Fire Pit

[MadScientist]

Built a fire pit this week. Our back yard slopes down to the right so hard to find a semi-level spot. I had to dig a hole 4” deep on the left side and 2” on the right, tamped the dirt down, filled it with pea pebbles and leveled it. Except for the metal fire ring I purchased everything from Home Depot. More expensive than I thought it would be even with my 10% off military discount, 4 levels high 52 blocks @ $2.59 each = $134.68 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oldcast...crete-Retaining-Wall-Block-16253217/311781599, 7 bags of pea pebbles @ $4.92 = $34.46, 3 tubes of Loctite PL 500 landscaping adhesive @ $6.46 = $19.39, 1 can of Rust-Oleum high temp paint = $6.28, 36” inner diameter Iron fire ring from Amazon = $49.99, and 4 concrete pavers @ $0.25 = $1. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pavesto...Old-Town-Blend-Concrete-Paver-22099/100619496 Total = $245.80 + tax
The landscaping adhesive is for glueing the top 3 layers together. I used the concrete pavers to fill in a small gap the blocks left. I had to cut ~1.5" off the length of the pavers with a masonry blade to match the blocks. The iron fire ring is optional but it’s supposed to protect the blocks and gives it a finished look. The listing doesn’t say what metal the nuts/bolts/washers are made of so I sprayed the ring with high temp paint. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTK8YRN3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 The ring is sturdy. I measured ~3mm thick with my caliper. It weighs ~27 lbs. It came in 8 sections, a PITA to assemble. I used the ring as a template for each level.

 

[sdifox]

A bit late to ask, but did you check local fire code?

 

[MadScientist]

A bit late to ask, but did you check local fire code?

Yes, I live outside any city limit. In TN cities have their own fire codes, understandably stricter than counties. From October 15 through May 15, a burn permit from the Tennessee Division of Forestry (TDF) is required for debris pile fires and prescribed fires. https://www.tn.gov/tnwildlandfire/prevention/safe-debris-burning/permits.html So I will have to wait a couple of weeks to burn without a permit. You also can not burn anything if there is a burn ban on. Currently there is no ban on. https://www.tn.gov/tnwildlandfire/prevention/safe-debris-burning/burn-bans.html I have an ~2 acre lot with farm land on the back and left side of my house. No close forests except a few trees in back of my lot. I am going to burn only wood.

 

[sdifox]

We have year round fire ban lol I thought about a bbq pit but no go

 

[IronWing]

We have year round fire ban lol I thiught about a bbq pit but no go

View attachment 122952

That looks like a battle scene in a gladiator movie.

 

[sdifox]

That looks like a battle scene in a gladiator movie.

When I lived in Argentina, I saw lots of public works crew. The first thing they setup is the barriers, the next is the charcoal grill.

 

[MadScientist]

I added a 40" diameter screen to the fire pit. With my 10% military discount and $5. in Lowes rewards it cost me $79.42 + tax. The price since last week, tariffs?, has gone up. For the price it's adequate. Will see how it stands up to the weather and fire.

 

[skyking]

looks nice. I suggest bringing the screen in when not in use, at least put it under the eaves or something. That will stretch the life of it considerably.

 

[MadScientist]

looks nice. I suggest bringing the screen in when not in use, at least put it under the eaves or something. That will stretch the life of it considerably.

Will do.

 

[evident]

Looks great. I would be interested in one but it's just another thing i gotta mow around. and i already have a deck. uneasy about starting fires on it though.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Looks great. I would be interested in one but it's just another thing i gotta mow around. and i already have a deck. uneasy about starting fires on it though.

We bought a portable one sort of like the one below. There are only about 4 months a year you can use one here on the Space Coast so it makes no sense to have a permanent one.

 

[MadScientist]

I have 54 Leyland cypress trees that border my lot on 3 sides. Some of their lower branches on those that are ~25 years old have died. I purchased this small Ryobi pruning chain saw on sale from Home Depot last June for $89. with the battery. Chain Saw For the price it's perfect for pruning. Easy to use with just one hand and does not need oil.
Branches cut on one charge. It takes less than an hour to charge the battery.

The fire pit is holding up ok. Ashes left in fire pit after burning 4 previous loads of branches about the same amount as in pic.

I have sharpened the blade using this Oregon kit. I have 2 other chain saws I use the same kit on.The Ryobi manual for this saw says to use a 5/32" file at 30 degrees. Lots of Youtube videos on how to sharpen a chain saw blade.

 

[MadScientist]

I saw this YouTube video on how to make your fire pit smokeless. video. He should have went 4 layers up instead of 3, and he used too much lava rock. I placed my first layer on top of the pea gravel. I went with 4 layers and a 9" deep fire ring. I wanted mine with a 36" diameter in the middle for the 36" diameter fire ring. I used 13 wall blocks on each level, left a liitle bit of space beween them for airflow from the 2 lower layers, and added a 1.75" wide paver on each level to fill in the left over space. I get enough airflow from the small gaps in the 2 lower layers that the fire ring does not cover to make it smokeless.

 

[sdifox]

But did you put in a fiber drop to your fire pit?

 

[MadScientist]

But did you put in a fiber drop to your fire pit?

No.

 

[mindless1]

... Ryobi pruning Chain Saw ... does not need oil

Might not have an oil reservoir but it needs oil.

BAR AND CHAIN LUBRICATION

Using a quality bar oil, oil the bar and chain manually at the beginning of each pruning session.

https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/03/03c4daaa-214a-4bf2-afb1-876bdc29bea8.pdf

 

[MadScientist]

Might not have an oil reservoir but it needs oil.

https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/03/03c4daaa-214a-4bf2-afb1-876bdc29bea8.pdf

Yes and No. The manual states this:
Since it has no oil reservoir this oil will last about 2 cuts. I did this the first time I used it but have not oiled it again. What I really like about this saw is that without having to use oil you don't get a messy buidup of oil and sawdust on the sprocket.

I have lubricated the socket once, have not reversed the guide bar yet.

I sharpened the blade before I used it today. After many cuts there is very little wear on the bar without using oil. I keep the chain fairly tight against the bar. I have never had the chain come off.

Amount cut today on one full charge.

 

[mindless1]

Yes and No. The manual states this:
Since it has no oil reservoir this oil will last about 2 cuts. I did this the first time I used it but have not oiled it again. What I really like about this saw is that without having to use oil you don't get a messy buidup of oil and sawdust on the sprocket.

Not convinced unless you can point to some kind of alien technology that other chainsaw manufacturers didn't know to use.

If it's metal on metal, it needs bar oil. If it has some kind of (teflon?) bar liner, or nothing, then you'll just end up replacing the bar more often, but if that's what you want to do, I won't try to stop you.

It sort of reminds me of the briggs and stratton mowers that have a lifetime oil fill, which isn't really lifetime, just an expectation it will outlast the warranty.

If the bar or chain wears, it's just a wear item and their liabilities for warranty go up more if someone gets lube and wood dust everywhere then doesn't clean it off.

If you don't believe me or the manual which clearly states to oil before each use, then ask over at BITOG what they think.

I don't want to intrude further on your topic and it looks like a nice fire pit. Unsubscribed.

 

[MadScientist]

I was very skeptical at first about no oil on the chain. Here's Ryobi's answer to a question posted on Home Depot.

Still not convinced. It is on sale right now at HD for $109., $98.10 with a 10% off military discount, Saw Buy one.