Portable barrel bbq - ?the way to go?

[Elines]

I have tried searching the site and got nowhere and so am resorting to starting a new thread.

In essence I am looking for advice on a portable largish fire container.

In summary:

When I go on a BCUK ‘event’ eg at Rough Close I use a honey stove for cooking but rely on the communal fire to keep warm in the evening

I now have permission to camp overnight in a wood, and light a fire, but need something a bit more beefy than a honey stove for keeping warm

It needs to be reasonably portable

I need to be sure to ‘leave no trace’

At Rough Close some people seem to use a jerry can cut in half (?with a hinge)- but I have no experience at metal work in general or cutting a can in half and don’t have the tools anyway. Plus (?) I would need something to lay it on when lit??

So I was looking at a bought alternative – a barrel BBQ eg one on amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingfisher-Portable-Barrel-BBQ/dp/B001QUSDZC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293739 326&sr=8-1

I have PM’d someone about this and they tell me they know someone who has one and that it is a good BBQ

More generally they tell me that, as regards their own barrel BBQ, usewise it is ok but not perfect and they find it best to take charcoal for cooking on and some dry wood for starting it up.

The Amazon one looks to be suitable for what I want (keeping warm on a winter’s day/evening in the woods plus cooking) as it looks to be a reasonable size for one person and the stainless steel looks as if it could be a useful reflector if the fire was in one half only, and the other half was ‘vertical’

But …. I have already spent enough money on kit that looked the part only to find that it wasn’t and that there was something much cheaper that did a better job

So …… anyone got any comments/suggestions?

Any advice welcomed

 

[gsfgaz]

I think that will do the job for you ,

 

[nolightweight]

What about something like this, Chris?

Image

I've got one similar. About 10-12" diameter and pretty light. Got mine from Wilkinson (Wilkos) really cheap a couple of years ago. Comes with a carry/cool bag.

 

[Mesquite]

It may sound crazy but why not try a paella pan Chris? They do various sizes but a 50cm ought to be plenty adequate for your needs.

They're light, already have handles attached for easy of carrying and I'm sure you can hide some 1/2 bricks in the undergrowth so you can have something to hand to rest it on when in use

 

[lannyman8]

why not make an ammo tin stove, it would burn less fuel and stay hot for yonks.......and you could cook on the top of it if you have the family with you etc......

like this.... http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65634&highlight=ammo+box+stove

 

[Broch]

Sorry for the repeated advice (given a few days ago on another thread) but try the Son of Hibachi (available from Amazon and others). Not cheap but very useful piece of kit if you're not carrying it

Cheers,

Broch

 

[Shewie]

I picked up one of these a couple of years ago, it's grand for cooking on and then you can get a good load of wood on for chilling out.

http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=200398&pf_id=LS4300D&co=fr

I've heard people mention these as good burners too ..
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/fold-flat-bbq/

 

[Broch]

The problem I have had with all those sheet metal contraptions is that they only last 1 season especially if you throw logs on them after the charcoal has died down. The SofH has lasted five years so far and is still going strong.

Cheers,

Broch

 

[Shewie]

The problem I have had with all those sheet metal contraptions is that they only last 1 season especially if you throw logs on them after the charcoal has died down. The SofH has lasted five years so far and is still going strong.

Cheers,

Broch

I must admit the £5 bbq didn't fill me with confidence when I opened the box up, it does buckle, pop and warp in use but it's still as strong as the day I got it

 

[Wallenstein]

Large colander + dog's food bowl + one wing nut = lightweight, portable mini-firepit.

Big enough to cook over, and once you chuck a couple of wrist-thick logs on it chucks out plenty of heat.

Costs about £3, or less if you have the stuff lying around.

 

[gsfgaz]

I like that mate ,,,

 

[Elines]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

I'm going to mull them over and decide, probably afer the next Rough Close meeting when I can have a chat with people and hopefully actually see some options being used.

 

[Sniper]

Why don't you ask around garages and such like for the top or bottom of a 50 gall oil drum or even around the chip shops for a 5 gall cooking oil drum, cut the top of and knock a fair few holes into it in the style of an old time brazier. They would both work extremely well and last quite a time. Best thing is theu'll cost you nowt and can be replaced anytime at no cost, especially the 5 gall drum.

 

[Shewie]

The drum out of an old washing machine makes a nice burner too.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

I
I've heard people mention these as good burners too ..
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/fold-flat-bbq/

i have one of these and they are ausome

 

[al21]

I have a couple of different low cost/free bbq/firepits I use for canoeing and base camps. An old wok has worked quite well as has a Helium gas bottle cut in half. The sort you get to inflate balloons for parties etc.

Neither of these have legs, and while I have the intention of making some I always get by with using logs to keep them away from the ground or a pile of soil.

Al

 

[Tank]

The drum out of an old washing machine makes a nice burner too.

I second that. works great. this one fits on top of an old metal dustbin and doubles as a BBQ.

 

[drliamski]

The drum out of an old washing machine makes a nice burner too.

Thirded!!

I have owned a few types and by far the best as brazier/burner is an old washing machine drum, stainless and free if you can find one.

Can be stored outside too!