To distract myself from my life, I am planning out a cook set for at the camper. Has anyone here built a cook set, what is it made from, what does it look like, what would you change after having it and what worked like planned, do you have pictures? I am thinking of using 5/8 inch re-bar for it and in my design it can go from a tripod to a cross bar system. What would you change or do you have one like it and how do you like it?
I need something like this for my folk’s cottage. Interested to see what you come up with! This set belongs to my friend walt. Maybe he’ll chime in?
I have a tripod system which works. My father has a different system. A 5/8 to 3/4 smooth re-bar is pounded into the ground just beside the fire pit. He has a large fire grate with a collar that slips down onto the re-bar. It is then tightened with a bolt that is threaded through the collar onto the re-bar post. Sometimes he just uses a pair of vice grips under the collar. The grate can then be swung over the pit or away from the pit.
What and how would you apply to the couple pieces that are to be food contact surfaces? I would like something that would help prevent flakes of rust coming off in the food but don't want to have a slimy greasy mess that washes off. Can a guy burn on cooking oil like a cast iron pan seasoning on re-bar, how'd you do it? Lastly working on initial set up and once I fine tune it, I will make a nice one. Where could I get my paws on a 3 inch welded ring? I tried a 2 inch and it doesn't quite have the room for adjusting the hinge of the tripod. Pictures coming soon.
Yes you can season rebar to cook on but after it is seasoned you will want to keep it out of the weather or it will rust. You can even season a coffee can to cook in. I have cooked a lot of meals in an old coffee can.
Not having a oven capable to hold the size of re-bar, would uou just heat it over open fire and then paint oil on a couple times?
If you have a good torch, heat the rebar past bright red and bend it around a piece of pipe held in a solid vise, hitting it with a hammer. You could also make a shallow dirt forge in the ground with charcoal and a hair dryer. Air blown into a hot charcoal mound will get hot enough to melt and burn steel. I can make you one next chance I get and send it out to you if you can wait a few weeks. As far as seasoning, heat it to cook off any impurities, oil or paint. Wipe veg oil on it but it does not have to be that hot. I have a mix of olive oil and melted beeswax in a jar I use for cooking surfaces. Like Walt said keep out of the weather, and the coating should last a while. I am supposed to forge a tripod this spring, waiting on the customer for specs.
Smoke from open fire could form deposits on steel and the oil would not stick as well. A quick wire brush once it is out of the fire will clean the metal. I season cast iron pans around 425 degrees so a few minutes over a regular fire is plenty.
Great idea on the bend it on a pipe! I will fire up my bertha torch and get it done. Thanks for the offer to make me one though. That is why I love this place, everyone is willing to help out in any way possible. I will probably season my small parts in the oven and for the big skewer set it up goalpost style and do it over the fire. Thanks again!
The un purty test unit is near completion! I want to run it over a few camp fires to see just how exactly it runs. I think if I would do another, it may be a bit taller if it is going to be used on flat ground or over a fire pit. This one will work well where we camp since the fire pits are dug down 6-12 inches. Started off with 4'8" lengths of re-bar. Very surprised how well the tripod locked together and supported weight without the legs sliding out even on smooth cement. For an initial test setup, I am extremely happy so far!
Set up in the goal post/cross bar style. The last pic is the pan holder and the small meat skewer. With theseeither moved or removed, the cross bar large meat skewer can be adjusted for height onto lower hooks.
