A client wanted a custom fire pit, and I had an old propane tank lying around. That was all the starting point this project needed. The result is a one-of-a-kind steel fire pit with a band of claw marks cut through the wall, sitting on legs made from I-beam scraps.
Where It Started
The tank was rusted and had been sitting around, so nothing about it looked like a fire pit yet. I cut it down with a plasma cutter and kept the bowl.
The Design
The claws were cut on a plasma table, which is what makes a pattern like this possible in steel. The pit wall is a separate band with the claw marks running through it, sitting on a steel ring that I stitch-welded to the tank bowl. The legs are I-beam scraps, which give the pit a solid, industrial stance.
The Challenge
Cutting the claws removed a lot of material from the band, and that made it want to lose its round shape in places. Keeping a thin, heavily cut band a true circle while welding took patience. I used C-clamps to pull it back into shape as I went, and tack welds in some areas until I knew it was sitting where I wanted it. Only then did I run the full stringer welds.
The Result
The client was very happy with it, and it was a chance to do something creative instead of a standard repair. Custom steel work often starts with an idea and some metal most people would throw out.