What is the difference between your mild steel and stainless steel fire pits?
Mild steel is our standard original fire pit, made from British steel from Port Talbot. Designed to survive being left outdoors in all weathers, over many years, they have a hefty 5mm base and rim, making them heavy, sturdy and solid. Over time the carbon steel will take on a gorgeous organic patina that changes colour from the ‘rolled blue’ to a deep orange as it oxidises and rusts naturally.
Stainless steel is an expensive metal that is incredibly hardwearing; it doesn’t rust like mild steel and is easy to clean and maintain. The fire pit is lighter in weight and easier to move and has been designed to make a stunning centrepiece for your outdoor living space. Taking the British weather, high heat and constant use in its stride, it will give you years of pleasure. Over time it will take on a stunning array of colours as the steel reacts with the heat of the fire. It is a piece of rural art.
What can fire pits be used for?
Our fire pits are the ultimate three-in-one Fire Pit designed to give you a wonderful source of heat outdoors, enable you cook a feast over fire and when not lit to be a stunning garden table.
Our larger 600 and 900mm fire pits are designed to be a centerpiece for your garden with the stainless steel fire pits providing a contemporary look and feel. All of our fire pits can be used for cooking and providing warmth for family and friends.
Our smaller 400mm fire pits can be used in your garden or taken with you on a camping trip or picnic for cooking and keeping you warm..
How long do your fire pits last?
Our stainless steel fire pits do not rust the same way mild steel does. As you use the fire pit and the metal heats up it will turn some beautiful colours primarily blue and pink. This will darken over time but as it won’t rust, over time as the metal is heated and cooled it may bow slightly. This is normal and occurs because there is stress within the metal as it is made which reveals itself when it is under pressure.
Our mild steel fire pits have been given a protective lacquer coating to keep it from tarnishing before reaching you. Once you light the fire pit, this coating will burn off and the raw steel will be open to the elements. Raw Steel will oxidise (rust) at any opportunity. This results in a lovely auburn patina which first affects the 'silver' grinded metal and eventually the 'blue' un-grinded metal; this is totally normal. Over time, like our stainless steel fire pits, as the metal is heated and cooled it may bow slightly.
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i have heard that stainless steel can create a carcinogen called hexavalent chromium when welded. if i make a fire pit with stainless steel, would that be unsafe? quite often i see on the marketplace fire pits created with old stainless steel tubs from washing machines, which seems to suggest it is safe, but i would rather be safe than sorry.
failing that, what would be a good material to make a fire pit from? cast iron is quite expensive and heavy, and isnt really something i can work with. there are plenty of metal drums that can be bought, but they are usually painted, and the paint will burn.