DREAM | DESIGN | BUILD
Some of what we do can be hard to describe.
Below is an example of how one of our more challenging projects played out.
Having previously awarded us the window screen project for their new hall, the Evansdale Community League was familiar with our work, and wanted us to design a custom warming station for their ice rink.
They had purchased a propane fire pit, but needed it transformed to meet their needs.
Specifically, they wanted a self-contained mobile warming station, with a perimeter counter for hot beverages. It had to be easily moved in and out of storage by one person, yet not easily moved once on the ice. And, of course, it had to be safe for the kids to hang out around, with no trip or burn hazards.
The Design, the Challenges and the Build
The basic design seemed fairly straight forward. Using corrosion proof materials (aluminum, stainless steel and galvanized steel), we had to create a vented enclosure for the propane tank and burner assembly. It would employ a screen, making it safe to sit by, and ideally a cap to direct the heat outward towards the audience. The real design challenge was that it needed to be easily maneuvered by one person onto the ice, yet not easily moved once in place.
It needed to be on wheels! But it couldn’t be on wheels. It had to stay put with kids leaning on it. So, the wheels had to be retractable. Just have to adapt some airplane landing gear!
And in the end, that’s kind of what happened. We designed a set of wheels on a frame. The set of wheels straddled the propane tank, which would pivot down below the cabinet. To eliminate any trip hazards, we devised a telescoping handle that pulled out of the cabinet. When extracted and lifted, it lowered the wheels on the far side, and then it picked up the near side of the cabinet. This made it possible for one person to easily move it around. The stability of the unit, once out on the ice, was made possible by resting the unit on four spikes. These were located on each corner of the cabinet when the wheels were retracted.
We now had a unit that met the community league’s criteria, so we moved on to the rest of the build. The enclosure to hide everything was fabricated with an access door, which led us to the venting of the cabinet. Venting was required due to the propane tank. For safety reasons, the area and vent locations are very specific. It was easy enough to drill a bunch of big holes, but it just wasn’t all that attractive. In all that we do, the aesthetic is always a factor, so we were reluctant to settle on the easy way out. We came up with an idea and pitched it to the league. The suggestion was to apply our logos to the sides of the cabinet. We’d then cut out the lettering, which would provide the required ventilation! Of course, they went for it, and no one is the wiser that the logos actually serve a purpose!
Our final hurdle was finding a way to deflect the heat down and out from the top. Our experience suggested that a parabolic curve would be ideal. Now, we are set up to fabricate just about anything, but forming a bowl out of a piece of sheet metal isn’t one of them. Alternately, we could have rolled a cone, but the witch’s hat look just wasn’t an ideal aesthetic. In the end, the light bulb came on and we repurposed an old home satellite dish. Problem solved!
“Uber Iron’s execution of the League’s vision for a warming station is at a level of excellence in both design and workmanship. The Community League members are pleased with the symbolism and spirit of the campfire unit it represents”
President.
Evansdale Community League
2021
