It just dawned on me last night that looking through the UDS section that there are typically quite a few questions about fire boxes and I had not posted my cheap solution to it. I searched all over for good expanded metal but everyone wanted an arm and a leg for it. So I decided to experiment with a few things I found at farm and fleet here in iowa.
First I started with a 12" pepper roaster like the one below. They had them on sale for $9 at the time.
I removed the handle because it was only in the way. Next I bought a roll of 3'x5' 1" heavy gauge wire panel for about $5. I rolled a piece to fit snug inside the roaster ring then drilled holes in the ring and bolted it in place using short bolts and washers. I cut it down to 11" tall.
Next I put three 2.5" 1/4" bolts in a triangle pattern and marked the hole positions on on a Dollar Store pizza pan that I had laying around for an ash tray. It hangs freely on the bolt heads, no need to tighten it down. I then sandwiched the nuts and washer to hold it to the bottom of the roaster and tightened the hell out of them. And voila! It's done!
I think I have about $18 in it total and it is actually very stout. It only took me about 20-30 min to make once i had everything. I have since put a wire handle on it but don't have pictures. It holds almost a full bag of royal oak. Is it pretty?...of course its not! Does it work?...hasn't failed me yet! Hope this helps someone out. Thanks for looking.
Shelton
First I started with a 12" pepper roaster like the one below. They had them on sale for $9 at the time.
I removed the handle because it was only in the way. Next I bought a roll of 3'x5' 1" heavy gauge wire panel for about $5. I rolled a piece to fit snug inside the roaster ring then drilled holes in the ring and bolted it in place using short bolts and washers. I cut it down to 11" tall.
Next I put three 2.5" 1/4" bolts in a triangle pattern and marked the hole positions on on a Dollar Store pizza pan that I had laying around for an ash tray. It hangs freely on the bolt heads, no need to tighten it down. I then sandwiched the nuts and washer to hold it to the bottom of the roaster and tightened the hell out of them. And voila! It's done!
I think I have about $18 in it total and it is actually very stout. It only took me about 20-30 min to make once i had everything. I have since put a wire handle on it but don't have pictures. It holds almost a full bag of royal oak. Is it pretty?...of course its not! Does it work?...hasn't failed me yet! Hope this helps someone out. Thanks for looking.
Shelton
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