Optimal washer tub firepit size and design?

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e9999

e9999

Gotta get out there...
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So, I'm going to make a firepit out a washing maching tub cylinder for camping. Not my idea, it's been done before. Seen here as Brent's famous (or is it infamous? :D) Sputnik, notably.

The one I got is about 18" tall with a slightly narrower neck up top. It's quite tall and would be awkward to transport and looks very ungainly. I'm thinking that I'd cut it down a bit to make it shorter and easier/safer to carry on the roofrack. Maybe something like 10 or 12" tall? But that might cut down on the chimney effect and pretty starry night effect, and maybe heating capability. Any thoughts on optimal height?

Also, it has a bunch of small holes and 4 big ones on the bottom so I think the venting up will be good. I was thinking that I would not put feet on it, soil is probably uneven enough to let air get under or I could find 3 rocks to put under there. Thoughts on the need for feet?

I also don't like the central tower going ways up. Seems like it'd be in the way. Cut it off?

And this thing is porcelain coated apparently. Will it shatter and flake off?

And generally, what have you found that works well or not with these?
 
Is this a California thing? Why don't you just build your fire on the ground?
 
land crusher said:
Is this a California thing? Why don't you just build your fire on the ground?
Click to expand...

well, for one thing, in some places you can't

then it's pretty and we go for the fluff out here

probably warmer and we go for hotness down here

you can throw a grate over the whole thing and make quesadillas

and I need an excuse to use my new air cutoff tool... :D
 
land crusher - in many places in Kalifornia you must use a fire ring or container for your fire - brush fire thing...we don't like them very much. Secondly, unless you are using an established fire pit/ring, if you put a fire right on the ground, you will almost permanently scar the earth...leave no trace.

Eric, Sputnik is just a standard porcelin tub. It's never flaked or cracked and there have been some VERY HOT fires in there. If you can get your hands on a stainless steel tub, that would be best tho.

Cut that center tower out. The tower will just get in the way of a good fire!
No air cutoff tool needed. Metal blade on a jigsaw cut thru the tub like a hot knife thru butter. However...if you'r looking for an excuse, I won't tell!

Feet - I love the ones I put on with plumbing flanges, threaded pipe(3" for mine IIRC) and stainless steel screws. Three feet will give you a little more flexibility leveling it too. Gets the pit just off the ground and lets more air circulate. What's great about the air circulation, not only off the ground, but the holes in the tub, is that by morning your ashes are hand cold and you can just put a large trash bag over the tub to dump the ashes in...pack it in, pack it out...again, leave no trace, including ashes unless there's an established pit you can dump your ashes in! Borrowed a tub pit in Kernville once. NO feet and we put it on top of 3 rocks. I like the feet on mine much, much better!

I used a Weber charcoal grate suspended with eye hooks in the bottom. I've gone thru 2 of them so far because of the heat of wood burning fires. I think I'd skip that if I were to do it again. Besides, the darn thing rattles when I've got Sputnik upside down on the roof rack!

I washed the thing thoroughly to get all the soap residue off when I got it and painted the outside with some high temp flat black rattle can paint. I wouldn't have done that if I'd been able to find a nice stainless tub. Paid a whooping $25 for the used tub at a little local appliance repair shop. Another $25 for the feet, grate, paint, eye hooks, etc. and I was done.

As you mentioned, you can get a larger grate to cover the top and you have a wonderful wood burning fire to cook on too!

Lastly, it's a great place to store a trash bag on the way home!
 
OK, I'll think some more about feet then. Maybe just 3 large bolts positioned on there with washers.

didn't want to use a grate at the bottom but I may need to. There are 4 big holes (1.5" or so) in there in mine. Maybe just welded cloth or something will do in a pinch.

how high did you make yours?
 
It's a standard washing machine tub plus the feet. Total height is probably about 2 1/2'. I can measure it tonight if you really want to over engineer this thing. :flipoff2:

Bolts are going to sink in softer surfaces. The flanges give it more stability and you can choose the length leg you want. Those threaded plumbing pipes come in all sorts of sizes from about an inch on up. JMHO. :D
 
Im thinking of getting one the same size 18" tall.
Im thinking cutting it in 4 pieced and adding two hinges on each cut this way I could make it almost flat for transportation.

I wouldn't cutting down..being that tall would help hold the wood until it burns completely..
Guess the only thing you have to watch out for is putting too much wood when is that high..
 
MANUCHAO said:
Im thinking of getting one the same size 18" tall.
Im thinking cutting it in 4 pieced and adding two hinges on each cut this way I could make it almost flat for transportation.

I wouldn't cutting down..being that tall would help hold the wood until it burns completely..
Guess the only thing you have to watch out for is putting too much wood when is that high..
Click to expand...


the lower height I had in mind was both for transport and to be able to see the fire and embers a bit more when it's going.
 
Ok Eric,

Std tub I have is 21 1/2" wide. Tub only is 15 1/2" high and with the legs stands just under 21" tall. It's not real big and certainly not one if the extra large washing machine tubs.

You can see the embers just fine through all the holes in the sides. Makes a wonderful glow! Remember if you cut it lower, you'll need to do something with those sharp edges you'll create.
 
yes, I was thinking about the sharp edge too.

would need something for that

it's too tall as is, I'm afraid
 
e9999 said:
it's too tall as is, I'm afraid
Click to expand...


Well, You asked for an opinion. There aren't many washing machine tub users here so I gave you more than enough info and feedback on my several years of usage and build. Sputnik made it's debut on the DV trip in 2006!

If you're dead set on something shorter, no need to ask for opinions on height is there. hehehe:flipoff2:
 
Brentbba said:
Well, You asked for an opinion. There aren't many washing machine tub users here so I gave you more than enough info and feedback on my several years of usage and build. Sputnik made it's debut on the DV trip in 2006!

If you're dead set on something shorter, no need to ask for opinions on height is there. hehehe:flipoff2:
Click to expand...


whoah, dude! bad day at the office? I was not commenting on your gizmo as being too tall. That was about mine. Yours being shorter apparently. So I'm not disagreeing with you on anything here.

Not that this project is the most important one out there either, evidently...
 
Brentbba said:
land crusher - in many places in Kalifornia you must use a fire ring or container for your fire - brush fire thing...we don't like them very much. Secondly, unless you are using an established fire pit/ring, if you put a fire right on the ground, you will almost permanently scar the earth...leave no trace.

Eric, Sputnik is just a standard porcelin tub. It's never flaked or cracked and there have been some VERY HOT fires in there. If you can get your hands on a stainless steel tub, that would be best tho.

Cut that center tower out. The tower will just get in the way of a good fire!
No air cutoff tool needed. Metal blade on a jigsaw cut thru the tub like a hot knife thru butter. However...if you'r looking for an excuse, I won't tell!

Feet - I love the ones I put on with plumbing flanges, threaded pipe(3" for mine IIRC) and stainless steel screws. Three feet will give you a little more flexibility leveling it too. Gets the pit just off the ground and lets more air circulate. What's great about the air circulation, not only off the ground, but the holes in the tub, is that by morning your ashes are hand cold and you can just put a large trash bag over the tub to dump the ashes in...pack it in, pack it out...again, leave no trace, including ashes unless there's an established pit you can dump your ashes in! Borrowed a tub pit in Kernville once. NO feet and we put it on top of 3 rocks. I like the feet on mine much, much better!

I used a Weber charcoal grate suspended with eye hooks in the bottom. I've gone thru 2 of them so far because of the heat of wood burning fires. I think I'd skip that if I were to do it again. Besides, the darn thing rattles when I've got Sputnik upside down on the roof rack!

I washed the thing thoroughly to get all the soap residue off when I got it and painted the outside with some high temp flat black rattle can paint. I wouldn't have done that if I'd been able to find a nice stainless tub. Paid a whooping $25 for the used tub at a little local appliance repair shop. Another $25 for the feet, grate, paint, eye hooks, etc. and I was done.

As you mentioned, you can get a larger grate to cover the top and you have a wonderful wood burning fire to cook on too!

Lastly, it's a great place to store a trash bag on the way home!
Click to expand...
We use them in winter to make a nice hot fire. You don't have to worry about clearing snow down to bedrock
 
Snow?


...oh yea, that white stuff we see every 10 years or so on top of Saddleback and way in the distance on the Angeles Crest mountains...when the air is clean enough to see that far!
 
We need some CAD drawings please.....ok, a pic will do just fine too! :-)
 
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