Everybody likes a good fire don’t they? But sometimes they are a little dangerous and even against the law at certain times of the year. So the easiest way to ensure fire safety is to contain your fires by having them inside something that allows you to control it and prevent it from spreading.
This is a scaled down version of a 200L (40 gallon) old oil drum that we used at work to burn diseased wood from house demolitions. I do apologize, but many wood worm were harmed in the development of this article…
Here’s how I made this brazier from an old waste bin:
Mark out the notches that will create airflow up and into the fire. These notches will also cleverly support the grill inside. I made the top mark about 8cm up from the bottom and the lower marks 2cm up from the bottom. Mark out a “V” shape going in between the two rings, narrow end down.
Space out the notches around the bin. I went N, E, S and West and then again in between those marks (if you follow that!). This space allows for some ash to fall down without blocking off the airflow and is fundamental to this bins ferocious ability to burn wood.
Carefully cut one side of the “V” with a thin metal blade in a mini grinder. Be careful as thin metal easily snatches. Wear gloves and safety glasses of course. To stop the bin rolling around, brace it with a lump of heavy wood (see pic for my wood, weighed down with an additional brick).
Repeat for the other side until the two cuts meet at the narrow end of the “V”. Repeat all around the bin, following your marks.
After cutting both sides, push the “V” into the bin to 90 degrees using a gloved thumb.
Hey presto! Instant grill or grid supports and decent airflow in one go, or some kind of new evil rat trap…
Next place the bin on top of a piece of grid or weld mesh and draw around it with a marker. Carefully cut out the grill going about 1cm inside your marks to allow for the thickness of the bin and a little clearance. I made this one by overlapping two pieces of stainless weldmesh but I need to make one out of a thicker mesh, as this is too thin really. Something around 10mm to 13mm is better.
Drop the grill or grid inside the bin (now a proper brazier), and it magically is supported by the air flow notches you made. Clever.
Obviously the thicker the bin’s metal the longer it’s going to last etc. But even a thin metal bin seems to cope with quite fierce fires. The problem you’ll have is rust, because firing it up will of course remove all traces of paint. Once it’s cooled down, store it under cover somewhere and it’ll last a while longer.
These ‘brazier’ bins or fire bins are great for getting rid of woody garden rubbish or grilling sausages on a stick at the bottom of the garden, or even just to warm yourself whilst enjoying wintertime snowy shenanigans in the garden!
Stay well
Ian
