How to Build a Portable Backyard Firepit

With this DIY portable firepit, the party goes wherever you go! Whether it's for cooking a meal, roasting marshmallows, staying warm, or warding off bugs, this convenient portable firepit is something you can make yourself with old equipment you may have laying around the house. We’ll show you how we made a portable backyard firepit using a discarded lawnmower and an inner basket from a washing machine. If you are interested in how to build a backyard firepit using a washer drum, we have another video with more detail on how to remove a basket from a front load washer, so be sure to check it out too!

What Tools Do I Need?

• Assortment of wrenches
• Screwdrivers
• Angle grinder/sander/wire brush
• Portable drill
• Assortment of hardware

Steps for Building Your Own DIY Portable Backyard Firepit:

Step One

Remove the cables and pull cord and any items that are attached to the deck and handlebars.

Step Two

Flip the mower over and remove the blade, and then the mounting bolts that secure the engine to the deck. Be sure to dispose of the engine properly.

Step Three

Remove the grass chute by removing the carriage bolts that hold it in place, and discard.

Step Four

If you are painting your deck, you will want to remove the wheels, shield, and handle.

Step Five

If the deck just has loose paint, you can likely get away with using a wire brush to remove the old flaking paint off. If you have rust, use your angle grinder with a sanding disc to remove it.

Step Six

In our case, the mower deck was in a little worse shape than we thought, so we found a backing plate from the washer tub that we also used. This will set the tub up a little bit higher. Install the backing plate by bolting it onto the mower deck.

Step Seven

Now that the adaptor plate is installed, we are all set to give it a coat of paint. Be sure to wear protective eyewear and gloves and get painting! Once it is covered with paint, let it sit for a day to dry.

Step Eight

To get the tub up a little higher off the deck, to protect the paint, we dug out an old bearing housing, and we bolted it right on top of the plate.

Step Nine

Reassemble the wheels and handlebar.

Step Ten

Place the washer basket on top of the bearing housing.

Now that your portable firepit is complete, it’s time to get burning! Spark it up, sit back, relax, and enjoy a beautiful fire right in your back yard. For more tips, tricks, and DIY projects to try, check out our YouTube channel.