My wife and I just watched this and truly enjoyed it...and now I am obligated to build a smokeless fire for us to enjoy...Thank for posting this!!! God Bless
Instead of buying a metal ring, a broken washing machine or a drier is free and has a nice, big metal container inside. Bonus: it already has holes in it, so no need for drilling. Just cut it, invert it so that the holes are on top, and continue as normal with the bricks (making sure to make the top as airtight as possible so that the heated air travels out the holes, you may have to use mortar). Extra bonus: if you have welding skills, weld on pipes at a 45 degree angle to the right or left for the air to travel through. As is rushes through the angled pipes it creates a spinning vortex and you'll get a fire tornado forming.
That’s a damn good idea, sonbut my fire pits gonna be big, much bigger than a washer or dryer Drum. Unless you talkin bout, one of them there, commercial dryer, now that might work.
Thanks for the video! Was about to build my own firepit and will definitely be using this smokeless method. The only thing I may adjust is spraying some high-temp paint on the drilled holes so the exposed metal doesn't rust as easily since the rest of the ring is treated with high temp paint already.
That's not a bad idea, dude, since there's going to be a lot of oxygen going through them, along with a lot of heat absorbed by them, which is going to promote faster than usual rust.
Commenting for your channel's sake, love what you're doing here. Thank you for the intelligent and massively practical video, no excessive American waffle either, very much appreciated you have no idea.. Good luck from Australia!
If he knew he was going to cut holes then why the hell didn't he cut them before he set them up and could have done them on a flat surface ?? Oh well not my Job ha ha !@! Good idea Eh ?
Wanted to say Thank you for this video, Got a fire ring, hole sawed the 1 1/2” holes, sprayed both sides with heat resistant paint, 12 -1’ x 2’ x2” pavers over sand for the base, used bricks that were on the property for the outer ring, 4 layers of the brick raised the ring 3/4 of an inch up which lets more air underneath, works like it’s supposed to!
Thanks for creating this video! I’ve enjoyed all kinds of fire pits over the years while camping and I’ve found the best way to cut down on smoke it to scout for dry hardwood (usually from storm damage) and split it into smaller pieces allowing more air to mix with the fire as opposed to burning large logs. I’ve also noticed that fire pits with high sidewalls block radiant heat so you have to stand almost over the edge of the fire to get warm which can be hard on the eyebrows 😬
Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone find real, affordable solutions to problems! You saw something that worked and thought "how can I make this better?" and then you made it better! Awesome video, I'll definitely be trying this when I build my fire pit for this summer!
Not sponsored, I paid for it myself. And I listed the one I used. I have yet to do a video that I was paid by a company to do, although I’ve been offered numerous sponsorships I want everything to be unbiased and authentic for anyone that watches my channel.
Thank you for this video! I was able to buy a fire ring at Home Depot with a lattice pattern which saved me the step of cutting holes in the fire ring. I was able to put my fire pit together pretty quick. It burns great! Thank you!
That's what I was thinking. Could you not space each bottom stone out about 2 or 3 inches? Can you have too many air channels on the bottom ring? does it affect how this works?
The metal jacket is essential for the effect he is trying to achieve - not merely better general ventilation at the bottom of the fire, but the heat/convection-powered forcing of fresh air into the superheated exhaust stream at the top of the fire, to duplicate the "afterburner" smokeless design of the expensive stainless firebowl shown at the beginning. Merely adding more vents at the bottom helps burning generally, but it does not create the afterburner effect that completes the burning of the exhaust gases.
Nice video, I've been thinking about doing just this. One thought, instead of splitting the stones, couldn't you just remove two and space the rest a bit farther apart on the bottom layer?
Great video! I appreciate that fact that you were able to cut the stones with your hand, but also showed us without your skill and training how to do it. Very well done.
Since we moved into our new house I've been wanting to have a fire pit and now I know how to build it the right way and to be smokeless and my wife will love that part of it thanks for the video.
How fortuitous; just started looking at fire pits; love the function, look and style of this one. Also am familiar with several marshal arts and now a new one: Rock Kwando - Well played!
Ahh yeah, John and I have the same sensei. Super good guy but kind of a short fuse. He had people over last weekend and one guy accidentally ran into his dog while catching a football. Haven’t seen or heard from Bill since. Also, maybe just coincidental, but I can’t seem to find any of my dang pencils! 🤷♂️
Dude! You said 'expound'!! That's the right word! Everybody else says 'expand'... as though they could inflate like Violet Beauregard (Blueberry Girl in Willy Wonka) just because they flesh out an idea. I can't believe proper use of the language got me excited. OK, now back to the video, which I'm sure I'll find equally interesting!
What is your thoughts on recessing the pit a little bit instead of having it that high? I feel the heat escapes to high rather then towards yoir body when the height of a pit is tall???
Looks like an attractive and functional fire ring! Here's a pro-tip on cutting concrete blocks: Arrange the blocks in lowest level just as you did. Take out one block. Re-arrange to get approximately even gaps between all blocks. Now continue as you did. Need more ventilation? Take out two blocks.
@@HowToHomeDIY Your Rock Kwan Do skills are certainly good.. I think I tried with my head once, but now I dont remember.. :-) Seriously though.. Awesome project.. I didn't know this was possible - I hadn't looked into it, but I thought the "smokeless" was all about the fuel being used, and not about creating the draft.. I'll definitely be doing this
Really appreciate this video. I knew I could probably do this but had no idea on how to do this. You walked me threw this step by step and everything came out great. Thanks so much Rick
Awesome! Glad to hear it came out great and you are liking it. We have loved ours. In fact we like it so much that I am in the process of editing a video of us making a nicer seating area around it. Thanks for the feedback Rick!
This man is clearly a triple black belt at rock-quàn-do he executed his rock chop flawlessly. If you pay close attention to that part of the video, you can see the reason he was able to execute the infamous rock steady chop because he held his lip JUST right. He kept his lip in perfect formation throughout his swing and that allowed him to execute such a devastating blow with tremendous Force. It takes years to master holding your lip right in rock-Quan-do once you master it to the degree he has you can pretty much chop through anything known to man and can accomplish any task with ease.
Got one of those fire rings and now know that previous home owner was clueless about how to make it smokeless! They very reason I stopped using it! Starting my modification tomorrow !!!
You might increase the efficiency of the burn by constricting the top diameter. Eliminate one of the top stones and that will move the whole ring in so it over hangs the metal fire pit ring by a couple of inches This will cause a chimney effect and draw more air in and concentrate the combustion air and smoke for the secondary burn.
@@shamancredible8632 Not really an "arm chair" comment. The Solo fire pits are designed so the top ring is smaller than the pit and it draws the air in.
I have a large fire pit and yes I have to move around depending on the 💨. It’s time to redo my pit and I plan on following your plan with possible modifications. Thanks for your Video.
Can I ask, what instructions are you using for your off grid build? Did you draw up the plans? I'm not even sure where to start with something like that.
@How To Home - Good idea & video, thnx! BUT for a true comparison you should lift the fire ring out and try it with just the 3 layers of stone (with the spaces on bottom as u have now). Your previous design was in-ground I believe, with no airflow (= smoke). I've always wanted to see a standard firepit with airflow vs a firepit with a ring & holes design. (The idea being, do you really need a ring to create the draft, or does the fresh air coming straight into the fire at the lower level do the job just as well). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do this! It would be easy with your setup.
Just avoid bumping them with the deck of your riding mower (if you use one). My pit is made of standard brick-sized pavers just free-stacked, no mortar. And that's the only problem I have had with leaving it unmortared (read: removable and rebuildable). But my bricks weigh a lot less per piece than the retaining wall blocks used in this video. It would probably take a pretty solid hit with a mower to really cause any problems with a pit built from those blocks.
Great concept! My concern is any time I've used metal rings is they don't last long. Heat burns off any coating, steel trusts, fire burns rust...two years later the ring is burned through. For that reason I'm working on something incorporating the smokeless design but using fire brick instead of steel.
Did you get it figured out and built 🤔 I would guess that the fire brick would insulate the heat from the outside chamber. The idea is to have super high heat air rushing in to the top to create the re-burn.
The karate chop trick cracked me up! Thanks for this; I’ll be using this video in the near future. I agree, the smokeless fire pits you can buy online are way too small and expensive.
Hey, I have no interest in making a fire pit but I stumbled across this, it looked interesting and watched the whole thing. Great video, if I ever decide to make one, I have a pretty good idea on how it works and how to do it. Thanks for sharing.
I subscribe to your channel and you gave me some hope with this video for which I am grateful. You see, I am 61 and have never really built things or taken on big home improvement projects; mainly from a lack of confidence perspective, sadly. My wife & I recently bought a house that has a firepit in the backyard but it needs to be redone. I was able to follow your video very well and I liked how you explained each step very thoroughly as you did not hurry through it. Thank you for that! I even watched your follow up video where you answered folks’ questions on this topic. I subscribe to your “How To Home” Channel and look forward to seeing more of your videos. Keep up the good work to teach us how to get things done around the home. :-)
Hey Ron, I really appreciate the comment. That is one of the big reasons I enjoy doing this channel is trying to help folks and also to help give them the confidence that they can do it too. It is very common to feel unsure. So thank you again for reaching out to me and for the feedback! Take care!
NICE, I'm in the process of building an outside Firepit myself. It's a More of a classic Chimney pooling thing that throws (Radiant) the heat toward our Deck where Folks set. Good stuff
What influenced your decision regarding how high to drill those holes - I was expecting them to be lower? Would pre-drilling on your bench have been significantly easier?
I looked at the smokeless firepits in stores and that is where they are. The idea is to get that fresh air into the top of the fire to help burn off the excess smoke. I don't know that on the bench would have been easier as I was able to sit on the fire pit and lean into it to cut the holes.
Will give this a shot. I agree with the comment below on the top row of stone. I think a one inch thick curved flat cap stone on top and this put the top row of stone so the angle is laying into the fire pit. Great Video.
I'm looking at building a fire pit in my back yard and glad i found your video....never thought about getting rid of the excess smoke, this is awesome!!
Use lard on your hole saws. Comes in 1 lb blocks. Leave in pkg. (Can use for drilling other holes) Rotate saw thru pkg into lard to load the teeth. Do for each hole, 'cools', and chips will 'stick'.
Getting ready to start mine hopefully this coming week, got all the materials and assembled the ring and also drilled my holes.. i found a small starter drill bit followed by a step bit worked amazing.. i did 20 1/2" holes in mine (5 per quarter piece of ring) Just gotta prep the ground area and get it built. Just been busy in the new house with other projects that take higher priority.
Was this hike size effective? I was thinking that more smaller diameter holes could create a little more back pressure allowing the air to flow out at a quicker rate? Does this sound logical at all?
Thanks for that. And just an idea here: regular stones would absorb and conduct a ton of heat, right? Well, if you live in a cold place and have a fire for heat -- that's perfect. But if anyone wants a fire for the aesthetics or for cooking but are in a hot climate (and actually don't want to be warmed up), then experiment with aircrete blocks instead of stone -- they act as insulators -- you may even be able to rest your hand on the outside of the ring while the inside is glowing hot (also prevents kids getting burned fingers)
That was great information and tutorial. This is excellent idea especially for prepping for when the SHTF. You want to be able to still cook prey you have killed to eat, but don't want to give smoke signals to everyone around a ten mile radius!!
7:45 no joke getting metal in your eye! When I was a teen I was using a Dremel and got a "tiny" flick of metal in the corner of my eye and LORD did that hurt like hell! Super lucky it didn't do any real damage! One way you could improve this design and add more airflow is to look up a "Dakota fire hole" and combine that with what you already have to provide even more rushing cool air to the fire. Make a small tunnel down into the middle of the pit and out one side with something like cinder blocks, bricks, or a pipe ETC. Then cover the end of the tunnel inside the pit with a metal grate, maybe do the same on the inlet end of the tunnel to keep from stepping into or tripping over it if it's not tucked out of the way?
Yeah I would like to avoid that at all cost! Glad your eye was ok! I actually made a video doing pretty much exactly what you are suggesting. Feel free to check it out on my channel. It definitely made a difference!
Why not remove 1 or 2 stones completely and then just shift all the other stones so there is a small gap? Not only avoid having to cut stones, it would also ensure you can still control the symmetry.
Honestly, I was wondering the same thing. I don't have a masonry chisel and wouldn't want to buy one just for this. I think I'd prefer to cut the holes out before putting it in and maybe doing a touch up of stove paint to cover as well. All in all, this is a nice looking pit.
Great video thanks. A few questions 1) would it be OK to create space between bottom layer pavers rather then having to cut them at all? 2) Are the retention pavers 12" wide & 12"deep? (I'm trying to figure which size fire ring I should buy if I want the total size of my firepit with pavers to be no larger then 55" diameter) 3) the hole saw kit link you provided is not available is there another you recommend or should I just shop Amazon for cheapest price? #diy girl here that's the reason for all the questions. Thanks!
1) Yes you can, I just didn't want that look personally and wanted only a few opening instead of small ones all the way around as I believe it creates a better vacuum affect but others have said they have had success doing it the other way too. 2) The retention blocks I bought are 4.75" x 11.75" x 6.75". 3) Yeah they sold out of them recently but think they should restock but I also have had luck with my craftsman hole saw kit. Make sure you are getting a kit capable of cutting metal. Even then some of them wear down really fast. I hope I was able to answer all of your question! Glad to hear you are a DIYer, that is what this channel is all about is trying to inspire folks to try to fix and create things on their own! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!
Thank you so much for your answer. My fire ring is, according to its specs, 3mm thick. I used a 1” Milwaukee hole saw with carbon and it worked like a charm. You have been very helpful and great explanatory video.👍👍. Thank you.
Excellent! I have a family member that is wanting one and I may try the 1 inch hole saw or maybe even a little smaller but with more holes just to see if it makes a difference. Thank you for the feedback Sarah! I am glad you liked it!
You can build the ring with stones as well leaving a gap for the air to travel up, although metal is a better heat conductor once the stones heat-up the effect will be the same.
Actually it won't. A Solostove does not work by increasing draw generally, but by using heat-powered convection to force heated fresh air into the exhaust stream for an afterburner effect.
Great video.. I’m going to try this this weekend! I do have a few questions though.. what is the diameter of the holes you drilled, how far apart did you space them, and how far down from the top did you drill them? Are you at all worried about the bricks moving with people putting their feet on it?
Nice job. I've been planning the same. But going to make a ring of cement for the top. Constrict the Firebox as other viewers suggested and makes it something you can sit on.
Looks really nice, does it really work a lot better than a normal fire pit? A side by side comparison would be cool to see and compare the difference. Great job overall.
Thank you for sharing this. I had already thought of the idea because I have a bunch of bricks sitting around but I wasn't sure how to seal the top. Next step is to look for that fire ring.
@@hillzachary01 He has explained it several times in previous comments. Others had asked about it or stated the same thing. He has a reason. Others don’t agree with his reason, but it has to do with creating air pressure. I’m pretty sure it would work either way.
This was a most excellent video, very well done! I just have to share this with a family I know. who've been having the smoke problem with their current pit. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!
You are welcome. Glad you liked it! Some modifications I would do differently, I would make the holes quite a bit smaller and maybe more of them. If you don't have larger fires, maybe go with a slightly smaller ring so the holes are closer to the fire. Both of these should just make it even better. Also, I have a 2nd video showing part 2 of this, would recommend doing that install as well! Thank you for the feedback!
Man I loved this video! This is currently my exact situation. Have an in-ground fire pit. Not trying to spend the money on a Breeo if I can make this work. Having the existing fire pit makes a little less work for me. Thanks!
Hello I am far from Harry homeowner or a DIY guy LOL I am a retired firefighter I have two acres with a couple of trees and the wife and I were thinking about building something so we could burn the Fallen dead tree branches and such . I came across your post and never even considered digging out a hole. If I did take something out 12 or 13 inches by 36 inches across would I still use the fire ring or just put a ring of stones Around The Dugout Circle to give it a finished look and just put gravel at the bottom or lava rock or red fire brick or something? What materials basically did you use with your inground design thank you
@@andyid7440 "Stack"? Two layers are stable enough I think. An item not discussed: fire rings and stones are variable sizes, and thus spacing is uncertain. The gaps serve to deliver air horizontally at the lower level of the combustion, so if the ring/stone combo fits too well, you end up with irregularities being imposed. It's a fire pit, not a piano.
The smoke almost seems to follow where people are sitting. I think I’m going to price out fire rings and try this method. I need to make a cover for the pit since it is a town ordinance too. Looking for videos on that and I came across this smokeless video. Professional and easy to follow video and I could hear you. So many videos skip steps and the sound is terrible. Thank you!!!
Love the video! I was about to wing it at my own firepit when i stumbled upon this gem! Love the idea of creating a cavity for cool air and holes so they can control the smoke output. Never would have thought of that. Keep up the good work bud!
I did an experiment with the same ring technique. What I found was if I dug a hole the same depth that the fire ring was high I got the same result! The difference was that the one surrounded by stone blocked most of the heat. The one in the ground did a much more better job at projecting heat to people sitting around the fire pit. My seven yearold son said " it heats us up more because we can see the light of the fire more, the other way you can just see alittle bit of the light" He was absolutely right; we are warmed by the Inferred light from the fire.
That is a great point and makes complete sense. You have a smart boy! I really appreciate the insight and feedback Rodney! Some may want to follow your example. 🙂
I did something similar. I expanded my pit lined the bottom with fire bricks and created gaps along the out side of the pit that draws air in and instead of a ring I just used fire bricks and used blue drainage stone on the outside for looks. I also used granite stones that I have found at the beach and around the forest buy my house. Very little smoke and it looks awesome.
Now that was fun to watch. Quick question, instead of drilling all of those holes in your nice new black ring, why not let the black ring rest on top of the 3rd level of stone giving space at the bottom for air? I've been building camp fires all my life up at the river and it's usually a no, no to bury it in the ground like that because it kills the draft flow, doesn't burn wood as well and it makes more smoke.
Awesome video. I know what I'm doing this weekend . Great step by step. Thanks for including what materials you used in the description. And I appreciate the humor.
@@HowToHomeDIY do you think this fire pit would work also? It has vented sides and flanges at the top and bottom. Thanks Fr a great video. www.amazon.com/Bond-Manufacturing-52118-Scotts-Valley/dp/B08MXQ9VY8
I was working on a knife handle with a dremel last year and I wound up with a tiny little piece of brass shaving in my eye. I managed to flush it out with a little saline solution, but it could have been a lot worse. Now I wear my "mad scientist" goggles no matter what kind of work I'm doing.
Great video. I've been looking for steps to build my own and this fits the nitch perfectly! One question, how big are the holes you drilled for the air circulation
If you pause it at 7:01 it looks like he is placing his center point at an Inch and a half. I would guess either a 3/4 or 1 inch hole as the top looks to be a half inch from top of rim to top of previously cut holes.
😂 Well I actually bought a really expensive carbide tipped hole saw that was supposed to just cut through all kinds of metal without any issue. It cut one hole and was done. Then I went back to my run of the mill hole saw and it cut all of the rest of the holes it. It did however break off a couple of the teeth towards the end but was still able to finish the job. Enjoy the build! Hope you like it as much as we do.
My wife and I just watched this and truly enjoyed it...and now I am obligated to build a smokeless fire for us to enjoy...Thank for posting this!!! God Bless
Awesome! Glad you both liked it. It is a fun project. Hope you all enjoy yours as much as we do ours! Thanks a lot for the feedback Jack!
Instead of buying a metal ring, a broken washing machine or a drier is free and has a nice, big metal container inside. Bonus: it already has holes in it, so no need for drilling. Just cut it, invert it so that the holes are on top, and continue as normal with the bricks (making sure to make the top as airtight as possible so that the heated air travels out the holes, you may have to use mortar). Extra bonus: if you have welding skills, weld on pipes at a 45 degree angle to the right or left for the air to travel through. As is rushes through the angled pipes it creates a spinning vortex and you'll get a fire tornado forming.
Please do a video on this sounds so cool
@@AW-md2ew break into a house, unbolt the the nice container and get out
@@kawkaw8623 😅 perfect answer 👌
@@AW-md2ew I have both a washer and dryer that are dead and useless I’ll be doing this
That’s a damn good idea, sonbut my fire pits gonna be big, much bigger than a washer or dryer Drum. Unless you talkin bout, one of them there, commercial dryer, now that might work.
3 layers of 14 bricks (42), fire ring, rocks for bottom, drill and bit
Thanks for the video! Was about to build my own firepit and will definitely be using this smokeless method. The only thing I may adjust is spraying some high-temp paint on the drilled holes so the exposed metal doesn't rust as easily since the rest of the ring is treated with high temp paint already.
Sounds like a plan! Thanks for the feedback!
That's not a bad idea, dude, since there's going to be a lot of oxygen going through them, along with a lot of heat absorbed by them, which is going to promote faster than usual rust.
@@HowToHomeDIY where do you get the 4 piece fire ring?
@@scottplecker2296 There are links in the description for different sized ones. I'd love to try this out when mine finally rusts a hole in the bottom.
Commenting for your channel's sake, love what you're doing here. Thank you for the intelligent and massively practical video, no excessive American waffle either, very much appreciated you have no idea.. Good luck from Australia!
To increase the longevity of the fire ring, spray paint the fresh metal made by the hole saw with high-temp paint.
Yeah I wondered why he didn't..
I do in one of my follow up videos
If he knew he was going to cut holes then why the hell didn't he cut them before he set them up and could have done them on a flat surface ?? Oh well not my Job ha ha !@! Good idea Eh ?
High temp paint doesn't hold up with direct flame but still a good idea.
@@deere1485 true, I touch up throughout the year
Love the split stones idea for the air intake gaps. You've retained symmetry and structural support. I'm using that for sure.
That is exactly why I did it that way. Many are asking why. Appreciate the feedback Steve!
Wanted to say Thank you for this video,
Got a fire ring, hole sawed the 1 1/2” holes, sprayed both sides with heat resistant paint, 12 -1’ x 2’ x2” pavers over sand for the base, used bricks that were on the property for the outer ring, 4 layers of the brick raised the ring 3/4 of an inch up which lets more air underneath, works like it’s supposed to!
You are welcome. That’s awesome! Really glad to hear you’re enjoying it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Gary!
Thanks for creating this video! I’ve enjoyed all kinds of fire pits over the years while camping and I’ve found the best way to cut down on smoke it to scout for dry hardwood (usually from storm damage) and split it into smaller pieces allowing more air to mix with the fire as opposed to burning large logs. I’ve also noticed that fire pits with high sidewalls block radiant heat so you have to stand almost over the edge of the fire to get warm which can be hard on the eyebrows 😬
Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone find real, affordable solutions to problems! You saw something that worked and thought "how can I make this better?" and then you made it better! Awesome video, I'll definitely be trying this when I build my fire pit for this summer!
Glad you liked it! We are really enjoying it! Too bad we didn't have it sooner! Thank you very much for the feedback! And good luck on the project!
Fire rings are expensive though!! 😱
Not sponsored, I paid for it myself. And I listed the one I used. I have yet to do a video that I was paid by a company to do, although I’ve been offered numerous sponsorships I want everything to be unbiased and authentic for anyone that watches my channel.
@@Super--Star Literally no one asked you
Great demo. I didn’t have the ability to break rocks so just can also leave half space and continue lying pavers. About same effect with no cutting.
Good idea if...you have kids/grandkids that mind! Like "stay away form the fire PIT!!!!!"
Thank you for this video! I was able to buy a fire ring at Home Depot with a lattice pattern which saved me the step of cutting holes in the fire ring. I was able to put my fire pit together pretty quick. It burns great! Thank you!
You could take out a couple of stones then distribute the remainder evenly and you'll have the support and the vents around the pit.
Simple solution. Especially since this would negate the need to split the stones in half.
Exactly, that is how I did mine. Work smarter, not harder.
That's what I was thinking. Could you not space each bottom stone out about 2 or 3 inches? Can you have too many air channels on the bottom ring? does it affect how this works?
i second that
The metal jacket is essential for the effect he is trying to achieve - not merely better general ventilation at the bottom of the fire, but the heat/convection-powered forcing of fresh air into the superheated exhaust stream at the top of the fire, to duplicate the "afterburner" smokeless design of the expensive stainless firebowl shown at the beginning. Merely adding more vents at the bottom helps burning generally, but it does not create the afterburner effect that completes the burning of the exhaust gases.
Awesome! Sitting , relaxing by a fire without playing musical chairs❤️
Nice video, I've been thinking about doing just this. One thought, instead of splitting the stones, couldn't you just remove two and space the rest a bit farther apart on the bottom layer?
Maybe his idea was to keep a vacuum by constricting the intake a little
Great video! I appreciate that fact that you were able to cut the stones with your hand, but also showed us without your skill and training how to do it. Very well done.
Excellent and simple instructional video. I'm going to build a pit and have been watching many videos. Your's is the best. Thank you so much!
I am glad to hear you liked it and found it helpful! Thank you very much for the feedback! Good luck with the project!
Agreed-so straightforward!
Gas fireplace insert and propane tank would work also with cwramic logs never have to find wood for it and you could vrill on it also
Grill on it
Am a Slate belt in rock-kwon-Do and will say that the chop in this vid gets a barney rubble award .
I am honored and I accept! Means a lot coming from a slate belt!
This is something my wife and I are going to try. Thank You. Efficient and easy
Awesome! It is good to do projects together! Hope yall like it as much as we do!
Since we moved into our new house I've been wanting to have a fire pit and now I know how to build it the right way and to be smokeless and my wife will love that part of it thanks for the video.
Sounds like a plan! Glad you liked it. We have enjoyed ours for sure! Congrats on the new house!
How fortuitous; just started looking at fire pits; love the function, look and style of this one.
Also am familiar with several marshal arts and now a new one: Rock Kwando - Well played!
We will also cover woodjitsu eventually as well. Also, very important.
@@HowToHomeDIY HAHAHA!!!
I prefer John Wick's Shootokan style Gun Fu.
Ahh yeah, John and I have the same sensei. Super good guy but kind of a short fuse. He had people over last weekend and one guy accidentally ran into his dog while catching a football. Haven’t seen or heard from Bill since. Also, maybe just coincidental, but I can’t seem to find any of my dang pencils! 🤷♂️
Martial not marshal
Your karate is far superior to that of the other smokeless fire pit video hosts. Very informative also
They are so old fashioned. Tools Pft!
Hahaha, the only comedy I've actually seen in any DIY. The extremely dry delivery was perfect
😂 Glad you liked it. That was a fun part of the video to make. Thank you for the feedback!
Dude! You said 'expound'!! That's the right word! Everybody else says 'expand'... as though they could inflate like Violet Beauregard (Blueberry Girl in Willy Wonka) just because they flesh out an idea. I can't believe proper use of the language got me excited. OK, now back to the video, which I'm sure I'll find equally interesting!
Haha, I can relate. Words have always been important to me.
What is your thoughts on recessing the pit a little bit instead of having it that high? I feel the heat escapes to high rather then towards yoir body when the height of a pit is tall???
Looks like an attractive and functional fire ring! Here's a pro-tip on cutting concrete blocks: Arrange the blocks in lowest level just as you did. Take out one block. Re-arrange to get approximately even gaps between all blocks. Now continue as you did. Need more ventilation? Take out two blocks.
There are reasons I did not do it that way. I address them in the comments and also my review video of this. I appreciate the feedback.
Thanks for the chuckle -I’m glad you turned your hat around for “high speed ,low drag” working! Lol. Great job brother
Rock kwan do does not require perfect aerodynamics but they certainly do help! Glad you liked it 😂
@@HowToHomeDIY Your Rock Kwan Do skills are certainly good.. I think I tried with my head once, but now I dont remember.. :-) Seriously though.. Awesome project.. I didn't know this was possible - I hadn't looked into it, but I thought the "smokeless" was all about the fuel being used, and not about creating the draft.. I'll definitely be doing this
Man, I enjoyed this video so much I didn't even skip the commercials. Well done.
Man, thank you very much for the feedback! I hope the commercials were at least interesting 😂
Really appreciate this video. I knew I could probably do this but had no idea on how to do this. You walked me threw this step by step and everything came out great. Thanks so much
Rick
Awesome! Glad to hear it came out great and you are liking it. We have loved ours. In fact we like it so much that I am in the process of editing a video of us making a nicer seating area around it. Thanks for the feedback Rick!
@@HowToHomeDIY Do you have the link for the video?
What bit did you use to make the holes? I attempted to start mine today, but my 2” hole saw bit isn’t even cutting through once
This man is clearly a triple black belt at rock-quàn-do he executed his rock chop flawlessly. If you pay close attention to that part of the video, you can see the reason he was able to execute the infamous rock steady chop because he held his lip JUST right. He kept his lip in perfect formation throughout his swing and that allowed him to execute such a devastating blow with tremendous Force. It takes years to master holding your lip right in rock-Quan-do once you master it to the degree he has you can pretty much chop through anything known to man and can accomplish any task with ease.
You get it 😂
Thank you.
I am, literally, finishing up a pond and waterfall and next project is the fire pit :)
Got one of those fire rings and now know that previous home owner was clueless about how to make it smokeless! They very reason I stopped using it!
Starting my modification tomorrow !!!
You might increase the efficiency of the burn by constricting the top diameter. Eliminate one of the top stones and that will move the whole ring in so it over hangs the metal fire pit ring by a couple of inches This will cause a chimney effect and draw more air in and concentrate the combustion air and smoke for the secondary burn.
I like that idea, but I would think that you would need more top layers for it to produce that effect?
armchair expert gets the top comment.
@@shamancredible8632 Not really an "arm chair" comment. The Solo fire pits are designed so the top ring is smaller than the pit and it draws the air in.
I have a large fire pit and yes I have to move around depending on the 💨. It’s time to redo my pit and I plan on following your plan with possible modifications. Thanks for your Video.
Sounds good! Have fun with planning out the modifications and the build!
Thank you for this! I'm building an off-grid home in VT, and I will most definitely be using this tutorial for our (necessary) fire pit. Awesome.
Awesome! Sounds like it is probably a beautiful place! Hope you like your pit as much as we have!
Can I ask, what instructions are you using for your off grid build? Did you draw up the plans? I'm not even sure where to start with something like that.
Thanks!
You are very welcome Bruce. Thank you very much!
@How To Home - Good idea & video, thnx! BUT for a true comparison you should lift the fire ring out and try it with just the 3 layers of stone (with the spaces on bottom as u have now). Your previous design was in-ground I believe, with no airflow (= smoke). I've always wanted to see a standard firepit with airflow vs a firepit with a ring & holes design. (The idea being, do you really need a ring to create the draft, or does the fresh air coming straight into the fire at the lower level do the job just as well). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do this! It would be easy with your setup.
Dude I tried it really works!!!thank you thank you!!! Also I experimented with a fourth layer of stones.slighlty bigger gaps about an inch. Zero smoke
Awesome! Love to hear it! Really happy to hear you are enjoying it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!
Did you use lava rocks? I heard if they get wet they will expand and when they get heated up they will explode and become projectiles
@shanesr72 use whatever you think is safe then. That’s but what I used and while things like that can happen, it’s not super common.
Should you do something to keep the stones in place once theyve been set down, like mortar or something?
Just avoid bumping them with the deck of your riding mower (if you use one). My pit is made of standard brick-sized pavers just free-stacked, no mortar. And that's the only problem I have had with leaving it unmortared (read: removable and rebuildable). But my bricks weigh a lot less per piece than the retaining wall blocks used in this video. It would probably take a pretty solid hit with a mower to really cause any problems with a pit built from those blocks.
Great concept! My concern is any time I've used metal rings is they don't last long. Heat burns off any coating, steel trusts, fire burns rust...two years later the ring is burned through. For that reason I'm working on something incorporating the smokeless design but using fire brick instead of steel.
Did you get it figured out and built 🤔
I would guess that the fire brick would insulate the heat from the outside chamber. The idea is to have super high heat air rushing in to the top to create the re-burn.
I read through the comments and I just can't believe no one got your joke. Rockquando! That was absolutely genius!
Wait, who was joking about that?! 😂
I wish I would have seen this video before I built mine. I might disassemble mine to make it this way. Great job and great instructions.
Yeah I wish I saw my video before I did my first one too haha. Appreciate the feedback. We are really liking it!
The karate chop trick cracked me up! Thanks for this; I’ll be using this video in the near future. I agree, the smokeless fire pits you can buy online are way too small and expensive.
Hey, I have no interest in making a fire pit but I stumbled across this, it looked interesting and watched the whole thing. Great video, if I ever decide to make one, I have a pretty good idea on how it works and how to do it. Thanks for sharing.
haha well I am glad you stumbled across it. Thank you for the feedback!
I subscribe to your channel and you gave me some hope with this video for which I am grateful. You see, I am 61 and have never really built things or taken on big home improvement projects; mainly from a lack of confidence perspective, sadly. My wife & I recently bought a house that has a firepit in the backyard but it needs to be redone. I was able to follow your video very well and I liked how you explained each step very thoroughly as you did not hurry through it. Thank you for that! I even watched your follow up video where you answered folks’ questions on this topic. I subscribe to your “How To Home” Channel and look forward to seeing more of your videos. Keep up the good work to teach us how to get things done around the home. :-)
Hey Ron, I really appreciate the comment. That is one of the big reasons I enjoy doing this channel is trying to help folks and also to help give them the confidence that they can do it too. It is very common to feel unsure. So thank you again for reaching out to me and for the feedback! Take care!
Very cool bro!
Your brick breaking technique ir ROCK solid! Lol
Ahhhhh I see what you did there 😂 Very good.
NICE, I'm in the process of building an outside Firepit myself.
It's a More of a classic Chimney pooling thing that throws (Radiant) the heat toward our Deck where Folks set.
Good stuff
Would like to see it!
@@HowToHomeDIY How do I send you Pics?
What influenced your decision regarding how high to drill those holes - I was expecting them to be lower? Would pre-drilling on your bench have been significantly easier?
I looked at the smokeless firepits in stores and that is where they are. The idea is to get that fresh air into the top of the fire to help burn off the excess smoke. I don't know that on the bench would have been easier as I was able to sit on the fire pit and lean into it to cut the holes.
Will give this a shot. I agree with the comment below on the top row of stone. I think a one inch thick curved flat cap stone on top and this put the top row of stone so the angle is laying into the fire pit. Great Video.
Completed mine. Amazing outcome. THANKS!
Awesome! Glad to hear it sounds like you are enjoying yours as much as we are! Thanks for the feedback!
I'm looking at building a fire pit in my back yard and glad i found your video....never thought about getting rid of the excess smoke, this is awesome!!
Glad you liked it! We have loved ours! Have been waiting on the weather to cool down to fire it up again! Thanks for the feedback!
What if you just used less stones for the bottom ring, forcing you to leave many little gaps all the way around, instead of a few bigger gaps?
i second that
Notice all layers have the same number of stone. If you use fewer stone its hard to make sure all seams are over the middle of a stone.
Wow...bigger and better than the store-bought ones that are so expensive. Thanks!
Use lard on your hole saws. Comes in 1 lb blocks. Leave in pkg. (Can use for drilling other holes) Rotate saw thru pkg into lard to load the teeth. Do for each hole, 'cools', and chips will 'stick'.
Great tip! Thank you Marshall!
Cool idea. The wood is supposed to be at or below the holes for the function of it being smokeless according to my Solo Stove.
Yup! That is exactly right. Thanks a lot for the feedback!
You, sir, deserve all the thumbs up!!! So doing this!
Much appreciated!
@@HowToHomeDIY this is amazing could we have an update in about a year
Getting ready to start mine hopefully this coming week, got all the materials and assembled the ring and also drilled my holes.. i found a small starter drill bit followed by a step bit worked amazing.. i did 20 1/2" holes in mine (5 per quarter piece of ring)
Just gotta prep the ground area and get it built. Just been busy in the new house with other projects that take higher priority.
Was this hike size effective? I was thinking that more smaller diameter holes could create a little more back pressure allowing the air to flow out at a quicker rate? Does this sound logical at all?
Thanks for that. And just an idea here: regular stones would absorb and conduct a ton of heat, right? Well, if you live in a cold place and have a fire for heat -- that's perfect. But if anyone wants a fire for the aesthetics or for cooking but are in a hot climate (and actually don't want to be warmed up), then experiment with aircrete blocks instead of stone -- they act as insulators -- you may even be able to rest your hand on the outside of the ring while the inside is glowing hot (also prevents kids getting burned fingers)
Have two fire pits?
That was great information and tutorial. This is excellent idea especially for prepping for when the SHTF. You want to be able to still cook prey you have killed to eat, but don't want to give smoke signals to everyone around a ten mile radius!!
7:45 no joke getting metal in your eye! When I was a teen I was using a Dremel and got a "tiny" flick of metal in the corner of my eye and LORD did that hurt like hell! Super lucky it didn't do any real damage!
One way you could improve this design and add more airflow is to look up a "Dakota fire hole" and combine that with what you already have to provide even more rushing cool air to the fire. Make a small tunnel down into the middle of the pit and out one side with something like cinder blocks, bricks, or a pipe ETC. Then cover the end of the tunnel inside the pit with a metal grate, maybe do the same on the inlet end of the tunnel to keep from stepping into or tripping over it if it's not tucked out of the way?
Yeah I would like to avoid that at all cost! Glad your eye was ok!
I actually made a video doing pretty much exactly what you are suggesting. Feel free to check it out on my channel. It definitely made a difference!
@@HowToHomeDIY LOL so I see! Ya a Dakota fire hole works really well...
Excellent disclaimer! I want to try this type of pit eventually. I'd push in the top row more to cover that flange personally
No need to cut the stones. Stagger the bottom circle with two less stones in a way that will leave the desired cold air inputs the correct size.
"Rock kwan-do" ... great! Really nice build. Enjoy your summer evenings.
We definitely will. We love sitting out around the fire. Thanks a lot for the feedback!
Why not remove 1 or 2 stones completely and then just shift all the other stones so there is a small gap? Not only avoid having to cut stones, it would also ensure you can still control the symmetry.
I was gonna ask the same thing
Honestly, I was wondering the same thing. I don't have a masonry chisel and wouldn't want to buy one just for this. I think I'd prefer to cut the holes out before putting it in and maybe doing a touch up of stove paint to cover as well. All in all, this is a nice looking pit.
Yep, same thing I was going to suggest.
He used the half-stones to support the offset 2nd layer. Spacing all the 1st layer with 2 stones missing wouldn't be as symmetrical.
@@DoBeLove See if you can rent the chisel somewhere.
Dude, how did you figure that out? pure genius!!!
Great video thanks. A few questions 1) would it be OK to create space between bottom layer pavers rather then having to cut them at all? 2) Are the retention pavers 12" wide & 12"deep? (I'm trying to figure which size fire ring I should buy if I want the total size of my firepit with pavers to be no larger then 55" diameter) 3) the hole saw kit link you provided is not available is there another you recommend or should I just shop Amazon for cheapest price? #diy girl here that's the reason for all the questions. Thanks!
1) Yes you can, I just didn't want that look personally and wanted only a few opening instead of small ones all the way around as I believe it creates a better vacuum affect but others have said they have had success doing it the other way too. 2) The retention blocks I bought are 4.75" x 11.75" x 6.75". 3) Yeah they sold out of them recently but think they should restock but I also have had luck with my craftsman hole saw kit. Make sure you are getting a kit capable of cutting metal. Even then some of them wear down really fast. I hope I was able to answer all of your question! Glad to hear you are a DIYer, that is what this channel is all about is trying to inspire folks to try to fix and create things on their own! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!
Which hole saw did you buy? I guess I need a better one, because mine isn’t cutting it.
Nice work! Thank you very much! Love and blessings from Ontario Canada!
Thank you very much! Glad you liked it! Love and blessings to you too, stay warm up there!
This is going in my favorites! I hope I'll ever get around to using this coz I'd like to go out and try it right now!
Thank you so much for your answer. My fire ring is, according to its specs, 3mm thick. I used a 1” Milwaukee hole saw with carbon and it worked like a charm. You have been very helpful and great explanatory video.👍👍. Thank you.
Excellent! I have a family member that is wanting one and I may try the 1 inch hole saw or maybe even a little smaller but with more holes just to see if it makes a difference. Thank you for the feedback Sarah! I am glad you liked it!
@@HowToHomeDIY I wanted a 1/2" hole saw but the smallest there was available at Home Depot was 1". So that's what I used.
You can build the ring with stones as well leaving a gap for the air to travel up, although metal is a better heat conductor once the stones heat-up the effect will be the same.
Actually it won't. A Solostove does not work by increasing draw generally, but by using heat-powered convection to force heated fresh air into the exhaust stream for an afterburner effect.
Awesome job my friend.
Great procedure, work and video progression.
Great all around.
Thank you 👍
Great video.. I’m going to try this this weekend! I do have a few questions though.. what is the diameter of the holes you drilled, how far apart did you space them, and how far down from the top did you drill them? Are you at all worried about the bricks moving with people putting their feet on it?
I saw a different video, where the 1/2" holes were 2" apart, but not sure how far from the top to measure down.
Nice job.
I've been planning the same. But going to make a ring of cement for the top. Constrict the Firebox as other viewers suggested and makes it something you can sit on.
Looks really nice, does it really work a lot better than a normal fire pit? A side by side comparison would be cool to see and compare the difference.
Great job overall.
Great job! This is a great example of understanding fire behaviour.
Thanks! I am looking into building one now instead of a fire pit that burns up my grass
Thank you for sharing this. I had already thought of the idea because I have a bunch of bricks sitting around but I wasn't sure how to seal the top. Next step is to look for that fire ring.
You can also just subtract out one block from the bottom and then evenly space out the rest of the blocks around it.
This is what I was thinking as he chiseled them in half. Big time savings and but one less stone
There are reasons I did not do that.
@@HowToHomeDIY and that reason is...?
@@hillzachary01 He has explained it several times in previous comments. Others had asked about it or stated the same thing. He has a reason. Others don’t agree with his reason, but it has to do with creating air pressure. I’m pretty sure it would work either way.
@@hillzachary01 because he was over thinking it haha
Thanks for the comedy and great writing. I will definitely do when I move my pit.
This was a most excellent video, very well done! I just have to share this with a family I know. who've been having the smoke problem with their current pit. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!
You are welcome. Glad you liked it! Some modifications I would do differently, I would make the holes quite a bit smaller and maybe more of them. If you don't have larger fires, maybe go with a slightly smaller ring so the holes are closer to the fire. Both of these should just make it even better. Also, I have a 2nd video showing part 2 of this, would recommend doing that install as well! Thank you for the feedback!
Note comment above, Dry Hardwood.
Man I loved this video! This is currently my exact situation. Have an in-ground fire pit. Not trying to spend the money on a Breeo if I can make this work. Having the existing fire pit makes a little less work for me. Thanks!
Hello I am far from Harry homeowner or a DIY guy LOL I am a retired firefighter I have two acres with a couple of trees and the wife and I were thinking about building something so we could burn the Fallen dead tree branches and such . I came across your post and never even considered digging out a hole. If I did take something out 12 or 13 inches by 36 inches across would I still use the fire ring or just put a ring of stones Around The Dugout Circle to give it a finished look and just put gravel at the bottom or lava rock or red fire brick or something? What materials basically did you use with your inground design thank you
Could it work as well or better with just removing a couple of or three stones from the bottom and splitting the difference to make gaps all around?
A hole is a hole is a hole. No chisel needed.
Using half-blocks prevents edges on the first course from lining up too close with edges on the second course, which would weaken the stack.
@@andyid7440 "Stack"? Two layers are stable enough I think. An item not discussed: fire rings and stones are variable sizes, and thus spacing is uncertain. The gaps serve to deliver air horizontally at the lower level of the combustion, so if the ring/stone combo fits too well, you end up with irregularities being imposed. It's a fire pit, not a piano.
@@andyid7440 Thanks, I though it might be something along those lines.
The smoke almost seems to follow where people are sitting. I think I’m going to price out fire rings and try this method. I need to make a cover for the pit since it is a town ordinance too. Looking for videos on that and I came across this smokeless video. Professional and easy to follow video and I could hear you. So many videos skip steps and the sound is terrible. Thank you!!!
Love the video! I was about to wing it at my own firepit when i stumbled upon this gem! Love the idea of creating a cavity for cool air and holes so they can control the smoke output. Never would have thought of that. Keep up the good work bud!
What kind of rocks are you using?
@@tazwelch1 I used crushed marble and used concrete retaining wall blocks from Depot
Thanks for showing me how to do this. Good job, Sir.
Glad you liked it! Hope you enjoy yours as much as we do ours! Thanks for the feedback!
nice job explaining the whole process. well done.
Glad you liked it! Thank you very much for the feedback!
New subscriber~ loved your introduction, straight to the point yet still personal!
Thank you very much for the kind words and feedback! I am really glad that you liked it. I look forward to seeing you around the channel!
I did an experiment with the same ring technique. What I found was if I dug a hole the same depth that the fire ring was high I got the same result! The difference was that the one surrounded by stone blocked most of the heat. The one in the ground did a much more better job at projecting heat to people sitting around the fire pit.
My seven yearold son said " it heats us up more because we can see the light of the fire more, the other way you can just see alittle bit of the light"
He was absolutely right; we are warmed by the Inferred light from the fire.
That is a great point and makes complete sense. You have a smart boy! I really appreciate the insight and feedback Rodney! Some may want to follow your example. 🙂
Hey Rodney, so did you still use the ring with holes? Just placed it in the ground vs on block?
That is a well made fire pit and looks a lot nicer than the pre made fire pits
Thank you sir! We really have enjoyed it!
I did something similar. I expanded my pit lined the bottom with fire bricks and created gaps along the out side of the pit that draws air in and instead of a ring I just used fire bricks and used blue drainage stone on the outside for looks. I also used granite stones that I have found at the beach and around the forest buy my house.
Very little smoke and it looks awesome.
do you have a photo this sounds amazing
Now that was fun to watch. Quick question, instead of drilling all of those holes in your nice new black ring, why not let the black ring rest on top of the 3rd level of stone giving space at the bottom for air? I've been building camp fires all my life up at the river and it's usually a no, no to bury it in the ground like that because it kills the draft flow, doesn't burn wood as well and it makes more smoke.
Instead of breaking 3 stones in half, is it possible to just place the stones on the bottom row one and a half inches apart?
Problem with that is keeping the second row of retaining blocks aligned
True
Awesome video. I know what I'm doing this weekend . Great step by step. Thanks for including what materials you used in the description. And I appreciate the humor.
Absolutely. Glad you liked it! Hope you enjoy the firepit! Thank you very much for the feedback!
..."If you're not trained in the arts of rockwendo"..nice one! LOL Thanks for the vid bro, looks easy and money wise feasible!
It took many years of dedication and training 😂 Glad you liked it! It was a fun project and we have been enjoying it! Thanks for the feedback.
@@HowToHomeDIY do you think this fire pit would work also? It has vented sides and flanges at the top and bottom. Thanks Fr a great video. www.amazon.com/Bond-Manufacturing-52118-Scotts-Valley/dp/B08MXQ9VY8
Wood choice will make a difference as well. Nice job.
Agreed. Thanks for the feedback!
I was working on a knife handle with a dremel last year and I wound up with a tiny little piece of brass shaving in my eye. I managed to flush it out with a little saline solution, but it could have been a lot worse. Now I wear my "mad scientist" goggles no matter what kind of work I'm doing.
Smart! You were lucky to get it out! I have heard too many bad stories now involving metal in the eye. Goggles are a must!
Very nice! Smokeless is the only way to go. Great job!
I agree! We have enjoyed it, that is for sure! Thanks for the feedback!
Great video. I've been looking for steps to build my own and this fits the nitch perfectly! One question, how big are the holes you drilled for the air circulation
If you pause it at 7:01 it looks like he is placing his center point at an Inch and a half. I would guess either a 3/4 or 1 inch hole as the top looks to be a half inch from top of rim to top of previously cut holes.
Very nice job. The end result is very nice and very clean looking
Thanks Rick! We are really happy with it!
So, I'm dying to know how many hole saws you burned up! lol Nice job, I think I'm gonna go build me one just like it! :)
😂 Well I actually bought a really expensive carbide tipped hole saw that was supposed to just cut through all kinds of metal without any issue. It cut one hole and was done. Then I went back to my run of the mill hole saw and it cut all of the rest of the holes it. It did however break off a couple of the teeth towards the end but was still able to finish the job. Enjoy the build! Hope you like it as much as we do.