DIY Fire Pit

Back yard fire pits are all the rage now! For years our fire pit was a true fire PIT. Our son who learned safe fire skills in the Boy Scouts, dug it.

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Since our chicken coop needs to go in the area where the fire pit has been, we needed a new place to enjoy an occasional fire. We were not going to dig an actual pit this time. I loved all the beautiful fire pits I saw online like these:

Since I am always frugal, I didn’t want to spend actual money (as in any money at all!!) on a fire pit-no matter how pretty.

I was helping my son bring some things home from his college apartment when inspiration struck! The large Weber kettle grill we had lent him had rusted out its support legs and now lolled on its side. We have had that grill for about 17 years if memory serves, and we got it second hand from a friend moving down South. So, honestly, it owed us nothing.

But the top of the grill–the grill part–was still in great shape. I searched online for suggestions on converting a Weber kettle grill into a DIY fire pit and found plenty of pins and articles on potting tables and potting plants, but zero on fire pits. I’m sure I can’t be the first person to come up with this idea! I mean, I’m just not that original!

So this weekend, we made it happen. It was simple to create a ring of rocks for the kettle grill to sit in. These rocks not only keep it from falling over, but also make sure there’s enough oxygen for the fire to burn well.

Important Disclaimer:

If you decide to create a similar fire pit, you need to create a base using rocks that will not explode! Here in Connecitcut, we’re surrounded by granite. It practically grows in the garden! Granite is an igneous rock made of quartz, red feldspar and mica that was hardened through volcanic activity, so it is unlikely to explode. Marble and shale are very hard rocks as well. The limestone I grew up with in Pennsylvania, however, is not as dense and can be water permeable. This means it could explode when that water is heated. The same applies to porous sandstone and pumice.

The best part of this particular DIY fire pit is that we can actually cook on it if we like. I still love my gas grill for cooking meals. But I don’t think most fire pits have a grill rack and I see us taking advantage of it!

Now I want to invite friends and neighbors over to share my fire pit! Until that’s an option, my husband and I can still enjoy it.

I’m curious to know if you use a fire pit and what type. Please share your comments or questions!

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