camping fire pit ring material ????

[Roberto]

I want to have a fire ring made for camping and found a company online that makes them out of steel and stainless but figured I would just go to local metal shop to have them fab/ break the same thing but wanted to do out of heavy gauge/ thick aluminum to cut down on weight. Any cons on why heavy gauge aluminum shouldnt be used? I figured aluminum does better with heat? Here is a pic of what I am going to have done. it will be 3 peices that bolt together real quick and will be 8-12" tall and 30-36" across from flat sides of octagon

 

[Brentbba]

No experience with aluminum as fire ring material. Just know from the scoutmaster I had when I was a kid that he's actually melted/deformed aluminum dutch ovens. Thought all dutch ovens were cast iron until I read a post a few years back researching something about dutch ovens and ran accross that info he posted.

If that's any indication, I'd stick wth steel. My old washing machine tub fire pit has done great for 5 years plus. It's up on some plumbing flanges as feet so its also very easy to clean up what ash does fall through the holes. Flaw I see with your design is that it's open on the bottom, so unless you put it around an existing fire ring/pit, you will be scaring the earth where you build your fire and if you camp with the 'leave no trace' philosophy it won't work very well. I've cleaned up after BIG fires in my tub and have left absolutely no trace of a fire. Packed out all the ashes too!

 

[fullybalanced]

Aluminium is just a bad idea unless you want a hot-melted mess. I don't know what "kinda" fire you build, but usually after a few adult beverages, someone ends up melting a glass bottle in our campfires.... OK and more reasonable statement, my buddie warpped one of my al frying pans pretty bad on a small campstove. Regardless, steel is the way to go.

 

[Roberto]

ok, steel it is I guess, I just figured aluminum engine blocks and heads were meant for heat disapation for high output engines and such. Oh well, steel will be cheaper of course.

thanks
Rob

 

[Trollhole]

Stainless steel.

And don't get me started about what other get for fire rings off the shelf.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/camping-outdoor-gear/415100-i-so-want-table-stove-combo.html

 

[MANUCHAO]

A stainless steel commercial washer tub cut in half... works great !!

 

[Trollhole]

Could always make it just a little larger than your spare tire and when your done with it just fit it over it and secure it. That way it doesn't take up any space.

 

[Brentbba]

A stainless steel commercial washer tub cut in half... works great !!

I like that idea - how'd you address the sharp edges resulting from the cut? Big and bulky is the only downside I've ever had or complained about with mine.

 

[MANUCHAO]

use a flap disk.. 100 grit should do the trick.. I'll make it niiiice and smoooooth.... Or bend the end a tad bit.. ...

 

[rusty_tlc]

I like that idea - how'd you address the sharp edges resulting from the cut? Big and bulky is the only downside I've ever had or complained about with mine.

Most of the time when I see these they are filled with either fire wood or empties. Think of it as a storage bin.

 

[Brentbba]

I'd be concerned handling it with the sharp edges prior to use. Mine is stored upside down for transport anyway. It's used frequently around kids (scouts) too.

 

[MANUCHAO]

if yah where to buy some fuel or heater hose and cut a slit in the middle the lenght of the tub.. that should take care of the handling ..

 

[Rockets2000]

I'd be concerned handling it with the sharp edges prior to use. Mine is stored upside down for transport anyway. It's used frequently around kids (scouts) too.

I would get rid of the sharp edges before handling.

 

[Roberto]

was thinking the stainless washer tub idea for there is a nice one on ebay for $95 which compared to new flimsy off the shelf stuff is worth it but they are never that large, I am looking though and going to get pricing for the stainless and steel from local shop compared to what these guys want?

metal stainless steel campfire ring,fire pit,fire pit liner,barbecue fire pit grill

but very nice heavy units, check it out. I think I can get made for more than half and no shipping of course.

thanks
Rob

 

[Assassin]

i have a washing machine tub == fire pit i used at my deer camp for years and still use it on camping trips, since i got my big fire pit.......... got to washing machine repair place or a recycling center and get ya one.

this is my big fire pit " with a southern pallet wood fire no less"

 

[Mark W]

I prefer basalt or granite when I can grab it. Slate works well but tends to split when you get it really hot. Various igneous rocks all work great. I'm not real picky I guess. Just grab whatever rock is handy and stack it up.

The best part is how easy it is to pack and stow and clean.... ya don't.


Mark...

 

[rusty_tlc]

I prefer basalt or granite when I can grab it. Slate works well but tends to split when you get it really hot. Various igneous rocks all work great. I'm not real picky I guess. Just grab whatever rock is handy and stack it up.

The best part is how easy it is to pack and stow and clean.... ya don't.


Mark...

Must be nice. The NFS and BLM frown on stone fire rings down here in the lower 48. A lot of wilderness areas don't even allow fires directly on the soil.

 

[Mark W]

I was largely being a smart ass. But mainly because I just can not conceive carrying something around with me to make a fire in.


We always site our fires with an eye toward minimal impact. When you camp on a sand and gravel river bar that is easy. When you are out on the tundra is is not as simple, but 99.999% of the time you can find a sandy or rocky spot to site the fire so soil sterilization is minimized.

When we camp repeatedly at the same spots over the years we reuse the sane fire rings and if someone else has left a fire ring at a camp spot used by others as well as us, we will use it rather than making a new one (assuming of course it is not sited stupidly).

But we don't have big brother telling us that we have to carry artificial systems to build fires in. And we don't have enough people out where we go that it is a concern in terms of environmental impact.


My heart breaks for you guys.



Mark...

 

[gsdog2]

I've been using an old beer keg I had. I cut the 1/4 bottom off, and inverted it for use; that way there is an air hole after knocking out the tap. I hammered over the rough cut edges for safety. Perfect size for the rig. Kegs must be some type of aluminum alloy since it was a pain to cut and I had to use a small sledge hammer to hammer the lip over. I've had no melting issues, keg are pretty tough. Plus you get a solid bottom for the environmentally sensitive types....and a smaller ring from the cut bottom.

 

[fullybalanced]

ok, steel it is I guess, I just figured aluminum engine blocks and heads were meant for heat disapation for high output engines and such. Oh well, steel will be cheaper of course.

thanks
Rob

the aluminium blocks are good for weight (and heat, I guess) but the cylinders are steel lined...