Fire Irons

[Odyssey]

I've recently decided to add to my gear and try a traditional method of cooking over fire. It seems the ultimate in simplicity, involving only 2 iron bars laid across rocks over embers to provide pot support. No grill. No stove. No fuss. No bother. Going even simpler often I'll just place my scorched pots directly on logs to save time and prep. Let the low flames lick the pots while I get on with other chores. But I'm adding to my kit and "cuisinal repertoire", exploring alternative ways to canoe, camp and cook.
A pair of irons may become part of a more traditional collection I'm assembling for some simpler travels.
Here is a photo from a Tim Gent blog. http://www.timgentoutdoors.com/


Does anyone else use fire irons?

 

[Boreal Birch]

Take a trip to the nearest dump site, looking for a old bed frame. A few minutes with a hack saw should be all you need to make fire irons of various lengths.
I have never used fire irons, always just used grills balanced on rocks or logs.

 

[Canotrouge]

A fiend black smith made me what I call fire spikes... it is 3 piece of round steel rods that have an eye at one end and when place together form a triangle that you place on three rocks and you set your pot on that triangle, the triangle is ajustable w/o moving the rocks so you can use different size pots...

 

[Canotrouge]

[No message]

 

[Gamma1214]

fire spikes

Wow, I like that and REALLY easy to make! Next time I light the forge, I'll have to get me some. Is one shorter than the others or are the rings just large enough to allow them to disengage for transport?

 

[Gamma1214]

Oh... to answer Odyssey's question: I've generally used firewood for pot support but the irons (or spikes) would allow for smaller fires and less time spent soaking logs before departure from the site. As long as they weren't excessively bulky, they're a great idea.

 

[Odyssey]

I salvaged some 1" copper pipe, cut into 2 - 18" lengths. I'll see how these do. They're very light and strong enough. The fire will never get hot enough to cause any problems and I won't be placing food directly on them. That iron triangle is clever.

 

[Guest]

I use a simple "trivet" made out of 3/16" X1 1/4" flat steel stock. One piece is bent at each end at 90 deg to form legs, and the other which is 1/2 the length and has the 3rd leg bent on it's end is riveted to the center of long piece so it can fold for transport or swing out to put a pot on. Sorry--no picture.

 

[Robin]

I just use rocks to balance my frying pan on, but those irons look nice. HOOP did a video (https://youtu.be/_1bJebnATbk) on Purcelle Trench Grills http://www.purcelltrench.com/grills.htm

I would try that Travelers Grill @ $49.00 US when I cruise about in my square stern canoe with the G'Kids.

 

[sweeper]

+1 on the Purcell, but those 3 irons are a nice touch also but I don't want to carry them too far.

 

[Canotrouge]

Wow, I like that and REALLY easy to make! Next time I light the forge, I'll have to get me some. Is one shorter than the others or are the rings just large enough to allow them to disengage for transport?

There is a ring only at one end.. I’ll take more pictures today!

 

[DuctTape]

My father used two pieces of wall mount for shelving. These "U" shaped bars worked well. I just use firewood, or lash a tripod.

 

[Odyssey]

Some good reading that got me started on this in the first place. Next comes the RO I guess.
http://ottertooth.com/Temagami/Traditions/fireplace.htm

http://ottertooth.com/Temagami/Tradi...place-diag.htm

 

[Canotrouge]

This is the ajustable fire triangle better photos!! Made out of 5/16” round stock...

 

[scoutergriz]

for decades my fire irons have been nothing more than a couple of pieces of rebar about 2' long, they'll easily support a couple of 3gal stock pots for large groups, fit well on all but the largest pits, and can hold up the ugliest, most twisted grills nicely. they've also doubled as stakes for a large fly in heavy wind, and live in a bag made from the leg of an old pair of jeans.

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

I use aluminum angle stock as fire irons. They seem plenty strong enough unless you trip with a 15 gal stock pot. I store them in a cordura sleeve.

 

[Iskweo]

I seldom cook on fire ...when I do its pretty simple. Usually on a stick or a spit, or in foil pouches.

On any well used site around here you can usually find a fridge or oven grate laying about that everyone uses.

 

[Canotrouge]

I should specify that we always cook on fire and almost all the time in a fire box. Just more efficient, less wood, fire is right under what you are cooking even in hight wind, leave no trace, and up here we are allowed to use them even during fire bans!
Down side is they are a bit heavy, I would love to have one the same size as mine and same model but in Ti... It would be probably 30 percent lighter!!

 

[Boatman53]

Canotrouge how thick do you think the metal would need to be if the firebox was made out of Ti?
Jim

on topic I’ve got some tent stakes like the fire irons so I might try them for the next pot of tea.

 

[Canotrouge]

Canotrouge how thick do you think the metal would need to be if the firebox was made out of Ti?
Jim

on topic I’ve got some tent stakes like the fire irons so I might try them for the next pot of tea.

I have no Idea, I have a four dog ti wood stove that is 15 percent larger than my old Knico stove and is 30 percent lighter.... But I don't know what thickness Ti it is made out of!