You can feel it when you go outside, although it is not yet winter it is getting chillier and chillier each day. When it gets cold we need heat and one great way to keep the family warm is to use a fire pit. There are many different designs and plans you can use to build your fire pit. The washing machine drum fire pit really got my attention though perhaps because it repurposes or upcycles the drum.
Depending on your skill level you can build a pretty simple fire pit that does not require any welding or painting. Or you can go the fancy route and build a portable one with legs and a nice matte black finish. You choose whatever works better for you and of course your budget. This project should not cost more than $25.
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Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 1 Recycled Washing Machine Drum
- Angle grinder (optional)
- Cup wire brush, Cut-off wheel, and Flap-wheel sanding disc (for grinder, also optional)
- Safety Glasses
- Angle-stock and Flat-stock steel (optional)
- High heat black paint (optional)
- Gravel(optional)
- Bricks(optional)
- 2 wooden supports (optional)
- Old Satellite Dish(optional)
I have listed all the tools and materials you would need for both the fancy fire pit and the basic one. The first step for either one, would be to remove the drum from the washing machine itself. Sarah from House & Fig has some step by step instructions on how to do this which also have great pictures.
After you have removed the drum and removed all the extra fittings you can then choose which design to continue with. The basic design which has the drum sitting on top of some gravel, satellite dish, and log supports has the video below. The fancy one Sarah made with welded legs and paint, is available here. I personally would paint mine, but leave out the legs.
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