Ever wish you had more snow?

[Rustyiron]

We got a good 8-9" last night & have about 2' on the ground now, after some freezing rain last week.
The weatherman is hinting at a good Thurs/fri snow & something for Monday also. I'm running out of space for it.
But still better than 90 deg!

 

[madmax12]

Just a quick tip i gleaned from a TV show of all places!!: use your grill or BBQ to heat up some decent size rocks outside and then take then them inside and put on a suitable surface. Haven't tried it yet but should work. My $.02.

I do not know if this is true, but I have been warned about using rocks as a fire pit. Some rocks (river rocks?) Can explode at certain temps.

If someone has real knowledge about that, maybe they could explain or dismiss it. My understanding is some rock is fine for that, but some isn't.

I'd imagine volcanoe rocks would be suitable. Isn't that what some bbqs come with?

 

[madmax12]

-More snow on the way!? -Tursday. I still haven't plowed the drive and barn. I caught a foolish flu and went to walkincare yesterday for antibiotics- deep in the chest and I didn't want to spend today sitting on the tractor- tomorrow's job! Got 9" overnight- we drove home through it yesterday. Big wide flakes.

Sorry to hear you have the flu, TC. Hope you overcome it quickly. If it is the flu (virus), I think you take medicine to control the symptoms. Antibiotics don't fight virus, so I've been taught. Maybe one of the docs could chime in there.

We got the same storm, but only about two inches. Before the big flakes, we had more freezing rain.

Get better, so you can enjoy your local climate changes

 

[nwltruck]

I do not know if this is true, but I have been warned about using rocks as a fire pit. Some rocks (river rocks?) Can explode at certain temps.

If someone has real knowledge about that, maybe they could explain or dismiss it. My understanding is some rock is fine for that, but some isn't.

I'd imagine volcanoe rocks would be suitable. Isn't that what some bbqs come with?

River rock will explode. Best bet is volcanic or granite. Most river rock will hold water. Don't use it in concrete either.

 

[aczlan]

I do not know if this is true, but I have been warned about using rocks as a fire pit. Some rocks (river rocks?) Can explode at certain temps.
If someone has real knowledge about that, maybe they could explain or dismiss it. My understanding is some rock is fine for that, but some isn't.
I'd imagine volcanoe rocks would be suitable. Isn't that what some bbqs come with?

Any rock with water trapped inside can explode. Avoid sandstone and other porous rocks as well as any rocks that have lived underwater.

Aaron Z

 

[dave1949]

I do not know if this is true, but I have been warned about using rocks as a fire pit. Some rocks (river rocks?) Can explode at certain temps.

If someone has real knowledge about that, maybe they could explain or dismiss it. My understanding is some rock is fine for that, but some isn't.

I'd imagine volcanoe rocks would be suitable. Isn't that what some bbqs come with?

I've had rocks around a fire pit make some pretty good pops, only once was there a little bit of shrapnel flying. Of course, only a little bit is enough to put an eye out.

I don't know which rock types are more prone to this, or maybe the moisture in them makes a difference too. It seems like most will spall, split or crumble over time if heated.

 

[madmax12]

Thanks for the feedback. It would be great to be able to heat rocks to warm a house or car in an emergency. It would be terrible to be heating rocks, and create a bigger emergency.

 

[milkman636]

And here I thought that the hot rocks sounded like a plausible idea after hearing about this Nevada dad praised for keeping girlfriend, 4 kids safe for 2 days lost in snow | Fox News recently.

Saunas are also sort of well known for using hot rocks. So what's the trick to knowing whether it's safe to use rocks from a pile that's been dug out of the yard over the years?

 

[madmax12]

And here I thought that the hot rocks sounded like a plausible idea after hearing about this Nevada dad praised for keeping girlfriend, 4 kids safe for 2 days lost in snow | Fox News recently.

Saunas are also sort of well known for using hot rocks. So what's the trick to knowing whether it's safe to use rocks from a pile that's been dug out of the yard over the years?

That's why I posted. I wouldn't know which was a "safe" rock to use in that situation. Unless one is positive of what rock they have at hand, it may not be worth the risk.

 

[dave1949]

And here I thought that the hot rocks sounded like a plausible idea after hearing about this Nevada dad praised for keeping girlfriend, 4 kids safe for 2 days lost in snow | Fox News recently.

Saunas are also sort of well known for using hot rocks. So what's the trick to knowing whether it's safe to use rocks from a pile that's been dug out of the yard over the years?

It seems like some rocks have internal stresses in them that once released by heat expansion, become less apt to pop. That's all I have been able to figure out from casual observation.

It takes a hot fire close to or on the rock to cause anything to happen in my experience. I used to have rock-ringed fire pit that I would load up to overflowing with dead limbs, brush, etc. It would be so hot you couldn't get close to it. I think a regular camp fire for toasting marshmallows, or roasting weenies, with the rocks 2' away from the fire or so would be fairly safe.