Fire pit

[jjmarotz]

So we finally got around to putting in a new fire pit in our backyard over the weekend. The old one was just an old steel rim with center cut out and dirt surrounding it, muddy mess some days, and dangerous as someone always ended up with melted shoe bottoms for some reason lol, and little kids running around always worried us about tripping into the pit.

Anyhow, I got a new/used tractor rim from a local farmer for free, cut the center out, cutout sod and dirt area for new pit, placed rim and leveled it, installed retaining wall blocks 4 high around it leaving a gap between the rim and blocks, once the 3rd row of blocks was in we filled the gap with crushed gravel and sand to absorb the heat and keep it off the blocks. Still need to add more gravel and sand around the top row of blocks and some more gravel around the pit as it has settled and packed down. Even got my girls to help if you can believe that:shocked::shocked:

Nice setup now, as people can actually sit on the edge of the blocks to warm their backside and not get burned. We used it Sat for 6 hrs and the blocks were still cool to the touch.

Thanks to older posts here on TBN for the idea and info!!!!

 

[jjmarotz]

more pics......

 

[Raspy]

That is really nice! Finished off beautifully. The tractor wheel is a good idea.

I made one out of a 4' diameter pipe, weld cap, for the back yard. And I have one made from a stainless steel washer tub.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I like that.

Do you have any vent holes near the bottom to let some air in to flame the fire.??

 

[Mousefield]

Nice job and pics. :thumbsup: We have been looking at doing a fire pit for a long time, now that I've seen yours it may get done.

 

[jjmarotz]

I like that.

Do you have any vent holes near the bottom to let some air in to flame the fire.??

No vent holes. With the rim being 40" diameter it seems to feed the flame pretty good as is.

Thanks for the comments:drink:

 

[Dog Lover]

Really Nice looking job...Creative idea and looks nice and warm.

 

[955er]

Good Job. The kids look excited!

 

[theboman]

Great job and I'll have to inform the boss!

 

[jjmarotz]

Great job and I'll have to inform the boss!

Rut Roo!!!! Looks like more work for ya lol

Used it 2 times since Friday, and can say I LOVE IT!!!! I think total cost into it is MAYBE pushing $120.00.

Thanks for the positive comments fellas!!!

 

[Bret Mc]

more pics......

That looks real nice, I would like to do the same thing to mine.Glad to see you had the hydration trailer close and the wife(?) had her pants rolled up out of the dirt!!

 

[eazyduzzit]

Looks real nice. I have a small fire pit that I bought several years ago. It's been the center piece at many a get together.

 

[jdmar]

Sweeeeeet! (talkin like my children now).
Do you know how long a heavy rim like that lasts when used like this? Are we talking 1-2 years or a decade. Just wondering since I want to put one in where I could not easily redo it (i.e. can't get the tractor in there once I am done with the patio.)

Nice job again. I bet those blocks get just warm enough to be comfortable.
Peter

 

[Thomas]

Very..very nicely done.
Wishing many memories to cherish in years to come.

 

[jjmarotz]

Sweeeeeet! (talkin like my children now).
Do you know how long a heavy rim like that lasts when used like this? Are we talking 1-2 years or a decade. Just wondering since I want to put one in where I could not easily redo it (i.e. can't get the tractor in there once I am done with the patio.)

Nice job again. I bet those blocks get just warm enough to be comfortable.
Peter

Well.... that rim should last the life of me!!! The old rim we had was an OLD steel spoked wheel from who knows how long ago, sat outside in junk pile for yrs before I cut the spokes out and used it as a fire ring for 5 yrs till this new pit. So I'm not worried about it. I believe the rim is 3/16" thick.

 

[alliscowboy]

Awesome looking firepit! I'm planning on building one soon. I even have the rim already. My father in law gave me a rear rim from an IH MD I hope mine turns out as great as yours looks!

 

[timpson]

Just found this posted on The WHOot forum. I have been looking for plans for an old dryer drum and this looks like the perfect plan! I have found many plans/ideas for old washer drums, but this is the first one I found that I think is "do-able" on my own, even if it's for a tractor tire rim, as I'm a 63yo retired spouse of a USA Retiree. Thank you for sharing!

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Wish I'd of seen this thread before I built mine. Had plenty of stone, but no wheel for a liner, so I wonder how long the mortar is gonna hold up?

One thing I'm glad I did was dig a trench from the center over the edge of the hill for drainage. Had some perf pipe left over from another job, and just filled washed gravel into the bottom of the pit to keep it from melting.

 

[murphy1244]

Wish I'd of seen this thread before I built mine. Had plenty of stone, but no wheel for a liner, so I wonder how long the mortar is gonna hold up?

One thing I'm glad I did was dig a trench from the center over the edge of the hill for drainage. Had some perf pipe left over from another job, and just filled washed gravel into the bottom of the pit to keep it from melting.

View attachment 410333

Very nice pit and awesome view! Man that would make a great post card..:thumbsup:

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Very nice pit and awesome view! Man that would make a great post card..:thumbsup:

Maybe next year for Christmas, Murph

First time in the four years I've been here that it's actually snowed at the house. Kinda reminds me of winter in Ohio when I was a kid...