How to Build a Fire Pit on a Small Budget

It is summertime, and everyone wants to have a fire pit where you can roast marshmallows and hot dogs in your backyard. Building a fire pit can be pricey, but there are some great ways to cut costs. Use these instructions to build a fire pit everyone will love for cheap.

To build this fire pit, you might want to do some junk picking! You need an old washing machine and a rolling, office chair with metal legs. These items are cheaper if you purchase old ones from the junkyard. Older washing machines are ideal because they typically had stainless steel drums, which will be a better choice for a fire pit. If the junkyard search comes up empty, head to a local appliance second-hand store. They typically have washers that are totally broken you can grab for cheap.

Parts Needed:

• Grinder
• Screwdrivers
• Bolts
• Drill
• Old Washing Machine
• Office chair with metal legs

Instructions:

1 – Remove the concrete weights that hold the washing machine drum in place. Remove the structure around the washing machine, and you can take the drum right out! Because a washing machine can be quite heavy, having a second person there to help you with this step can be really helpful.

2 – Then, take the office chair and remove the cushion from the seat. Use a grinder to cut off the rest of the seat, leaving the frame support (which is under the seat) and the metal legs. This will be the frame where you set the washing machine drum you just removed.

3 – Paint the legs to give it a nicer finish. You don’t have to paint the drum because the flames might blacken the drum, but you can do so if you want!

4 – Attach the washing machine drum to the frame support of the metal legs. Use a drill to put holes into the bottom of the washing machine drum, then bolt on the drum to the frame support.

5 – You can either remove the wheels off of the metal legs or keep them! The wheels are awesome for moving the fire pit around your backyard or patio. However, if you want it to be stationary, just take off the wheels. They typically screw on and off, but you can use your grinder to remove them as well.

An option is to take 6mm concrete shape and cut it to fit the bottom of your fire pit. Doing so adds a layer of protection between the fire and the metal legs. If you can’t find what you need, try lying the bottom with some rocks just to create a surface between the fire and the support.

There are so many cool options for this mobile fire pit. You can lay an old metal grate over the top to roast hot dogs or burgers. You can put stoneware over the pit to cook your veggies or burgers as well. Your friends and family will think your new (and cheap) fire pit is pretty awesome!