Fire pit for backyard

alleycat

alleycat

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Sanford, NC
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I've got the stone down already in the circular area where I'm planning on burning some wood for get-togethers. I can either buy a pre-made fire pit in the $40-$80 range, or I can try to make one, or if anyone's handy and wants to make one I can put that $40-$80 towards that.

Any recommendations on local places or makers?
 
You can get a fire bowl from E & T Salvage (Earl) in Sanford. Several of us on here have made the trip. I imagine he's still making them.
 
Me. said:
Before you build, consider building the pit IN the ground.

If you build it in the ground, you can make a cover for it that sits flush. Makes it easy to mow over, and doesn’t use any space when not in use.

It’s not for everyone. I built one like this at my last house and loved it.
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Can you put up a picture of this. We built a round one out of stones from Home Depot two years ago. It does the job but is a pain to clean out and wears weed eater string out pretty quick.
 
That’s very cool @Me.
 
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Me. said:
DO NOT USE THE ROCKS SHOWN IN THIS PIC. turns out they explode. Just use gravel.
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The best part of any tutorial: what NOT to do!

Very clever firepit design. Nice work.
 
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What is the diameter of the in-ground fire pit? Does it have any problem getting air for combustion?
 
Neat plan.
Before I read the post I thought about using piece of concrete well pipe buried. They have concrete caps for them as well.

When we had to dig to uncover my dads septic tank once he got a piece of that and covered the opening and cut it so it was flush with the ground and we mow over that.
DQ9898X.JPG
 
J R Green said:
Before I read the post I thought about using piece of concrete well pipe buried. They have concrete caps for them as well.

DQ9898X.JPG
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Although simple just beware it could be like the exploding rocks and I would not recommend it stick with something metal right next to the fire. Most commercial concrete have metal fire rings. Reason I would not recommend it is concrete absorbs moisture when not in a controlled environment . When you build a fire next to concrete or on it and it is heated that moisture is released depending how quickly it is heated and it turns to steam. Steam expands much faster than concrete and that is where the large pressure spike comes from and when a section of the concrete cannot contain it or fails that pressure is released rapidly hence the explosion or popping. If you always built a small fire the risk would be pretty low as it could dry out slower and possibly release the moisture over longer period but a big hot quick fire is where issues come from rapid steam release. A cutting torch cutting piece of steel against a concrete floor will do the same, been there got that beauty mark on a shop floor.
 
Me. said:
Thanks, JP. I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking... once it has been heated once, it's probably safe.

I hadn't thought about how concrete always seems to absorb moisture, over it's entire life.
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It will somewhat stabilize but at what point usually depends on environmental factors surrounding the concrete. Adding the high heat quickly just tries to make the moisture escape faster than possible. Other thing it will also sweat like a tea glass if there is a quick tempeture change outside.
 
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I was warned about not using paving stones to make a DIY fire pit, for the aforementioned exploding reasons. Might still be interested in throwing a metal ring in the ground, but it would be a shame to waste the effort the last homeowner put in. They paved a 6 foot diameter circle in the lawn for one of those rust-away-after two years Walmart kits and put in power outlets just outside the circle.

@skiles I'll be sure to reach out to E&T, do you know if this is the right contact info on Yelp?

E&T Salvage:
(919) 776-3832
2709 Deep River Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
 
I soldered copper on a concrete pad once. Just once. Almost lost my sight and face. Anything in the ground needs to be metal.
 
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Earl cuts the ends off of propane tanks for the fire pits, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t also sell rings.
 
That thing is frickin' sweet!!!
 
JimB said:
OMG, that’s fabulous.

If he fancies himself a bit of an artist suggest that he look at Aragorn, Trellis Bay British Virgin Islands. Met the guy, couldn’t figure out how to get one home.
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Clarification, it’s his and he wouldn’t give me a selling price.
Note the little pig & chicken adornments
 
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I have hard enough time keeping the dogs and drunk friends from falling on to a fire bowl, I would hate to see what happens around a fire pit!

I would think you would need it to be higher than the ground around it to keep water from washing into it
 
Me. said:
I had not considered the safety factor of an open fiery hole in the ground, when in use. I guess I'm OK with the whole Darwinism of it.
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Might want to limit who comes over, insurance rates and all that, lol
 
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mj1angier said:
I have hard enough time keeping the dogs and drunk friends from falling on to a fire bowl, I would hate to see what happens around a fire pit!

I would think you would need it to be higher than the ground around it to keep water from washing into it
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One of our mutts has a golden retriever look to him- and he's goofy as shit. Can't tell how many times he's singed his tail getting too close to the firebowl.

And I don't have any friends, at least any who come over to drink...lol

Sent from notthedroidyourelookingfor
 
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