OT: Safest, Easiest Way to Build Campfire in Yard | The Boneyard

OT: Safest, Easiest Way to Build Campfire in Yard

uconnphil2016

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Hey all,

Trying to build something to have a fire in my yard. Everything online is an elaborate 'fire pit' and I don't want that. I literally want the minimum necessary for a safe fire. What do I need? Any suggestions? Is a metal fire rim necessary? Sand/pebbles? Thanks
 

CL82

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Hey all,

Trying to build something to have a fire in my yard. Everything online is an elaborate 'fire pit' and I don't want that. I literally want the minimum necessary for a safe fire. What do I need? Any suggestions? Is a metal fire rim necessary? Sand/pebbles? Thanks
Are you using it just once? Do you care if you burn out your grass? Do you want a permanent fire pit?

I couldn't find the brick I used for my fire pit but you could use something like these
pewter-stepping-stones-71200-64_400_compressed.jpg

Just outline it with landscape brick or stone.

If you want something temporary or portable you use something like this.
master:WTL128.jpg
 

uconnphil2016

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Are you using it just once? Do you care if you burn out your grass? Do you want a permanent fire pit?

I couldn't find the brick I used for my fire pit but you could use something like these
pewter-stepping-stones-71200-64_400_compressed.jpg

Just outline it with landscape brick or stone.

If you want something temporary or portable you use something like this.
master:WTL128.jpg

-Want something permanent
-Don't care if the grass gets burned out
-Not a fan of the portable fire pit/chiminea kind of stuff
-Also, I already have a ton of granite stones that I can use so I'll probably use them if possible
 

CL82

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-Want something permanent
-Don't care if the grass gets burned out
-Not a fan of the portable fire pit/chiminea kind of stuff
-Also, I already have a ton of granite stones that I can use so I'll probably use them if possible

I'd put a stone base on the bottom because it makes cleaning easier.

This one is a little small for my taste. I went 8x8 square so that I've got a little room between the fire and the grass. I have about a 3" lip around the outside again to make it easier to clean out the ash.
 
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Do you care about the grass?

Just light it on the grass and keep a hose handy.

People been lighting fires in nature for 1000 generations, man. Dont overthinl it.

I guess it depends on where you live but the fire department might not agree with your idea.
 
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Took my son and I under two hours... put crushed stone @ bottom. Cover is sheet metal w/ cabinet handles and painted w/ high heat black spray paint. Makes it easy to cover and go to bed w/ no worries and keeps whatever is unburnt dry. Be sure to look up to be sure your embers aren’t going up directly into a tree.

020.jpg
 
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Took my son and I under two hours... put crushed stone @ bottom. Cover is sheet metal w/ cabinet handles and painted w/ high heat black spray paint. Makes it easy to cover and go to bed w/ no worries and keeps whatever is unburnt dry. Be sure to look up to be sure your embers aren’t going up directly into a tree.

View attachment 25905

013.JPG
 
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Careful what type of crushed stones you use.
I know somebody who used the wrong type and they started to explode on them.
 
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Point for the good of the order: embers too close to a dying oak and wooden house may not be a good combination. No joking matter for a family which lived about 10 minutes away. Several months later, they're almost done rebuilding. I sh|t you not! :oops:
 

pj

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I don't know about safest but hiring this girl would be a pretty easy way to have a fire in your yard:

 
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Just invite our football team over and have them huddle up in your back yard. Make sure you a bucket of water on hand to put out the dumpster fire.
 

Samoo

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I'd put a stone base on the bottom because it makes cleaning easier.

This one is a little small for my taste. I went 8x8 square so that I've got a little room between the fire and the grass. I have about a 3" lip around the outside again to make it easier to clean out the ash.

For better airflow leave a few 2 inch gaps in the bottom layer of brick or paver. If you want the fire to calm down you can use wedge shaped rocks to fill in the gaps.
 

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