khunkeith

1 hour ago, b17 said:

Well, I'd buy one. So only 49 left to unload. Bet you could easily find 49 other people on Thai visa alone who would buy one if the price was reasonable. 

  check the lazada link above

15 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This from Lazada ... https://www.lazada.co.th/products/outdoor-pit-bbq-table-grill-garden-patio-camping-heater-fireplace-brazier-intl-i243691661-s373996298.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.7.7e2e45d9xzx86C&search=1

thanks!!!   already on order now.  when I receive it, I will post how well it works and the quality. 

13 minutes ago, Hank Gunn said:

That could very well be true (the quality of steel here I mean). In the case of the barrels here, and the BBQs made from them, part of the issue may also be the gauge (thickness) of sheetmetal that's rolled into barrels.

 

I'm really glad that amongst the stuff I had shipped over was a nice, 21" Weber grill, but I do regret not shipping over some really nice garden tools (super strong, square-bladed spade, and fiberglass-handled pick-axe among them).

I shipped over my Webber too.  Bought a spade and,  it bent the first time I tried to dig with it and pushed in with my foot.  I have hed my Webber 8 years and still works great.  My wife bought a knock off table top webber at Home Pro and it started to fall apart after a 1/2 dozen uses.  I had the same garden tools in the states for over 20 years.  I wish I had bought a new set and shipped them when I moved here 8 years ago. 

Back to topic, I am looking not jsut for functionality but aesthetics as well. 

6 minutes ago, Hank Gunn said:

Actually, I have a friend with an old barrel converted to a fire pit and it's lasted for over 20 years. However, the barrel is oriented vertically, with a plate welded in about 1/3 of the way up with holes in the plate and holes around the barrel at the bottom (below the plate). The fire is started/burns on top of that plate and works very well. If you look at Starky's suggested design, which is not bad either, you'll see the ridges on the barrel (used for when they're rolled) the bottom of which you can weld the plate to. With lots of welders and cheap labor in Thailand, you should be able to do one up pretty cheaply and easily.

 

As a side note, in addition to the durability of this design, it has save my friend from tickets for illegal fires from the US Park Service and US Forestry Service (as well as in state parks) due to the fact that the fire is not directly on the ground and is contained in the barrel. I think you'd be surprised at how durable this design is, and with pretty much every fire my friend has made, he's gotten the barrel around the ventilation holes cherry red.

I wonder if the steel used in barrels here is a lower quality steel then used in the US?  I know the steel used in nails I have bought here is poor quality and the same with gardening tools that I have purchased.  When I built my gazebo, nails bent easily and, when I tried to pull them out, the heads sometimes popped off, never had that happen with nails I got in the US. 

what I found on AMazon.  cost, shipping and import tax, about $250. 

1 minute ago, jimmyyy said:

Keith I think you would do much better at a local shop.  basically you are looking for a large 12 gauge Wok.  Take a photo of a Wok, tel them how large and thick you want the wok to be.  Tell them to put legs on it and weld supports between the legs.  Don't let them Tack it you want solid welds.  Best of luck to you sir, may you have many cool nights by the fire........

maybe I can just order 50 from Alibaba and sell the here on Thai Visa   ?

by the way, I can order one on Amazon that can be shipped here.  The price, about $125, will double with shipping and import tax though.  I think the wife will kill me if I pay $250,  ?

update:  thanks for all the suggestions and ideas.  Most of them I have already looked into.  the disk idea is a new one that I will look at for sure.   Shaping and cutting a hemisphere that looks good is an art and I want something that is not only functional but aesthetically pleasing.   the problem with home made is, well, it looks home made.  At least it will if I make it.  I have about zero blacksmithing skills. 

35 minutes ago, starky said:

Does it have to be a bowl? What about the old 44 cut in to a third with some holes punched in the bottom they are pretty portable. If ya can't build your own there is a Thai style one available just about everywhere on a much smaller scale.

 

a friend of mine used one for a BBQ.  worked nicely for a while but the steel was to thin.  it burned and rusted though the bottom after a couple years.  I looked at commercial sized woks and saw they would have the same problem.  1/8" steel thickness  (10-12 gauge) or better is recommended.  a barrel is usually about 18 gauge.   thanks for the suggestion though. 

4 minutes ago, malt25 said:

Like I said, buy a plough disc & have your local guy make the legs. Easy peasy.

I looked in line at them and not sure they are deep enough for safety.   I will go to the local shop where I know they are sold.  thanks for the suggestion. 

16 minutes ago, malt25 said:

I'd go to an agricultural-hardware store & purchase a plough disc. They come in a variety of sizes. For a very basic base just set the disc on a few bricks. For something more like your photo, any local engineering shop, shack, will be able to make you the base for next to nothing.

Hope this helps. 

I have shown the photo to the local metal shop guy and he is not sure how to make the bowl.  I have looked into commercial sized woks to use as the bowl but the are mostly aluminum or very thin steel.  my dad (in the states) has a 30" one made of copper and uses in his gazebo and he paid about $60 for.  he can also move it to his wooden deck if he chooses the roof of my gazebo is vented, the same as my fathers. 

Greeting all. 

I am looking for a place to buy a fire pit that is portable.  I have built a new gazebo in the yard and would like a place to build a fire during the cool nights in late December and January.  I lost a couple good sized trees during a large windstorm earlier this year and the wood is cut and stacked. 

here is a photo of the type I wish to get.  They are quite popular in the states and easy to buy. 

Thanks

You've replaced 12 heaters within 9 years? wow.

If you have an existing tank & pump, you should probably look into a whole house filter that cleans the town water before it even hits your tank. You really can't filter after the pump, or directly filter the mains (in the case you don't have a pump), as it will simply drop the water pressure too much for a quality shower.

With 4 water heaters, you should also probably look into changing it all to solar hot water. In the past 9 years, you've already spent more money than what a solar system would have cost you, and that's not even including how much you've spent on electricity in that time....

the house was built with only one water line running through the walls (solid masonry and concrete). putting in an additional like for hot water would mean exposed pipes and we don't want to do that.

We have a water storage tank but, 2 inputs. One from our well and one from city water. We have a piston pump on the well and attach a hose to a fitting on tank.

since I live in the province, finding a qualified expert is not easy.

What brand are you using?

Do you buy the same brand every time?

different brands with different wattage's.

is there such a thing as a in line filter to attach to the input side? like the in line gas filters for cars?

The ones I have do have a fine mesh inlet filter on them which I take out and clean occasionally, and especially if the water to the moo bahn is shut off for a period as all kinds of gunk enters when the pressure is back.

I have those too. but does not seem to help. I think the mineral build up is due to microscopic particles that form over time.

is there such a thing as a in line filter to attach to the input side? like the in line gas filters for cars?

we have had a house in THailand since 2006. We have 4 instant water heaters in the house and I am about to replace them for the 3rd time. I have tried flushing them regularly with vinegar to clean out mineral deposits but, even then, after 2 years, they just stop heating the water beyond luke warm. not a problem in the hot weather but, it's a drag on cold mornings.

I see the same water heaters in hotel rooms that look like they have been there for years and the water is still piping hot.

any suggestions or ideas so I am not replacing these things so often? is there a brand available that's really good? or, a way to install an inline filter?

thanks

I germinated seeds from a 'real' lemon a little over 3 years ago. transplanted them to small pots after they germinated, then to larger pots when they were about 6 inches tall. I moved them to the ground when they were about 12" high. they are now about 4 meters tall. In the beginning, I had to fight the battle of the insects constantly. For the last year or so, they have become strong enough to battle the insects themselves. The leaves have a strong, lemon smell to them. According to research I have done, they usually start to blossom when they are 4-5 years old and start to produce lemons. I started with about a dozen in the small pots and 5 survived transplanting and insects. Birds seem to love nesting in them. Perhaps because of the long, thick and very sharp thorns on the branches that keep away cats?

tolsti, on 04 May 2014 - 18:59, said:

One of my pet hates is foreigners who preface their name, nickname, handle with the word Khun or Ajarn

OMG, you really have issues, we are so worried by you....get help.

there is always a troll. If I was an admin on this site, at first sign of a troll comment, suspension. Lot's of great and helpful and understanding people here but, trolls pop up now and again.

One of my pet hates is foreigners who preface their name, nickname, handle with the word Khun or Ajarn

I have not heard the term "pet peeves" since 2rd grade when my teacher, an grandmotherly type, used it ad nauseum and that was 50 years ago.

When I first started come regularly, a couple decades ago, I always stayed in the same hotel and the Thai's greeted with that name as they knew me and recognized me on site. I liked it. so, if it bothers you, tough shit. Get a life.

When I lived in Germany, I was greeted as Herr, and in Japan as with San after my name.

In Thai culture, if you call yourself, or even write "khun" before your name, it is not correct. It is for other people to call you khun....... or write khun before your name. Probably ok here on the forum, just saying

this is the only place I call myself that. I liked when the Thai's called me that when I first started visiting. I thought it was fun. I still do.

One of my pet hates is foreigners who preface their name, nickname, handle with the word Khun or Ajarn

I have not heard the term "pet peeves" since 2rd grade when my teacher, an grandmotherly type, used it ad nauseum and that was 50 years ago.

When I first started come regularly, a couple decades ago, I always stayed in the same hotel and the Thai's greeted with that name as they knew me and recognized me on site. I liked it. so, if it bothers you, tough shit. Get a life.

When I lived in Germany, I was greeted as Herr, and in Japan as with San after my name.

Sadly mate you'll just have to roll with it. I had to wait 4 days for the painters to show up recently. The upside is that when they did finally make it they did a belting job and that has been my experience all round.

They are not sitting around waiting for you to call you know,they have other work.

I guess that's the point I am trying to make too. I know they are not sitting around waiting for my call. If they can't come today, just tell me. If they can't come for 3 days, just tell me that. I don't have a problem with that and can make other arrangements. a few months ago, I had a leaking water pipe in the yard. There were a couple square meters of soggy ground that I would have to dig up to find the pipe and the leak. We contacted someone that said he would come by the next day and no show. I gave up and started digging. took me 3 days and had to dig down over a meter, following the water flow. I ended up with a hole the size of a VW beetle. I cut out the broken pipe, put in a new section and was wait for the earth to dry a bit before backfilling the hole. THen, the man showed up with his crew to do the work. It had been a week since he said he would come. Now if he had told me in the beginning "I am quite busy and can't make it for a week" I understand that. But, JUST TELL ME, that's all I ask. if you can't make it CALL.

But, sometimes, the guys go show up when they say and do a great job. However, that seems to be the exception more than the rule. I am very pleased with service here sometimes and it's outstanding.

But, I am a type A person. I have that working against me.

Ok, here's what you do. First off, don't go to some large department store / chain and put in a repair order, if that's by chance what you're doing. Instead, just fine some little store that's obviously owned by a family or small business owner.

Go in and talk to them face-to-face, not over the phone. Second, offer a decent tip somehow or another. You know, ask "how much extra to have it fixed today?" type of thing. Might cost you an extra 500 or 1000 baht, but compartively, much cheaper than the West.

Exactly correct....well said....perfect answer from Nautilus05

I have had the exact same issues when trying to get some major home appliance repaired via Dept stores/Chains......even though they sold me the appliance in the first place.

In many of the little Soi's around my apartment are many 1 man band repairmen (you need to ask around)....... I take my hat off to these thai repairmen.....while they don't advertise that they fix e.g washing machines, .....they are damn clever and have a natural bent to repairing alot of stuff.

Since I forgot about asking for repairs via the Dept stores...and used these small Ma and Pa type repairmen.....I have had darn good service, and no problems whatsoever.

Ok...yes they can take 1 or 2 days to get to you....but they do get there in the end..........

I always pay an extra 200/300b for the repair and offer him a beer/water/cigarette while he's is on the job.....this in my view helps secure the repairman and sets up a repore' should you ever need him again

i.e. falang good man, pay extra, have beer, and he give me cigarette

It's the small things and the small people that make this world go around...believe me

I always tip and, if they are here at lunch time, buy their lunch and, also give them a large bottle of Leo when they leave. that's been SOP since I have been here.

They obviously know that bad luck follows you... just look at how many problems you have.... in 5 years I haven't had any failures. Trust the Thais... go get some good luck... Oh, all I said is in jest.

all is good except for finding qualified repair people that show up when they say they do. Everyone I know that lives here has the same problems. that's why it was a rant. Rant means no solution. It's just about blowing off steam. I have a friend that has lived here 16 years and speak fluent Thai and has the same problems. The only solution is to get used to it instead of getting angry about it.

Try getting a gas bottle delivered at 10.30 pm half way through cooking a roast lol

I used to own a hunting cabin in the mountains with a LP stove. lesson learned long ago, always have a spare tank.