Weekend Fire Pit

We were in need of a new portable fire pit.  The old one was eight or so years old and I was getting sick of wire brushing it and painting it.  I found a few that I thought would be solid, and last longer than the old ones.  But, in the end, my wife suggested I build one in the back yard as its material cost would not be that much more than a decent cast iron portable one.  And my labor is cheap; on Labor Day.  Of course I picked the hottest Labor Day weekend in memory to do the work; but, as my brother says, what doesn't kill you... hurts like hell.

If you are doing this job, take a look at a few sites.  The best I found was from This Old House.  But there area a few others that have a similar description.  Google around for something that you like, but keep a few things in mind.

First, account for drainage.  I did, setting mine down 30" with at least 24" + of gravel base.  It still fills with water when it gets wet.  If you live in a wet climate and are digging down into clay, consider a french drain at the bottom.

Second, remember that this will get hot.  Landscaping brick or mortared stone is decorative.  You must have a fire ring installed and something to insulate the regular brick/stone.  The one I built and the "This Old House" pit had a steel fire ring and several inches of gravel to insulate.  Others, insert a fire ring with plenty of room between the fire ring and the rock.

Third, you have to have some type of firm base, set down into the ground, or the wall won't hold.  This is particularly the case in climates where the ground freezes. 

Fourth, make sure you mark your center.  It's highly useful to drive a 7/8th inch pipe into the ground at your center.  Then, create a tool from 1 x 2 wood stake that will mark your radius.  If you don't, your fire pit may look like this.  More in the pictures below.

Here's what I used by way of tools and equipment:

• A manual laborer (You)
• An assistant manual laborer (Buddy) (Not necessary; my family and friends are too smart to respond for my paltry offerings of pizza and soda/beer)
• Spade shovel
• Regular shovel
• Steel rake or hoe
• Sledge hammer
• Tamper
• Wheelbarrow
• Rubber mallet
• 4' level
• 2' level
• Masonry hammer
• Calk gun
• Grinder with stone cutting wheel
• Saw
• Measuring tape
• Stone chisel

Here's what I used by way of materials and supplies:

• 1/2 ton 1/4" drainage gravel
• 10lb bag of pea landscaping gravel
• Steel fire ring
• Fire pit cover
• Bag of stone dust leveler
• 4 Tubes masonry glue
• 50 Brick 8 in. x 12 in. 
• 3 cans black high heat spray pain
• 4x1 wood stake
• 7/8" metal pipe, 4' long
• Rubber band