Introduction: Stainless Steel Garden Incinerator - Patio Heater From Recycled Scrap.

About: no longer active.....


Project:  To build a replacement for the ugly rusted and burned out oil drum we have been using for a incinerator.

Lets face it when it come to recycling we all end up with bio mass that unless you live beside your recycling plant just become a nightmare to get rid off, my nearest center is 5 miles away in a different council district, the one I should be using is almost 12 miles away so anything that I can safely burn gets burnt.

I wanted to make something that would do for burning paper cardboard and garden waste. but would be nice enough to be used a heater.

We have been using an old 45 gallon steel drum as a make  shift incinerator which is almost burned out and rusted to bits. its good point was it had a large capacity for burning, but this was also its bad point was that the large capacity meant you just bunged big stuff in and it tended to go out as it was badly loaded or be very smoky.

I had an old washing machine rusting away in the yard that was due to go for scrap, they have stainless steel drum that well ventilated and look nice and make a perfect incinerator as stainless steel will not burn up like a steel barrel will do over time.

The washing machine drum has a smaller but reasonably good capacity, this will mean it must be loaded better and should hopefully burn much better.

This is a simple and easy project to build if you can scavenge the parts.

UPDATE: Some people have asked what type of washing machine has the stainless steel drum, they are found in the front loading automatic machines. I have added a pic to step 1 of the next victim to be gutted from parts. I will do a detailed instructable of what fab and groovy stuff is to be found in them. 

If you cant find a washing machine a tumble dryer should also have a stainless steel drum that will do, it will probably have a larger capacity also.

Materials used.

Stainless steel washing machine drum.
1" galvanized tube (scavenged from an old farm gate)  20 x 6mm flat steel could also be used.
The rim from an old bike wheel.
M6 nuts, bolts and washers.
Self taping screws.

Thanks for looking and i hope that this gives you some ideas for your own design.

Andy.

PS. I didn't plan this out, it was a case just wandering around the yard and sheds and using what ever turned up.  So it just kind of happened, sometimes that kind of approach works just as well as the long drawn out plan.


Step 1: Preparing the Drum.

You will need to find a busted up and scrapped Automatic washing machine that is a front loader.  Or if you cant find that a tumble dryer should also have a stainless drum.

I gutted the stainless steel drum from an old washing machine that is due to go for scrap.

I used a hand axe to crudely hack the drum free form the plastic tank it is mounted in, this was my quickest option rather and undo just way to many screws.  what ever you choose to do be careful as fingers and eyes don't grow back.

Once the drum is free, you will need to cut it free from the aluminum casting that houses the bearings.  The drum is riveted to the aluminum housing at 3 points they will show no resistance to a angle grinder.



Step 2: The Legs

I wanted something that was about waist height for ease of loading with garden waste and rubbish as it would be primarily a incinerator.

20mm x 6mm flat bar could also be used for this and is quite cheap to buy if you cant scavenge it.

I cut 3 lengths of 1" galvanized lube to 600mm.

Mark the pipes approx 30mm from the end and squeeze flat in a vice and bend to 90*

Mark and drill a hole in the center of each flat end as shown, this is where the legs will attach to the drum.

Step 3: The Ring.

The ring is simply the rim of an old bike wheel with the spokes cut out.

I had already robbed the hub from this wheel for some other project.



Step 4: Assembly.

The legs where bolted on to the drum using the 3 holes where the rivets where.

I marked the legs approx in the middle and drilled small holes to suite the self tappers.

The rim was attached to the legs with self tapping screws, the holes for the spokes can be used but you may need to drill one hole in the rim.

I only had a 20" wheel rim so i needed to give the legs a little bend out to make the incinerator more stable. a larger diameter rim will leave the spread the legs out more and make the base much more stable.

Step 5: Job Done. I Love It When a Plan Comes Together!

I now have a nice shiny incinerator that will not burn away or rust to bits.

I'm quite chuffed as how this turned out as I started of just wanting to build something, with just a rough idea in my head.

If you are looking to build a patio heater of fire pit thingy.  shorter legs would be better. (if i can lay my hands on another one of the drums I will make a nice fancy design and post the results)

Shorter legs will leave your incinerator with a lower center of gravity and less likely to get knocked over.

When playing with fire be safe and take precautions.

Thanks for looking, I hope my idea inspires your own design.

Andy.