lifting and locking system. The finished project makes an impressive shop build, auction item, chapter fundraiser, or personal project.
What’s Included
- CNC-ready DXF cut file for plasma or laser cutting
- 13-sheet technical drawing set with dimensions, bend details, and mechanism drawings
- Step-by-step build instructions
- Complete material and cut list
- Required tools and equipment list
- Detailed 18-step construction sequence
- TEKS-aligned lesson plan for Agricultural Equipment Design and Fabrication
- Printable 100-point student rubric covering safety, accuracy, welding, functionality, and teamwork
Project Highlights
- Functions as both a Santa Maria grill and a stand-alone fire pit
- Removable upper grill frame
- Hand-crank, height-adjustable cooking grate
- Locking lift mechanism
- Durable six-sided steel construction
- Real-world fabrication and troubleshooting experience
- Ideal for advanced agricultural mechanics and welding students
Recommended Materials and Processes
Students will work with round stock, flat steel plate, and square steel tubing while practicing CNC plasma or laser cutting, press brake forming, MIG or flux-core welding, measurement, fit-up, and mechanical assembly.
Skill Level: Advanced
Recommended For: Agricultural mechanics, welding, metal fabrication, and advanced shop classes
Every file is organized in TradeCraft’s classroom-ready format, making it easy to download, print, and begin teaching.