How to Make a Metal Fire Ring
Every child should have the opportunity to roast marshmallows and hotdogs on a stick over an open fire this summer. A well-laid fire with plenty of air flowing through it can burn for hours while everyone is busy turning the powdery white treats a nice bubbling brown. Break out your favorite hand instrument and play camp songs, or tell ghost stories while the bright orange flames make shadows dance across everyone's faces.
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Things You'll Need
- 55-gallon metal barrel
- 15-inch metal wheel rim with tire, weights and valve stem removed
- Two 18-inch-long, 3/8-inch diameter metal rods
- Round metal barbecue grill rack
- Soapstone marker
- Simple, straightedged shapes of your choice
- Heavy leather work gloves
- Wraparound eye protection
- Ear protection
- Angle grinder
- Abrasive saw blade
- 24-grit abrasive wheel
- 5-gallon bucket of water (for fire safety)
Instructions
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1
Use a black marker to draw a cutting line about two-thirds from the top of the barrel, with four 6-inch-wide, 6-inch-long tabs evenly spaced around the line, as shown in the diagram that accompanies this step. Outline your chosen small, simple, straightedged shapes around the circumference of the barrel with the soapstone marker, evenly spaced.
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2
Don heavy leather work gloves, wraparound eye protection and ear protection. Use your angle grinder with an abrasive saw blade to cut the barrel along the soapstone line you made in Step 1. Rough cut the soapstone outline shapes. This makes decorative air holes all the way around your fire ring. Cut grooves on each side of the top of the barrel, as shown in the diagram that accompanies this step.
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3
Use your angle grinder and a 24-grit abrasive wheel to grind away any burrs along the cutting line and around the decorative air holes that you cut in Step 2.
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4
Place the fire ring cut side down on the ground, where you intend to use it. Center the wheel rim inside the fire ring. Place the metal rods in the grooves so that they are parallel with each other. Lay your round barbecue grill rack on top of the two support rods.
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5
Ball up some paper and lay kindling in the wheel rim. Add progressively larger twigs and small cut branches until you have a nice flame. Add thicker branches and two or three small-diameter split logs. Allow wood to burn until it becomes glowing coals before cooking on your fire ring.
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Tips & Warnings
Use simple, straight-line shapes for the decorative air holes, to make it easier to cut them with your abrasive saw. The wheel rim keeps your fire off the ground to prevent permanent damage to tender lawn plants and helps air get to the fuel.
Be careful not to let the hot metal grit thrown back by the abrasive saw from burning you or setting your workshop on fire. Keep your five-gallon water bucket within easy hand's reach so that you can step into it or plunge your arms in it if needed.
