Handmade Metal Frying Pans and Spatula

I made these pans and spatula that can be used over a campfire, on a wood stove, in an oven or on a kitchen stove top.  They are not as heavy as cast iron, but they work just as well.

Homemade Knives made from Sawblades

                                      I made some knives, fork and a spear using saw blades.

Handmade Tomahawks

I recently decided to make some tomahawks and make my own game of Tomahawk Toss so we had an activity to do in the yard while we enjoyed campfires.  I forged the heads from hammers, ball peen hammers and railroad spikes.  I drew some target rings on the log so we could count points.

Handmade drawknife

I made this small drawknife from a leaf spring.  It is about 6 inches across.  I use it to shape handles for making hatchets and tomahawks

Handmade Recumbent Bicycle

I  made a recumbent bicycle from bikes given to us when we asked around. I did not follow any specific plans for it.  I researched a bit and then built it to the design i wanted with the supplies I had. It is great exercise for me after my knee replacement surgery. I did spend a total of about $50 on things for it such as a helmet, speedometer and mirrors. I built a trailer to pull behind and while I ride I stop for cans and bottles to return. I have more than recuperated the $50 and now have a jar for the money from returning the bottles and cans (5 cents each in NY) I have also (with better diet as well) lost 55 lbs! A great project that will now be only profit from here. Money going towards new tires for our camper! 

Handmade Pallet Board Puller

My wife keeps telling me that there are hundreds of projects she wants to make with pallets.  I guess Pinterest  is loaded with ideas.  Since I will probably be the one taking pallets apart for these projects I thought I would make my job easier.  I built this to help pop the boards off more easily. She can use it too. You can buy a similar tool for about $65.00 but I made my own with black iron pipe and scrap metal I had.  A bright coat of paint so I don't lose it among all my other tools and we are set.  Now we need to find a new good source for free pallets.  The store that used to give them to us for free has gone out of business.  Previous pallets I have obtained I used to stack fire wood on or I used for firewood.

Bolens-Shaw Combo Homemade Tractor

I took parts of a Shaw tractor and parts of a Bolens tractor to make this one.

Handmade Propane Tank Wood Stove

I made this small wood stove from a 20lb propane tank. I added a cross brace on the top to place a pan for cooking.  I added a place to regulate the air under the fire area.  

Handmade Knives and More

I used saw blades to make the blades for these knives, fork and spear.  These were Christmas gifts for my son, wife and myself.  I used hard wood from a discarded wooden tray table for the handles.

Barbed Wire Star

We have a lot of old barbed wire around our property on the old fences.  Most of the fence posts are falling down and the wire is available for us to use in a variety of ways.  My wife suggested we start to get creative with it.  This is the fist thing we tried.

A Larger Homemade Rocket Stove

I made this larger rocket stove from the inside of a hot water tank.  I will  use this in my shop this winter.  I just need to work on the pipe for venting to outside.  I think it will work nicely.

Homemade Rocket Stove

I have seen articles about Rocket Stoves in various magazines and I have wanted to build one.  I finally got around to building one. It boiled water in 15 minutes and we tried it out to cook burgers.  We used a cast iron pan and the burgers cooked up nicely.  You need very little wood to keep the fire going.  It makes a nice backyard cooker or one we can take camping.  It is also a good emergency stove since anyone could probably gather enough wood around the yard in a pinch.

Homemade Compost Trommel

We make our own compost and Ed built this so that we can sift the dirt down to a good size for starting seeds and using on the garden.  We have a large pile and it is never all ready at once, so we will sift it and let the rest continue to decompose.  The way he built this trommel/sifter is so you can shovel the dirt in the higher end, the drill press motor rotates the 1/4 inch screen sifter which is on roller blade wheels for good spinning because it has bearings.  The dirt will sift through into a wheelbarrow that will be placed under the screen to catch the dirt.  The larger pieces will continue down the chute and back into a pile to continue.  It is similar to the idea that gold prospectors use to classify their material.

Homemade Easels

Although these are not made of metal, I made them for my wife and son. My wife likes to paint and didn't have an easel. My son wanted something to use his iPad on where it could stand up. Rather than purchase something for them, I wanted to make them. They came out nice and they appreciated the handmade gifts.

Rolling Metal Work Bench

I acquired a metal work table from a friend of my father in law.  I got an old wheelchair from another friend that I did handyman work for.  I decided to combine the two for an easy to move work table.  I use it in my garage and my wife has used it as a table to do her gardening when starting seeds.  It rolls nicely inside and outside.  

Homemade Forks For Tractor

I had previously made forks to use on my tractor for the main purpose of moving large sheets of steel.  I recently modified them so that they could be used for a standard pallet giving me a fork lift functin for my tractor.  I had to add some length to them and I changed the attachment part so that they could be placed at different widths for different items.

Homemade Charcoal or Wood Grill from Hot Water Tank

This week I made a grill from an old hot water tank (not galvanized). I also used parts from lawnmowers and training wheel frames. We had a grate from an old stove and I had some scrap steel pieces lying around.  I still plan to paint it but we used it for cooking dinner last night over wood. It worked great!

Seasoning and Cooking with Old Cast Iron Pans

Rusty Old Cast Iron Skillets

Sandblasting the old cast iron skillets 

All cleaned up and seasoned

Three of the Skillets in our kitchen

Getting the fire ready for cooking

Bacon, Egg and Toast Breakfast

Bacon Cheeseburger Dinner

This project started when I  read an article in the current Countryside magazine called "Rusty Gold."  It was an article about rescuing old cast iron pans. We happened to have six old skillets lying around.  My friend gave me a set of three skillets and my parents had given me a set of three skillets the same size as the other set. So with six pans and a sand blaster, I went to work.  Some sources say not to use a sandblaster because it may decrease the value of the pans...but we aren't selling them. We are going to use them.  After sandblasting them down to the metal, they were coated with lard, and baked at 450 degrees for 45 minutes.  I  used a stove that is in my garage to do this so there would be no smoke in the house.  After the pans cooled for an hour, they were coated with vegetable shortening and baked again.  At this point they had a nice black shiny coating. We have decided to use one set in the house and one for outdoor fire cooking. I made a set of hooks to hang them on so that they are handy to get to and add a little touch of country to our kitchen decor. It is recommended to cook high fat foods the first few times they are used until they get a really good seasoning on them.  We used two of them on the open fire to cook breakfast this morning and then used one again to make bacon cheeseburgers for dinner. We hope to do this often.