Home made mild steel fire pit

[Amon81]

I almost finished making a portable fire pit out of 3mm mild steel today.

Just need to find my hole cutter and make a handle in the top of each part. It'll be 2 25mm inch holes about 5" apart and I'll use my angle grinder to cut out the bit in between.

It's 2 280x280mm and 2 450x280. I made so there is a 60mm gap at the bottom so heat isnt directly on the ground.

The square slots are 60mm and the long cuts are 180mm. I cut a 1mm cut first, then used a 3mm and a 40 grit flop disc to clean it up.

I'll make a canvas case for it once its done.

Also started to make a small take down stove too.

 

[baggins]

Nice. Will it need air holes in the base to feed the flame?

 

[Mesquite]

Nice. Will it need air holes in the base to feed the flame?

I was thinking the same question

 

[Amon81]

Shouldn't of thought so, its not very big, so wont have a huge fire. Its only what, 20cm x 40cm V shape. If it dose I'll cut or drill them.

That said its a pit for when you cant have fire on the ground or say dont want the hassle on wet ground, I dont want too many holes in it.

I think I'll be using it in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it goes

 

[Robson Valley]

I really like that flat-pack take down.
You people are giving me a terrible urge to cook over and open fire of coals.

If you can, put a few inches of sand in the bottom below the fire.
Keeps the heat up. So drill some 1/4" air holes above that potential sand level.

Dad built all his big BBQ grills to run on lump mesquite charcoal.
2" sand in the bottom of every one of them saved the metal for ages.

 

[TLM]

If one wants no risk of hot coals dropping in wrong places the air can be brought down by tube from the top.

 

[Stew]

Nice! More durable than my commercial version of that design. I would suggest sticking a flat plate in the bottom in the same was as the commercial one though. Will help keep the heat off the ground.

 

[TLM]

Now a hinged grill and a turning post for pots and it's ready for use.

 

[Potatohead]

Liking the look of this.
youll have to give us some action pics

 

[Tony]

Nicely done, straight forward and touch, looks like a great fire pit. You'll end up making mods to it for a bit I'd imagine as you refine through use.

Looking forward to seeing some pics of it in action

 

[Tengu]

Its beautiful. Simple but functional.

I found one of those round BBQs thrown out, -makes me a good mini pit.

But not so portable...

 

[Amon81]

I made most of the case for it. Only took about an hour and a half hand stitching it (it took just about as long as the film Deathproof was as I had that on in the background). All hand stitched, using saddle stitch as its nice and strong, using 1mm thick waxed cotton.

Just need to mount 3 press studs to it.

Edit: Forgot to add made a little pouch for my little stove out of an off cut.

As you can see I used a dainty little needle. Meant no pliers needed to pull the needle through the plastic backed canvas.

Ill feed some paracord through its hem.

 

[Amon81]

Another update.

I got a hole cutter and made the handles. Cant moan at only a tenner at tool station for a 32mm one.

Dropped it from 8.4kg to 8.1kg too.

Marked them out first

This made short work of the 3mm. Bit of 3 in 1 and it took seconds each hole.

Then used the angle grinder to cut the bit out between.

Then used a 40 grit 100mm disc to smooth and round it all off.

Done

The bits I cut off

Next onto Sunday for its first use.

 

[Robson Valley]

Will you have any choice of fuel types such as charcoal briquettes, round wood sticks, etc?

 

[punkrockcaveman]

this looks awesome, bet it will last a life time! My only worry would be airflow but you'll soon find out if it's a problem

 

[Laurentius]

Like it, you should go into business selling them, there would be a few takers for sure.

 

[TLM]

The more I look at that the better the idea looks. It might take a few iterations but I think the basic plan is solid.

 

[MrEd]

That’s superb. Nicely done!

 

[Amon81]

Will you have any choice of fuel types such as charcoal briquettes, round wood sticks, etc?

I'm doing an overnighter at the eco campsite I went to last month on sunday as I'm going away higher north its halfway on the way back. They provide wood so thats whit Ill be using. I've got a mini BBQ and have charcoal I'll be using so might use some of that in it too.

I cant see airflow being an issue really tbh.

 

[Robson Valley]

Fire it up and do the grand experiment. No armchair cooking any more!