I have played with various fire pit options in my backyard for 15 years. I have tons and tons of trees and yard waste and try to burn most or turn it into compost. I have grabbed the saucers from trash piles and used those - can't put much on there and wind blows stuff off easy. I have had an enclosed mini-chimney pit I built from stones. This worked great but was harder to clean and I had to break down the wood into pretty small pieces.
So I have happily moved on to an in ground pit. I dug my pit down about three feet into the ground about four feet long by two feet wide. There is one row of stones below ground level and two rows above ground. It was made from neighbors throw away stones - and the neighbors throw their wood in the pit. It is safe, looks good, and I just shovel it out every 3 months.
The example above is pretty close to what I have done except:
- Mine is longer going left to right
- I have one brick removed on the right so that I can get in and out or prop something up without knocking over bricks. So it is more of a horse shoe.
- My pit goes about a foot above ground. This is so that ashes don't hit grass directly and so that someone can't just walk into it (we are picky about which limbs we burn).
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Firepit table top ideas
Correct material for making a mini, indoors fire pit
I made a tabletop for my fire pit
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I have played with various fire pit options in my backyard for 15 years. I have tons and tons of trees and yard waste and try to burn most or turn it into compost. I have grabbed the saucers from trash piles and used those - can't put much on there and wind blows stuff off easy. I have had an enclosed mini-chimney pit I built from stones. This worked great but was harder to clean and I had to break down the wood into pretty small pieces.
So I have happily moved on to an in ground pit. I dug my pit down about three feet into the ground about four feet long by two feet wide. There is one row of stones below ground level and two rows above ground. It was made from neighbors throw away stones - and the neighbors throw their wood in the pit. It is safe, looks good, and I just shovel it out every 3 months.
The example above is pretty close to what I have done except:
- Mine is longer going left to right
- I have one brick removed on the right so that I can get in and out or prop something up without knocking over bricks. So it is more of a horse shoe.
- My pit goes about a foot above ground. This is so that ashes don't hit grass directly and so that someone can't just walk into it (we are picky about which limbs we burn).
The internal bowl/barrel of an old washing machine works well for an above-ground solution - the holes around the sides allow the embers to breathe well and help to radiate heat.
You can add legs as this person has, or simply prop it up on a slab or some bricks.
Just make sure that it IS metal - a lot of the newer/cheaper washing machines use plastic barrels, which... don't work.
I have a 32” propane firepit and I LOVE it. Problem is kids and grandkids come over regularly and continue to use it “as a table” which drives me nuts. Anyone have ideas to DIY a top so that when not in use it can serve as a table and be protected? I was thinking of a plexiglass sheet- but not coming up with good ideas. Advice appreciated- TIA!
Hello everyone! Thank you for gathering here today
I wanted to build a small, indoor fire pit (about 4x4x4 inches) for my family and I for New Years. I have watched videos on making molds and making mini fire pits and I was planning on making them out of cement or instant concrete mix, however, after some internet browsing I read that concrete when subject to high heat can shatter or explode. I really don’t want to make something unsafe and would like to know what your opinions on the best material to make the fire pit out of? How would you go about it if you wanted to make one? Is there a difference in heat resistance between cement and concrete?
P.s. I also thought about having made a small tube (maybe the size of a toilet paper roll) out of metal, like stainless steel to put in the middle of the fire pit (where the fuel and flames would go) and maybe that would protect the cement/concrete from getting so hot it would explode?
I am sorry if this is not the correct sub, if so I will remove the post
Edit: I guess the “indoor” was a bit incorrect... I would primarily use this in a balcony
This is my first woodworking project. It’s apitong offcuts that I planed glued up and finished with teak oil. The 1x6s on the bottom align it with the opening of the fire pit. It’s going to live outside(obviously). What are your guys thoughts? I know apitong is hardy (this was trailer decking) but is a glue up like this going to survive in the elements or just warp like crazy? I was thinking about adding some some inlaid metal bracing to the bottom to bridge the seams with the outermost boards but it might be unnecessary. Any input is appreciated!