Hello everyone, I thought I would post up something I have found to be great for practicing bushcraft skills at home. If you are not lucky enough to live on a farm but are stuck in the city or suburbs this might come in handy.

I wanted to practice my fire skills at home but do not have the area appropriate. When I was walking around the local walmart I found this large metal tray for oil changes.

Here it is with a bunch of bush craft items to show you how large it is.



another view



I put it on bricks over the lawn and have no problem with burnt grass or heat marks. I cut out a piece of plywood as a under board and have used it on plastic buffet tables.





I have used it as a catch place while doing some light flint knapping or glass bottle arrowhead attempts. Before the bleeding!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



Besides bush craft skills I have used it for a ash/ spark catch on wooden decks while charcoal bbq. I have also started bbq coals on it for additional cook times and had no warping.

For whittling it makes clean up alot easier, just tilt it into the garbage can or bag and your done!!



I use it for cleaning up tools, knives, guns etc. It hoses off great and while it is a bit thin, (it can bend if your not careful) it is very durable. And if it does bend, you can push it back into shape easily with your hands.

I have not had it warp from the fire practice skills or hot coals. I am going to use it for dutch oven cooking but do not anticipate any troubles with warpage.


Here it is with a little fire practice. I used a Blind Horse Knives Woodsman Pro and a little pitch wood. It burned quick and hot with very dry kindling. I let it burn out so you can see the tin. It leaves alittle black mark that could clean up but I figure its just going to get marked up again. I hose it down to get the soot off and its good to go. You can see the back is untouched. Also note that its made in the good old USA!:42: which is still nice to see now and then!









[img]http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h459/sar511/CIMG0469.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h459/sar511/CIMG0470.jpg[/img]

Name of maker

[img]http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h459/sar511/CIMG0471.jpg[/img]

Back of tray after fire practice, no markings or warping!

[img]http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h459/sar511/CIMG0473.jpg[/img]


Plus the fact when I bought this one last year, I have a couple I keep at different places, it was only about ten bucks.

Hope you like the idea.

take care
sar

GREAT IDEA Sar! Way to improvise.

cool think out side the box


prolly a more wife-friendly idea that my baking sheet wrapped in aluminium foil
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

I tried this idea in a plastic paint roller tray and got an entirely different back of the tray look.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That's a [censored] good idea Sar,I could use one of those in my apartment.
I'm always making a mess when I make a sheath or checking the abilities of a new knife by making feather sticks.