How to Make a Barbecue From a Washing Machine
by C Jordan on Jun 06, 2009 with 30 Comments
An idiot’s guide. Absolutely simple. No skills or special tools needed. Yes I am serious and no it’s not a joke. From an everyday washing machine you can have a spinning, rotating wood burner and barbecue! Read on for picture by picture instructions.
It’s one of those days. You have just saved up enough cash to buy that barbecue that you’ve had your eye on in the store, and what happens – the washing machine gives up the ghost! Bang goes the barbecue because the cash will have to go towards the cost of a new washing machine. Don’t despair, go and get that new washer and your old washer can be turned into an incinerator for garden rubbish, an outdoor log burner and a barbecue.
It is not at all difficult and you need no skills other than to be able to use a screwdriver and a spanner to take the old washer apart.
Once the washer is unplugged and disconnected from the water service get it out of the house to where you can work on it. You will probably find that a washing machine is the heaviest household appliance that you have. This is because there is a large block of concrete inside it. This is to keep the washing drum on its axis and to stop it dancing and bucking around the room when in use.
If you are a bit clumsy now might be a good time to save your skin and put a pair of gloves on. (Whenever I used to volunteer to do a job for my mother-in-law the first thing she would do would be to get the band-aids ready!)
You are only interested in the drum inside the machine. Therefore in unscrewing the cabinet from around it, it doesn’t matter what damage you do, because the rest of it is scrap. If a screw won’t undo then use a hammer and chisel.
The concrete block that is bolted to the drum can now be removed with spanners.
This is what you should be left with:
Fig 1 View of the drum from the front.
Fig 2. View of the drum from the rear. The drum’s axle can be seen in the centre of the back plate.
In Fig 2 you can see a lighter alloy back plate on the drum. This is bolted to the drum.
Undo and dispose of the bolts. You now no longer need any spanners or screwdrivers.
This will leave you with this:
Fig 3
You will now find that you can easily slide the drum apart.
You now have the back plate (light alloy), an inner drum (stainless steel) and an outer drum (painted steel)
Fig 4
Each component part is now quite light and easy to handle.
If the back plate has slipped of the axle this is not a problem simply put it back on.
Fig 5
Roll the outer drum on to its face. Roll the inner drum onto its base.
Fig 6
Pick up the back plate and inner drum and pop them on top of the outer drum.
Go on, give it a spin. It twirls round beautifully without the base plate moving.
That’s it. You’ve finished. No need for bolts or screws.
You now have a spinning and rotating brazier for burning garden rubbish, or for burning logs in on the cooler evenings when you want to sit outside.
You could use it as a barbecue as it is, but really it is too deep.
To take it to the next stage, to create a base for the charcoal, you need these:
Fig 7
(The pot tortoise is not really necessary).
I’ve cut 3 or 4 lengths of steel wire from an old piece of security fence. It is approx 3mm (1/8th inch) diameter. The size is not critical – it just needs to be sturdy and to be able to fit through the holes that are already in the drum, to support the mesh. To sit on top of this I cut a circle of mesh to fit inside the drum. This needs to be cut in half so it will fit through the opening. I cut an extra oblong to lap over the two halves.
Fig 8
Stick the lengths of wire through the holes in the sides of the drum, to provide support for the mesh, approx 10-15cm (4-6 inches) down from the top.
Fig 9
Put the mesh on top of this.
Fig 10
The final piece is the grill to place your food on. An old oven shelf is ideal for this as it is heat resistant and will not rust.
Fig 11
You can even bend some steel mesh over to give you an alternative cooking height.
That’s it. Bung in the charcoal and you’re ready to start cooking.
Enjoy!
Fig 12
Tips
1. There is no need to grease the axle, because of the materials used, it will not seize up.
2. The drum will get scorching hot so don’t try and rotate it by hand when it is lit.
3. Last but not least, do not mistake a rotating, spinning brazier for a rotating spinning, brassiere. While both may use enhancing chicken fillets, they are completely different.
In fact I don’t know if anybody has invented a rotating, spinning brassiere yet…. hmmm… I think I’ve got an idea for my next article….
(All images by Author)
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Published in: Do-It-Yourself
s hayes | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
Very ingenious x
Francois Hagnere | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
You are very patient and full of ideas my friend!
Daisy Peasblossom | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
That is just plain spiffy! I don’t need a brazier just now, but I’m thinking seriously of how I can adapt this idea for composting. I’ll get back to you on that… You see, I just happen to have a broken washing machine on hand.
One dot com | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
You must produce your innovation in large number I guess! Then, make a label “As you seen on TV”.
Patrick Bernauw | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
Now this is a useful article, Chris! This is going to be a brand new Barbecue Experience for me!
Inna Tysoe | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
Great idea.
And thanks for the comment Dave.
Inna
George W Whitehead | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
Great article, CJ. I tried this with our old washing machine but found it a bit of a bugger putting it back together again everytime my wife wanted to do the washing!
mike L. | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
wow! cool
Jo Oliver | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
that is one of the coolest articles that I have ever seen grace the triond pages! BRAVO!
Liane Schmidt | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
Wow………. now that’s creative ingenuity! Nice work*
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
That is totally an awesome idea, and a great way to “recycle”.
But it makes perfect sense.
Mr Ghaz | Jun 6, 2009 | Reply
Excellent!!..great work!!..Thanx for sharing this wonderful creative piece..
rutherfranc | Jun 7, 2009 | Reply
silly of me.. but I really thought that it was a WORKING washing machine that will be used and not a broken one…
Annie Hintsala | Jun 7, 2009 | Reply
You can also make a fine compost turner out of one of these. Really well thought out article with the pictures. Thanks!
PR Mace | Jun 7, 2009 | Reply
That was cool. How well does it cook?
CHAN LEE PENG | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
Good idea. Another practical way to barbecue…haha..
clay hurtubise | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
Tried it, but I’m all washed up.
I spun around in circles trying to figure it out, finally, after bouncing around, I cycled out to the hardware store, but they were re-loading the shelves.
Thanks,
Clay
Betty Carew | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
Wow CJ my dad use to use old washers on the beach for cooking lobster when he brought them in from the ocean. The down side is we were promptly sent to the road to sell them to anyone that was passing by , I think at that time they were about a dollar a lobster, times have changed lol. This is an excellent idea, great write and read
Bick Parker | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
With a title like that, how could I resist? A splendid idea but, unfortunately, I own the copyright to it! Mind you, I’m quite open to a small bribe …
Honestly, this is the best I’ve ever read on saving some brass. Have a beer on me!
PS. I was joking about the copyright.
C Jordan | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the comments. It cooks very well Pam, we’ve been using it for the last couple of years.
Lostash | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
Now thats recycling for you! Get the burgers on!
Ruby Hawk | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
I believe in using up, wearing out, and making do. I certainly like this article.
Glynis Smy | Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
Very clever and a great way of recycling, bravo!
nekkoli | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
Never seen anything like it and never would of thought to use one this way, great d@m write!
Mrs M | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
Wow, I would have never thought to use a washing machine as a BBQ! I loved this article and bookmarked it so that I can forward it on to some friends.
Carolyn Garofalo | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
I would of never though of that! Great information!
James DeVere | Jun 14, 2009 | Reply
Hello Chris,
I had a similar construction when I was a kid. We used the an old disused mangle style washer even though I am not as old as a grandma!
We also place a two circular saws atop it. Made wonderful hamburgers.
Cheers, j
S A JOHNSON | Jun 20, 2009 | Reply
This is both interesting and very creative. Great job!
nutuba | Jun 24, 2009 | Reply
This is wonderful! I love it. Someone at church took a 50 gallon drum and made a grill out of it also; really cool (well, really hot). Brilliant idea here.
Elleword | Sep 9, 2009 | Reply
Wickedly cool! Especially when you’re on hard times CJ. Beats the four-gallon metal drum with a wood fire underneath it!!