Growing up my dad made marshmallow forks out of broom handles and wire clothing hangers. These were outstanding marshmallow forks because the wooden handle and overall length allowed one to sit back and roast a perfect marshmallow. This instructable shows you how to make this traditional marshmallow fork from a broom handle and wire clothing hangers.
The basic process for making marshmallow forks:
1) Make the winding tool
2) Wind the wire fork
3) Cut and prepare the handle
4) Assemble the fork and handle
Marshmallow Fork Materials
broom handle (or 7/8 hardwood dowel)
Coat hangers (or 10g or 12g stainless steel wire)
Paint
Winding Tool Materials
1/4" x 20 x 2.5" threaded bolt. The bolt must be threaded all the way to the head.
1/4" x 20 nut
1/4" x 20 wing nut
2x 1/4" fender washers
2x 1/4" lock washers
Tools
Scrap 1x4 (fork mandrel)
Electric Drill
Drill bits - 3/16" and assorted
6d Box Nails
Diagonal Cutters
Pliers
Saw
Medium Grit Sandpaper
Adjustable Wrenches
The basic process for making marshmallow forks:
1) Make the winding tool
2) Wind the wire fork
3) Cut and prepare the handle
4) Assemble the fork and handle
Marshmallow Fork Materials
broom handle (or 7/8 hardwood dowel)
Coat hangers (or 10g or 12g stainless steel wire)
Paint
Winding Tool Materials
1/4" x 20 x 2.5" threaded bolt. The bolt must be threaded all the way to the head.
1/4" x 20 nut
1/4" x 20 wing nut
2x 1/4" fender washers
2x 1/4" lock washers
Tools
Scrap 1x4 (fork mandrel)
Electric Drill
Drill bits - 3/16" and assorted
6d Box Nails
Diagonal Cutters
Pliers
Saw
Medium Grit Sandpaper
Adjustable Wrenches
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Wire Fork
Typical wire clothing hangers are either 11 ga. or 13 ga. wire. The heavier gauge wire may seem preferable but my experience has been that the breakage rate while winding the fork is very high (~100%). The 13 ga. wire clothing hanger does a good job for roasting marshmallows, however, it is not stiff enough for roasting hot dogs. The wire clothing hangers can be replaced by stainless steel wire. Below is an annotated list of wire I have used.
<> 10 ga. (0.102") Stainless Steel -- very stiff, easily handles multiple hotdogs, can be difficult to work with.
<> 11 ga. (0.102") steel clothing hanger -- high breakage rate (~100%)
<> 12 ga. (0.081") Stainless Steel -- good for marshmallows, satisfactory for one hotdog.
<> 13 ga. (0.081") steel clothing hanger -- good for marshmallows.
<> 14 ga. (0.064") Stainless Steel -- too flexible.
The stainless steel wire can be purchased from McMaster Carr
http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-wire/=i0qchy
Wooden Handles
Hardwood dowels can be used as an alternative to broom handles. A 7/8"x48" hardwood dowel is a comfortable size and convenient length -- one dowel makes two handles. Also five 7/8" dowels fit within a 3" drain pipe if not heavily painted.
I typically store 10 marshmallow forks in a 4' section of 3" drain pipe. The forks are inserted face to face with the wire fork overlapping the handles.
Typical wire clothing hangers are either 11 ga. or 13 ga. wire. The heavier gauge wire may seem preferable but my experience has been that the breakage rate while winding the fork is very high (~100%). The 13 ga. wire clothing hanger does a good job for roasting marshmallows, however, it is not stiff enough for roasting hot dogs. The wire clothing hangers can be replaced by stainless steel wire. Below is an annotated list of wire I have used.
<> 10 ga. (0.102") Stainless Steel -- very stiff, easily handles multiple hotdogs, can be difficult to work with.
<> 11 ga. (0.102") steel clothing hanger -- high breakage rate (~100%)
<> 12 ga. (0.081") Stainless Steel -- good for marshmallows, satisfactory for one hotdog.
<> 13 ga. (0.081") steel clothing hanger -- good for marshmallows.
<> 14 ga. (0.064") Stainless Steel -- too flexible.
The stainless steel wire can be purchased from McMaster Carr
http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-wire/=i0qchy
Wooden Handles
Hardwood dowels can be used as an alternative to broom handles. A 7/8"x48" hardwood dowel is a comfortable size and convenient length -- one dowel makes two handles. Also five 7/8" dowels fit within a 3" drain pipe if not heavily painted.
I typically store 10 marshmallow forks in a 4' section of 3" drain pipe. The forks are inserted face to face with the wire fork overlapping the handles.
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Once a marshmallow gets burnt on the fork there is a carbon build-up. That carbon helps hold the marshmallow on the fork. It also helps to hold the fork as level as possible when roasting. I typically lose marshmallows that drip through the tangs.
As for the fire pit, it does look like an old washing machine tub. I've been using one for over 20 years. My cousin made it and had angle iron welded to it to let it stand up. We use it during the year to have nice fires or burn up scrap wood and yard debris. I would suggest contacting your local appliance repair shop to see if they will sell you an old washing machine tub. Place it up on cinder blocks, bricks, what have you, to get it up off the ground. These things will put out some serious heat once they get going. One year we used one at camp when it rained all weekend. The ground was bone dry for at least 4 feet around the fire pit because we kept it full.
Also, if you have a lot of breakage you can heat the wires up with a torch just a little bit and that should help with the twisting.
Otherwise, great Instructable and tribute.
The fire pit is a stainless steel tub from a front loading washing machine. My wife gave it to me on Father's Day in 2011. She found it on craigslist. I would suggest searching on "washer tub fire".
As HollyHarken said, the fire pit puts out some "serious heat." I typically toss scrap from the workshop in it. I have a round BBQ grill that I set on top to cook burgers and off course marshmallow. In fact it is actually too hot for marshmallow; the outside gets toasted before the inside gets thoroughly heated.
Need marshmallows.. need fork.. need stove.. need fuel.. and a match. :)
Great idea for the marshmallow forks, too. I'm taking the kids camping this weekend!
Congrats thanks for sharing.