My family has a 'Kris Kringle' philosophy for xmas such that we each only buy 1 present. Limit is $60. Mum is in charge of making sure we each buy for someone different each year. $60 always stretches me and you have to get creative. It also removes any issues if one person spends a significant more amount of money than the other.
This year i drew my sister and her request was for a bbq and 2nd hand was fine.
Normally this wouldn't really be worth posting but given i am a tool tard this for me was an amazing achievement.
Here are the before and after shots.
I fixed the broken slats, glued it back together and then went to town on it with sandpaper (rough first then a fine sand to finish). After that it was out with the oil i use to protect the outdoor setting. Pulled the plate and grill out and attacked them with oven cleaner. I think it has come up a treat.
Money spent
BBQ - $16 (ebay)
4kg gas bottle - $4 (ebay, surprised to find it was full)
Connection to convert POL to the 4kg bottle - $10
BBQ tool set (tongs/barbiemate/scraper) - $20
Fresh bag of absorbent for under the burners - $10
Total - $60
I'm hoping sis not only likes the bbq but appreciates the effort i went to for her. I also went to a lot of effort for my partner and edited some photos of her and our daughter, got them printed out and framed. She always comments that we have so little photos of her and our daughter so this way its not only recorded but also displayed in the house. I suspect becoming a Dad has mellowed me somewhat. If not then buggered if i know where this niceness and motivation have come from!
And yes, bbq works and works well. Fires up with no issues and gets nice and hot.