Every hiking enthusiast knows how delicious food cooked over a fire can be. And the advantages here are obvious. At home, a stove is used, but a fire gives dishes a special flavor. And there is no need to take even a small tile with you - where can you find electricity in camping conditions? During your lunch break or dinner you will have to use what you have. Some people prefer folding barbecues, camp barbecues, smokehouses, cauldrons and other options. But often people take a camping pot with them. You also need something that will hold it over the fire. A tripod will be useful for this. This useful device is easy to make yourself from different materials.
Features of using tripods
It is easy for any experienced tourist to make a device for cooking food over a fire. The design is suitable for hunters, fishermen and all outdoor enthusiasts. The best choice for a stationary tourist camp or traveling by car is a barbecue. However, when hiking, such “equipment” will cause more trouble than benefit. Therefore, a tripod would be the best choice here.
Metal tripod
Using only the barbecue frame allows you to hang 2, 3 or more containers over the fire at once. However, such a design will result in inconvenience, since it is difficult to carry, and excess weight is undesirable.
There are any number of suitable materials in forest areas - as a rule, various branches and wooden crossbars are used. But in some cases you have to improvise. For example, you need to cook something in winter in snowy areas. How to act in the absence of special devices?
Anyone who goes on a winter trip has at least three ski poles. They will just serve as stands for an improvised tripod. All that remains is to tie the elements together, and the dishes can be hung with a rope, which can also be found. Any suitable item can become a hook.
How to make a tripod out of wood
In order not to waste precious time, you can set up the purchased tripod and immediately proceed to cooking. There are many different options available for sale at appropriate prices.
But not every vacationer will want to spend their savings on such a purchase, because nature itself can provide everything that is needed. And he will not require any remuneration for this. There are several ways to build a useful device. Subsequently, you can burn it, since it hardly makes sense to take it with you. It is easy to find other branches in a new location.
Option of two flyers and a crossbar
The most common way is to hang one pot, or even several containers, over a fire. It is simple and reliable to use. In the forest, on the bank of a river or other body of water, it is not difficult to find two branches with a fork. To attach the entire device, it is better to sharpen the ends of the flyers so that they can be easily immersed in the ground. But you can just bury it in the ground.
When preparing for a hike, you should always take with you one hook, or better yet several of different lengths. The dishes will be hung on them to the required height above the fire. It is advisable to keep in stock the wire from which the hook of the required length is made. It won't take up much space in your backpack and weighs very little. But there are a lot of benefits from it.
Tripod option made of two flyers
Option of one flyer and a long pole
Among nature lovers, this is another preferred way to cook food over a fire. However, in terms of reliability, it is inferior to the option discussed earlier. The parts of the device will be one flyer and a long thick branch. Moreover, both need to be chosen in fairly large sizes.
Sharpen the stick at one edge and drive it into the ground to a decent depth. Also, place a large stone on the side of the fire to the fixed branch to give additional strength.
Important! Before its intended use, it is better to test the structure without lighting a fire and fill the container with water.
Wooden tripod made from a flyer and a stick
Three pole option
To do this, you will need three long and strong branches, which are laid in a pyramid. At the top, the device is tied with wire, a hanging chain or a strong thick thread. Then the entire structure is placed above the place where the fire will be lit.
Homemade stand for feeder
If it is not possible to purchase stands for the feeder in the store, then you can make homemade stands for any spinning rod. Most fishermen make stands from metal wire, the diameter of which is on average 5-6 mm. You can make a single support or a structure with several supports and designed for 2 or more fishing rods.
Be sure to wrap the places where the fishing rod comes into contact with the wire with electrical tape. Or you can put a cambric on the wire. You can choose different lengths and diameters, depending on the size of the structure you are going to make.
A tripod can be made from a plastic hanger. To do this, just remove the hook and cut off all excess. The lower part should be carefully wrapped with thread, which is filled with glue for strength. This type of winding on the hanger should be done every 5 centimeters.
For night fishing, you can make another version of the feeder stop, where a regular bell attached with a clothespin will act as a signaling device. You can install the bell on any stand that is available.
Structures for holding a feeder rod are much cheaper than store-bought devices, especially when compared with a rod-pod. Homemade racks will cost very little, and if you try, the result will be the same as using professional equipment.
How to make a tripod out of metal
With skillful hands, making a tripod yourself will not be difficult. The process itself can be performed by anyone who has the slightest knowledge of tools. You don’t need any drawings with complex contours, or any special skills. There is also no need to use rare materials, since everything you need is in the access zone. You can choose any design dimensions, but within reason.
In order not to waste time searching for suitable materials during the hike, it is better to build a tripod in advance. True, you will have to carry it with you later, but sometimes this option is justified. Prudence never hurts, although situations may be different and no one is immune from unforeseen circumstances.
Required materials and tools
To create a durable structure, fittings, aluminum or steel pipes are suitable. From them you need to make three segments of the same length. Regarding steel, it is better to choose pipes with thin walls, which will reduce the weight of the entire structure.
Among other materials you will need:
- bolt with eyes and nuts - 3 pcs.;
- S-shaped hook – 2 pcs., but more is possible;
- metal chain - used to hang dishes.
The tools you will need are a hammer, a hacksaw or a grinder, pliers or pliers.
Reinforced tripod
Preparation of material
The first step is to decide on the size of the tripod. To do this, you need to consider what kind of dishes will be used for cooking. The main thing is that the pot is freely located inside the structure. It is also worth assessing what size the tripod will be when folded, because if it turns out to be too bulky, then carrying it will be very problematic.
Cut the pipes to the required length - it is better to choose a range from 150 to 200 cm. The longer they are, the higher the tripod will be. As practice shows, it is more convenient to cook food on a fire with a high structure.
The loop of one of the bolts must first be slightly bent. Immediately screw the nuts onto each bolt. And after such simple manipulations, all that remains is to move on to assembling the structure.
Step-by-step instructions for making a tripod
Let's consider the option of manufacturing a structure using steel or aluminum pipes. You need to act according to the following algorithm:
- Place the eyes of the remaining elements and the chain itself into the loosened loop of the bolt with the screwed nut.
- The loop is clamped with pliers (pliers) or a hammer so that all the parts do not fall out. This will also give the structure strength.
- To attach the tripod legs, the ends of the bolts with pre-screwed nuts are inserted into each tube.
- If the bolt moves freely inside the cavity, it is advisable to use a hammer to flatten the pipe in places above and below the nut.
- Install one hook at the top of the 3rd chain link. It will adjust the lifting height of the dishes.
- The second hook is attached to the end of the chain. To secure the hinges of both parts, tighten them with pliers. This will prevent the hook from jumping out of its place at the most “opportune” moment.
DIY aluminum tripod
The result is a tripod that can be easily folded for transportation. If desired, the design is equipped with an additional “option”. Holes are drilled in the legs to install several more hooks. It will be possible to dry shoes next to the fire or place dishes so that food does not cool down for a long time.
Remover for cuticles and corns
A special cuticle product makes it easier to remove without cutting and significantly speeds up the process. The remover for corns allows you to do a pedicure without soaking your feet, and also gets rid of unpleasant dust.
Removers are sold in the form of gels, creams and liquids. According to reviews, the cream is considered the most convenient to use, while the gel is easier to apply evenly and accurately. As for the liquid, it can leak and cause a chemical burn.
Give preference to bottles and tubes with special spouts that allow you to accurately apply the product. Working with a brush will require some experience.
The price of different types of removers is affected by their performance, composition and volume. After using cheap products, you often have to cut off the remaining cuticle.
- Alkaline preparations are highly effective and fast-acting - the procedure takes from 1 to 3 minutes. In no case should you exceed the specified time, so as not to damage the nail plate and get burned.
- Suspensions or liquids based on aggressive acid are professional salon products. Excellent for removing corns.
- Removers based on fruit acids are the most popular and safe. Their range is quite large, differs in cost and efficiency. Disadvantage: long exposure process.
How to hang a pot over a fire
A tripod acts as an easy way to hang cookware over the fire. However, there are several other options:
- A single rack with several horizontal rods that can accommodate 2, 3 or more containers. This design is also made of metal.
- Two slingshots with a crossbar also allow you to accommodate several vessels.
- A rope stretched between vertical branches.
- A perch located on a slope and supported by a large boulder.
You can also use two tripods, between which you place a pole or stretch a rope. In this case, both the spears and the stands must be stuck or driven into the ground. The tripod is a universal tool because it is suitable for any type of soil. The device can be easily installed even on a rocky surface. This distinguishes it from other designs.
If you are smart, there is one alternative that can replace the hook. Find a branch with a fork and break off one of the branches, leaving a short fragment - you will get a suitable solution.
Share in the comments what is your favorite way to cook over a fire!
