DIY Fire pit table similar to this....

[diyonly]

Hello guys,

I'm thinking of creating my own fire pit table for all family to enjoy.

Is it possible to create something similar to the images below?

If so, what would you recommend that I'd need?

http://www.fabartdiy.com/creative-multi-purpose-jag-grill-firepit-bbq-table/

 

[bernardgreen]

A large garden to begin with and good welding skills.

 

[lostinthelight]

Revolving so each take a turn in the smoke?
litl

 

[diyonly]

lol. Okay, maybe that table is a bit too large and also I might be better off building a stone version. If it's that bad, then can anyone please recommend some designs to me?

 

[bernardgreen]

The comment about smoke is relevant. Not only smaoke but the heat from the fire can reduce an 8 seater down to at most a 6 seater if there is any breeze. Friends (in New Zealand) have a stone fire pit ( it came with the house ) and they very seldom use it because of the discomfort to those people sitting down wind of the pit.

 

[motorbiking]

have you thought about a lorry wheel for the fire pit? then you just construct your wood table around it

 

[diyonly]

So what you guys are saying is that a fire pit is a bad idea?

If that's the case then why do people do it and why are they so popular?

Also does having a gas version make it any better?



motorbiking - you mean using the lorry wheel rim? Serious? I've never seen one to be honest.

 

[bernardgreen]

So what you guys are saying is that a fire pit is a bad idea?

My opinion is the novelty would soon wear off so yes a bad idea as it would seldom be used.

If that's the case then why do people do it and why are they so popular?

Are they popular ? Only one person I know has one, it came with the house and is seldom used. Maybe they are popular among those who have had the misfortune to have met a fire pit salesman

Also does having a gas version make it any better?

Gas barbeques are much less trouble than charcoal barbeques, I guess the same wopuld apply to a gas fire pit.

 

[diyonly]

Thanks bernardgreen. Your input is really appreciated.

I don't plan to cook or make anything on it. I simply want a patio type of heater which everyone can sit around and enjoy looking at it.

If I built a gas fire-pit table with lava-rock, would that still create a lot of smoke?

 

[angelboy]

I'm in the process of building an outdoor fireplace. I toyed with the idea of a fitpit and it would be relatively simple to construct in comparison but I opted against it in the end.

The benefits of the fire pit is that it's more camp-fire-like so you can all sit around it and toast your marshmallows. I wouldn't construct it into a table though. You can use a table for many other things - sitting with a glass of something cool on a summers day, reading a paper or just sitting at it in the garden to get some fresh air. A specialised BBQ table will be used every so often for a BBQ, maybe every weekend for the first month after buying/building it but then the clean up will end up getting left and then you want to sit at it with you nice cool drink with rusty grates and a load of charcoal blowing up ash in your face on every small breeze. If it's like my house (I have 5 kids) we'd all sit round it, I'd spend £30 on charcoal to heat everyones little grill in from of them, then they'd all stick one sausage on their little grill and maybe a burger then they'd be done. Plus, they have to get up to go to another table that had all the bread buns and sauces on it because you can't stick them in the middle of this table without them melting into the coals.

Nope! Keep them separate and enjoy them both for what they're intended for. You can always get a grill for the fire pit as well as building a raised pit if you wanted with either fixed built in seats around it or whatever comfy seats you have to hand.

 

[diyonly]

Thanks angleboy. I'm running out of alternative ideas and was wondering if you could post any pictures/examples of what you are doing yourself.

The whole point of a firepit table is so that we can sit around it on a cooler day and have a separate bbq for those hot summer days.

 

[bernardgreen]

If I built a gas fire-pit table with lava-rock, would that still create a lot of smoke?

Only for a minute or two while the debris ( leaves etc ) that will accumulate on the lava-rock burns away. It might produce a significant amount of carbon monoxide but this is unlikely to be a hazard in the open air.

 

[angelboy]

Thanks angleboy. I'm running out of alternative ideas and was wondering if you could post any pictures/examples of what you are doing yourself.

The whole point of a firepit table is so that we can sit around it on a cooler day and have a separate bbq for those hot summer days.

My fireplace will be constructed into a 5.6m x 5.6m bricked gazebo. I've just got the raised floor in ready to start bricking the fireplace.

If you need ideas then join this - https://www.houzz.co.uk - website and search for fire pits and/or outdoor fireplaces and you'll have loads of ideas to work from.

 

[diyonly]

Thanks for your replies bernardgreen and angleboy.

I've been taking your advice seriously and have been looking at alternatives.

What do you guys think of a chiminea or a bowl type of fire-pit instead? Also I know you can buy coal/wood burners, but are there gas versions available?

 

[motorbiking]