DIY Backyard Fire Pit

For Valentine day 2015 I decided to build my wife a fire pit for the backyard. I started with an old washing machine and a recycled bed frame. My cousin Vince called me and asked me if I wanted to scrap the washer for one of his neighbors, so I grabbed it and got the idea.

Start to finish, this project took about 5 hours.

1/2 hour to remove the drum

The first thing you have to do is get the parts you want. In this case all I wanted was the drum so I pulled it out and reassembled the washer without it. Just to make it easier to move. I threw it on the back of the truck and emptied the aluminum compactor and grabbed what ever other scrap I had lying around my shop and made for the scrap yard.

After I got the money from the scrap I headed to Lowes to get supplies.
1 - One can of High Heat white

2 - Two cans of High Heat black

3 - Two 3' x 3/16" steel rod

4 - Two 3' x 1.25" flat bars

Using my angle grinder and some sand paper I cleaned all the old gunk off the drum. I removed the plastic bits from it and then I smoothed out the rim on the top with the grinder.

Then I used the grinder to cut the 4 leg pieces from the old bed frame. I cut at 10" and ground one end to sit flush but angled on the bottom of the drum.

Using a wire welder set to max with a wire speed of almost 3, I welded the legs on the bottom and then welded on the flat bars as stiffeners.

Flip it over and see how it sits. If you need to adjust for wobble, grind off or weld on to level.

Grind the lip to make it pretty and smooth then add something special.

I used the rod to make letters that represent my wife and I. A&W, Alison and Walt. Then used the remainder of the rod as the mount and welded it to the shaft in the middle of the drum.

Apply at least 2 coats of High Heat paint. I use Rust-oleum because it is heat rated to 1200°

Not that the letters will stay that way for long, but I painted them white to make them pop. Plus I can always go back and repaint them.

Step back and admire your handywork.

Get some wood to burn and invite some friends.

Pictures to come soon. (It's not Valentine's Day yet)

(edit, as promissed) HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 2015

This fire pit was a complete success. No problems with it at all. Fire burns high and radiates a lot of heat. I added a grill top from Lowes and gave the wife and kids and my Mom some sticks, and we had great Smore's. Perfect Alison says. She loves it.