Propane Fire Pit

by David B
(Salem, Oregon)

Propane fire pit project saves $1000!

I hope this finds, some of you, to be a fun project and one that is used quite a bit.

The wife said she wanted a fire pit on the back patio for entertaining. I told her, "go buy one." I knew they were out there, but what I didn't know was "How Much They Cost!!!!" She came home and said it was going to cost me $1,200.00 for the one she found. I about fell over and said, "I'll build you one!"

I went to the local Lowe's and snooped around at what they had to offer. I found a Garden/Patio Table for $88.00, a Fire Pit for $58.00, and Chairs for $40.00 a piece (didn't buy them yet). So, I purchased the Table, and Fire Pit for $146.00. I also bought a box of Maliable 1/4 inch Copper tubing, 1/4" cap, 1/2" to 1/4" reducer, along with some 1/2 copper pipe, and couplings to attach to a propane tank.

I took it home and this afternoon I built the following:

I found the bowl of the fire pit to be 25.25 inches. I cut a 25.5 inch hole in the center of the table using an air powered cut off saw. Once the hole was cleaned up, I ground (cleaned the paint off of) down the ends of the angle iron that was used for support under the table. I went to the Local Scrap yard and bought 85 inches of flat bar, and bent it into a circle ring. I welded the circular flat bar to the ends of the angle iron on the table adding back the rigidity I had cut away. Once all was welded up, I cleaned up the welds a bit and then painted the ring and welds with Wrought Iron Flat Black paint.

I then slipped the fire pit into the hole and (luckily) it was a perfect fit. (whew...)

Tomorrow I plan on bending, soldering, and putting together the propane burner for inside the pit and hopefully the wife will be very happy with the end result?!

How To Build A Gas Fire Pit