Washing machine fire pit

[swotty]

The washing machine broke last week so I had the perfect opportunity to make a fire pit, something I've wanted to make for an while! Might have a test fire later.
Just need some expanded mesh now to put a pan on to roast some chestnuts

Has anyone else made one of these? If so let's see your pics!!

 

[sunndog]

I'll take a pic later, if you keep it so the drum still spins you can get a real good fire vortex going

 

[SGL70]

Nice! and I like the repurposing a lot.

 

[humdrum_hostage]

Is it on the wall?

 

[swotty]

Is it on the wall?

Haha.....I can't work out how to spin the image on Tapatalk!

 

[demographic]

Aye, me and a mate threw one together a few years ago, not sure if you can see it but at the top there's three bolts sticking out so it holds a wok slightly raised as well.

It unthreads from its three legged stand so fits into a car boot and you can sit close and warm your feet underneath it.

 

[Robson Valley]

Not uncommon in a resort village where I had a summer house for many years.
Sure brings back memories of late nights and visiting.

Most people put 2+" sand in the bottom. Good plan to run a modest first fire to "burn it out."
You will see much more sparks and coals fall out than you expect. Need some floor protection, 6' circle at least.
But there are some outstanding advantages unlike a campfire on the ground.
Find a discarded oven rack or two for a top grate. Ease for cooking.
Radiant heat from the sides. Less smoke to stare down into.
On the down side, much more vulnerable to breezes and wind.

 

[swotty]

Thanks for the replys chaps and the advice Robson Valley especially the sand bit

 

[demographic]

Not uncommon in a resort village where I had a summer house for many years.
Sure brings back memories of late nights and visiting.

Most people put 2+" sand in the bottom. Good plan to run a modest first fire to "burn it out."
You will see much more sparks and coals fall out than you expect. Need some floor protection, 6' circle at least.
But there are some outstanding advantages unlike a campfire on the ground.
Find a discarded oven rack or two for a top grate. Ease for cooking.
Radiant heat from the sides. Less smoke to stare down into.
On the down side, much more vulnerable to breezes and wind.

Some of them (like the one we used) don't have holes in the back (which becomes the bottom when its made into a firepit thing so its a lot less leaky than some.
Ours didn't leak sparks out the bottom and to be fair to it was fairly good at the smoke going up instead of sideways. Nothings perfect mind and every once in a while there's the facefull of smoke.
Can't remember the make of washing machine we started out with though so its not a great help. Ours also didn't have placky paddles inside which some do and need to be removed or burnt out.

 

[Robson Valley]

That's far better performance than I expected.
I only ever sat by ones on bare earth and they were messy.
Nice place to cook simple food, too. Neighbors had cast iron paddle/cup things on long handles to do toasted cheese sandwiches in.
Then a different shape to be loaded with cracker-like thin cookies called Graham wafers, marshmallows and chocolate.
Hotter than lava, they cooled quickly in a chilly evening. "Smore" was the name, I think.
Bet you can't stop at just one!

Believe that you might see them in the home section of the online Cabela's catalog.

 

[Black Sheep]

Here's mine, it came from our Hotpoint (it was one of the 7~8Kg load ones) and doesn't have any holes in the back.



I was luck enough to find this BBQ skillet in a charity shop that with a little work will fit over the hole.



and here it is in it's full glory.



Rich

 

[swotty]

Nice....I like the skillet, ill have to keep an eye out for something similar!

 

[Cromm]

Outstanding.

 

[Black Sheep]

Just looking back at this thread and scrolled down, the ad at the bottom of the page was "Find machine Engineers" who just happen to mend washing machines.......karma?

Cheers Rich