MY Backyard Fire Pit - What To Do?

[RWebb]

I'd like some thoughts about my outdoor grill/fire pit project. {as you can see, it is a tad more "Caveman" than JYL's Urban Sophisticate Big City Fire Pit}

This is a picture of a corner of my back yard. The square concrete scrap stepstones lift out, in pieces, to expose a fire pit. We use it for burning animal flesh, turning wood scraps at the bottom of the hill into handy fertilizer type ash (the house is at the top of the hill; this pit is at the bottom), and annoying what the neighborhood calls "The Wicked Witch." Typical fuel is wood from pruned trees or 2x4 scraps, and I even carted a bag of charcoal down there in case the Fire Dept. thinks I am just burning trash, not flesh.




I was thinking about building a real fire pit but that's too much work. I have a BBQ on the deck which is not a trip down the hill.

I am probably too far gone to sit (or even walk) upright like a Civilized Man. I do like to sit a wine glass and cheese plate in front of me, along with a beer stein, and a slab of bacon while tending to the salmon.

I let friends cook the paella - the main guy bought a huge 4 ft. dia. pan from a NY City paella store and has his own fire pit. I just bring an appetizer and some EtOH and he cooks it all up.

So, what should I do to improve my fire pit?? I guess I should get out the weed whacker first, eh?

-- Apologies, John, but I could not resist. --

[masraum]

I can't see a pic. Even if I click "quote", I don't see the code/link for the pic in the post.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by masraum

i can't see a pic.

+1

[Bill Douglas]

In New Zealand we have what's called a hangi (google image that). Sure the food is disgusting, but yes it's cooked in a pit.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

In New Zealand we have what's called a hangi (google image that). Sure the food is disgusting, but yes it's cooked in a pit.

... Chicken???

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

... Chicken???

Me??? too chicken to eat it?

[RWebb]

Dang it - ok, should work now

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Dang it - ok, should work now

... No

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Me??? too chicken to eat it?

Bill

Don't make me fly down there...

Gather some friends and find out. Of course a few "Courage In A Bottle" might help;

[Bill Douglas]

Lol

[vash]

Hahahah!

[jyl]

Hmm, first thing I would do is convert it to nat gas . . .

[LWJ]

Funny. That is mighty close to my current fire pit - minus the concrete.
Larry

[Drdogface]

Dig a hole first. Make the bottom reasonably flat. Lay down fire brick. Fill the rest with lava rock. Surround with medium boulders. Done. If you wanna cook then make or buy a grille rack to fit over the pit complete with cinder screen for fire safety. Simple, No ?

[RWebb]

I'd have to carry the medium boulders down the hill - can't roll 'em 'cuz I put a series of platforms and steps in redwood all the way down.

Maybe I could use those fake plastic rocks?


The small BBQ up on top is propane fueled.

[trekkor]

I have some ideas, but I'll have to get back to you later.


KT

[jyl]

If you dug it out and waited for the rain, you'd have what we Civilized Men call a B-A-T-H. First things first, caveman.

[RWebb]

don't have to wait for rain...

[cbush]

Fire pit good

[Jim Richards]

I think you need to borrow your neighbor's mower and pretty up that lawn.