Camp fire: Suggest chunk of steel to stabilize heat output?

[forgeblast]

Cinderblocks break down pretty fast, I had some for a burn pile one year lasted just about to the end of that year.
If you make and pour a fire pit, you can heat it up and it will radiate heat.
The rock solid tv show did a nice version a couple of years ago.

 

[dmccarty]

My FIL has a real nice setup at his house. They have a large concrete patio. In the middle he built a fire pit ringed with bricks. The bricks are maybe 18 inches tall. The bottom of the fire pit goes to grade, no concrete, and I think he put in a drain pipe for water to escape. It looks really nice and works well.

You still have to move around a bit but not much. Generally people move to the fire was the night goes on and it gets colder.

Later,
Dan

 

[beppington]

This fire pit area looks very nice ... but I hope they get the fire just right :confused3:

 

[jejeosborne]

I used retaining wall blocks and haven't had any trouble now after 4 years. Most of the heat is lost from a higher level and the blocks don't get too hot to touch so I am not getting too much heat absorbed into them.

My problem I would like to overcome is the smoke. I have pictured in my mind some funnel type free standing chimney. Nothing would stop blowing smoke on a windy day, but something that would draw enough on the stiller nights to prevent the ring around the rosy shuffle.

 

[beppington]

I wonder if this type of shape would help?

 

[jejeosborne]

I wonder if this type of shape would help?

I like that look. If I could duplicate that on a larger scale with a taller flue it might work. I was originally thinking of something made of stainless steel but don't think it would be attractive.

 

[creekbend]

Outdoor Fire Pit Design Ideas - LandscapingNetwork.com

 

[beppington]

We need something that gets rid of the smoke but not the heat ... Is there such a thing?

 

[Egon]

We need something that gets rid of the smoke but not the heat ... Is there such a thing?


A nice hot fire!:thumbsup:

 

[crash325]

Used this little guy for a few years. Worked pretty good, unless it was real windy. Made out of cast iron and about $100 at Lowe's.