Minuteman International Crane, 18-inch Fireplace Pot Hanger Bracket, Black
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If the width (side to side) of the opening is the measurement you provided, I would recommend a 14-inch curtain rod. Crane (16") For cooking, make sure your kettle is centered over the fire. You'd be in the middle if you were half the width. Make sure the one you're looking at has at least a 14" arm (not including the post/bracket). Does that make sense?
Yes, it's powder-coated, and it could be used for an outdoor kitchen, for example.
It depends on how well it's attached to the "wall" or surface on which it's being installed. It's crafted out of wrought iron - My husband's is fastened to the inside of a cement block outdoor fireplace with concrete bolts. He frequently uses it to cook chili or soup over the fire in a 10 quart cast iron kettle, so you're talking about a 25-quart cast iron kettle. 30lbs. We've had it for a couple of years and it's been fantastic.
Selected User Reviews For Minuteman International Crane, 18-inch Fireplace Pot Hanger Bracket, Black
This is a wonderful addition to the living room. Since refinishing the fireplace, I haven't had a fire, but man, am I ready for the cold. I'm really looking forward to making my first batch of chili. br>Before mounting, make sure your arm is in your sleeves. br>I listened to the advice of others and spent $5 at Home Depot on heavy-duty hardware. I wouldn't say the supply was insufficient, but I didn't want to risk it. Make sure you're using the right masonry bit for the job. If you're using heavy-duty hardware, you'll need to pre-drill the holes. br>I should point out that I am handy but not an expert; luckily, I have larger bits because my screws didn't line up perfectly. It only took 5 minutes in the garage to enlarge the crane's holes a little. br>It was a wise investment, and I am content for the time being. br>I would strongly advise others to use this service. It's of good quality and only takes 15 minutes to set up. br>br>Recent changes: br>br> br>This is the first time I've made a chili in front of the fireplace. It was an amazing experience that was definitely not practical, but it was a lot of fun. br>I also spent a few dollars at the hardware store on a copper bushing to increase the height. Take a look at the previous image.
For your fireplace, this is a great old-world accessory. The two anchors that have been included are garbage-free. They should not be used. Purchase some lead anchors from Lowe's for the top two, and masonry screws for the bottom two. The top two (actually, the top one) bear the tensile force of whatever pot you're hanging on the hook, while the bottoms only serve to keep the brace vertical (low shear load). To install them, simply use masonry screws. br>Hang it as high as you can while still allowing enough clearance to swing it outside any doors you may have. Then go to eBay and purchase a nice vintage Griswold dutch oven ($50-$100). S- and 90) hooks to change the distance between you and the coals br>The base plate is designed to allow you to lift the crane off when not in use, but if you have the top bolt installed, you may need to cut 1/4" off the bottom peg to remove/install it. Overall, this is a good product.
br>br>It looks nice, but the bolts and inserts snapped off in my bricks, and now I have to struggle to get them out and head out to the I'm hoping I'll be able to remove them without damaging the bricks! There's no reason to include low-cost, poorly constructed parts at this price! br>br>I've re-added a couple of stars to my 1-star rating. After my initial annoyance subsided and I was able to mount it using high-quality hardware from the store, I gave it a five-star rating. Drilling out the low-cost bolts and anchors has left me exhausted. One of my bricks cracked, and a portion of its face chipped off, but I was able to reassemble it. Drilling out the old junk bolts and anchors until they fell apart was time-consuming, difficult, and tedious, but I got it done, and then drilled out the holes in the brick for the next size up. I strongly advise using a mask as well as eye and hearing protection. I'd have been in a lot of trouble if it hadn't been for it, especially after the mind-bending experience. Drilling for hours on end. br>br>The crane itself appears to be well constructed. As I discovered when I had to drill through the cast iron to increase the size of the holes so that I could use a larger bolt and anchor. WEEEEE! Even without a drill press, it was a lot of fun. However, the task has been completed. My dutch ovens are supported by the crane, which is beautiful. Tonight, just because I can, I'm going to boil a pot of water over an open fire. )br>br>I can't say enough good things about this crane, but please do yourself a favor and get some high-quality headphones. First and foremost, use high-quality bolts and anchors!.
For three reasons, I'm giving it four stars: To begin with, the manufacturer only supplies two anchor bolts despite the fact that the piece has four mounting holes. Second, the anchors aren't the typical kind you'd find in a hardware store or a big-box store. store in a box They're a drop-in expansion. Finally, there are no instructions or mounting template (ie- no style, internally threaded, anchor bolt with metric hex bolt). how big of a masonry bit to use, etc. ). br>br>Before buying this item, I read other reviews and realized I'd be missing two anchor bolts and that the bolts could be sub-par. the standard of excellence The anchor bolts are of good quality. It comes in two parts: a stainless anchor wedge with knurled grip and a size of 8. I should have measured the wedge, but it appeared to be equivalent to 5/16 inch outer diameter. 8 grade hex head bolt, so basically equivalent to a grade 5 SAE bolt The hex head was 14mm in diameter and about 2 inches long (I didn't measure). I believe the torque specs on these were around 25 ft/lbs, and I was careful not to overtighten them. br>br>I had to remove the black coating from the mounting strap's bolt holes before I could easily push the anchor bolts through, so do that first. A 1/2" carbide masonry bit was mentioned by a previous reviewer. I used a 3/8" Bosch BlueGranite Turbo carbide hammer drill bit, though I could have gotten away with a 5/16" bit because I had to "pre-drill" the holes. I drilled about 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" into the firebrick and "expanded" the anchor wedge to get a snug enough fit to lightly hammer into the hole and keep it from turning while tightening down the bolt. It's easier if you know how thick your firebricks are going to be ahead of time. br>br>I chose to use the crane's two bolts as a starting point. I positioned myself in the top and second-to-last holes. I'm going to try it out for a while (with a 5 qt dutch oven) to see if the mounting loosens up. Because of the design, those anchor bolts can be removed, so I won't have to worry about them being removed in the future. I don't see anything loosening unless you're bouncing stuff off the crane's end. br>br>I appreciate how easily the crane arm can be removed. I have a Rumford style fireplace that isn't deep enough for the arm to swing flush against the sidewall without hitting the back wall, so I'll have to take it out when I'm not using it unless I want to use it as a shoe/hat warmer/dryer. I also like that the inside of the triangle where the scrollwork attaches allows me to hang additional items. The crane is sturdy and capable of holding whatever you throw at it. So, if you're considering doing some hearth cooking, I'd recommend getting this crane.
The screws in this unit were supposed to stay in the firebox, but they didn't. We also waited far too long to try it, and it is now non-returnable, costing us over $100. Although it was a good plan, it did not come to fruition.
It's both appealing and durable. This is not a light-weight item, but rather a sturdy piece of equipment that can withstand most conditions.
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