Fire place grate in fire pit

Grey Mountain wrote:
I tried using one of those washing machine fires for smoke signals but words kept slipping out through the holes in the sides and the messages became fragmented. Sometimes newer is not necessarily better.

GM

AW but it comes in a BIA compliant model... :B

Grey Mountain wrote:
I tried using one of those washing machine fires for smoke signals but words kept slipping out through the holes in the sides and the messages became fragmented. Sometimes newer is not necessarily better. Now That is funny. I don't care who you are:B

GM

Like getting the postman when you sent for the police

I tried using one of those washing machine fires for smoke signals but words kept slipping out through the holes in the sides and the messages became fragmented. Sometimes newer is not necessarily better.

GM

I agree with others here that an old wash machine tub is the way to go. I have used them for 25 years or more.

I always had the big ones that I put on my trailer with the desert buggy and quads. I found that after I sold all my toys plus the trailer that is was a pain to take that large tub in the motor home.

So I started looking for an alternative to having it but found that nothing worked as well that wash machine tub until........


I found this. It is a wash tub from a compact machine. The cooking grate from a Weber Smokey Joe fits perfectly.

As you can see it is smaller,13 in. across VS 17 in. on the big one and 14 inches deep VS 17 in. on the big one. It stores easily in my rear compartment. I even found a canvas bag that it fits in so it doesn't make any mess while back there.


And as you can see it still makes a helluva fire and the firewood fits just fine.

ktmrfs wrote:
Nope, and I have a much better fire pit I carry around. go to an appliance store and beg, borrow or buy a metal washing machine drum. Use a cutoff wheel to cut the center post off if needed. then when you go camping fill the drum with firewood. for fires put the drum on top of the existing firepit grate, or on the ground and toss in some wood and light it. Virtually NO smoke, lots of heat radiated as the metal heats up, almost no clinkers, just some ash in the morning, and almost no soot. All the tiny holes in the drum draw lots of air and give you a hot burning fire. And you will use less wood than a regualar firepit.

If your anal, weld some 3/4" nuts (3) on the bottom and when you don't have a firepit, screw in some 8-12" long 3/4" bolts into the nuts to space it off the ground to draw from underneath.

Based on comments from other campers when they see mine, I'm tempted to carry a "spare" or two and have them for sale at a campground.

We don't carry a washer drum when we camp but at home we sit outside with a fire in one year round. We have found putting a drum lid on top with the big bung open pushes the heat out the side and keeps you very warm in the winter. Just make sure you have a long rod for taking off the lid as flames shoot out pretty good when you open to add more wood. I should add that I put a eye bolt in the center of the lid for lifting with the rod.

Washer tubes are amazing. I remember the first time a friend brought one to a group camping trip
and I thought it would never generate enough heat to keep 20 people warm. Boy was I surprised.
They are like nuclear reactors melting down and are really efficient on the amount of wood required.
Only problem is finding one that is stainless steel. They are few and far between and it took me over
a year to get mine. You have to want it pretty bad as they usually come with a washing machine attached.
If you can get your hands on an an early 70s washer you probably have one with a stainless tub. Some of the more expensive current front loaders like the Neptune also have stainless tubs.

Grey Mountain wrote:
First saw the washing machine drum fire pit at a rally in Texas several years ago. It was mounted on a collapsible three-legged stand.
If using the metal firepits at a lot of campgrounds, put a rock under one or more sides to create a space between the metal and the ground. This will allow the fire to draw air. (I think someone has already suggested that)
If you are still having trouble, just find your nearest Native American and we'll gladly help our out paleface brethren. (or otherface brethren) We have lots of experience.


GM

To bad the folks that designed/sold many of the firepits to campgrounds didn't talk to you first. Or maybe the did and weren't clear and got the design for a firepit for "sending smoke signals"!!!

The height, diameter and lack of holes for drawing air, sure don't make for a very well designed firepit.

Sorry about the poor quality of the pictures but the washer tubs are great if you have the room for them… I have three to them two regular size and a large commercial one… try to get the stainless ones though, I have tried a porcelain coated one and when the fire was real hot and small pieces of the porcelain came off like it was shot out of a gun… it could easily injure an eye…

I leave the shaft on the tubs and just insert it into a cast umbrella stand… it is stable and can be used anywhere because it is high enough to not damage or burn anything under it…
None of mine have holes in the bottom and they don’t need them…



One other feature I found a old weber dome charcoal grill and the lid fits right on my drum perfectly… I can load the tub with wood and starter in the morning and with the lid on the wood stays dry even in the heaviest rain… also if the fire is started and a storm blows in put the lid on and the rain will not douse the fire… afterwards and the end of the evening with a good bed of coals and the lid on it holds the heat for hours longer and makes new fire in the morning by just adding a couple pieces of wood… especially nice if sleeping near the fire…

This one has been use for about ten years now and has on sign of needing replaced… the commercial one my son is using it is about twice the size… he like big fires…:B


Again my apologies for the picture quality… old low res camera phone and a shaky hand…

One I saw once was someone added a smudge pot chimney to the washing machine tub! This made the smoke go up away from everyone and the tub radiates so much heat didn't need the actual flames to stay warm.

ktmrfs wrote:
Nope, and I have a much better fire pit I carry around. go to an appliance store and beg, borrow or buy a metal washing machine drum. Use a cutoff wheel to cut the center post off if needed. then when you go camping fill the drum with firewood. for fires put the drum on top of the existing firepit grate, or on the ground and toss in some wood and light it. Virtually NO smoke, lots of heat radiated as the metal heats up, almost no clinkers, just some ash in the morning, and almost no soot. All the tiny holes in the drum draw lots of air and give you a hot burning fire. And you will use less wood than a regualar firepit.

If your anal, weld some 3/4" nuts (3) on the bottom and when you don't have a firepit, screw in some 8-12" long 3/4" bolts into the nuts to space it off the ground to draw from underneath.

Based on comments from other campers when they see mine, I'm tempted to carry a "spare" or two and have them for sale at a campground.

Stayed at a CG in Westport WA, last July and that is what they used for fire pits.



OK I guess for some...not for us. We like to have an open fire that we can BBQ on...even pizza.