How to Build a DIY Backyard Fire Pit Quickly and Inexpensively

Building a fire pit often involve , fire pit kits, laying concrete and a lot of hard work. So he we have put together a plan to show you how to build a DIY backyard fire pit for a simple backyard that you can build in little more than an afternoon with just a few items from the hardware store and that wont cost you a fortune.

What you will need for your backyard fire pit

The easiest way to build a fire pit involves using a steel barrel. A 55-gallon drum will work great. First you will need to make sure that the barrel is clean and has no holes in it. You can use a wire brush to clean the barrel out.

In order to shape the barrel into a circle, you will need a welder to attach the barrel to a steel ring. You will need to cut the barrel in half using a chain saw or a reciprocating saw. Be sure to wear protective gear and eye protection. Set the two pieces of the barrel on the ground. Use a level to make sure that the two pieces are the same height. Cut a piece of steel pipe to fit across the top of the barrel pieces.

We used a piece of 6″ steel pipe. Once you have cut the pipe, weld the pipe across the top of the barrel. The other side of the ring should be attached to the steel pipe. Again make sure the barrel has been cut exactly in half. You may have to use a ratchet wrench to get the fire pit ring to fit. Be sure to use safety equipment when using a wrench.

How to Build a DIY Backyard Fire Pit

Lining the barrel with bricks

Once the ring is attached to the barrel you can add the fire bricks. As with the two half of the barrel you will need to make sure that the bricks are level. It is important that you use a level. You will need to fill the bottom of the fire pit with sand. Never use dirt in a fire pit. The dirt can catch fire and cause the fire to spread. If you live in an area that has bugs, you may want to line the bottom of the fire pit with a tarp as well.

Start building the fire pit by stacking the bricks on top of each other. Obviously, you will need to leave a hole in the middle of the fire pit for the fire. Make sure that the bricks are level all the way around the fire pit. If they are not even, the bricks can fall in on the fire. The fire pit will be very unstable if the bricks are not level. Some people who may nort be confident with an ordinary level can use a laser level to make sure that the bricks are even.

Once the bricks are stacked, fill the top of the fire pit with a smaller brick that can support the weight of the bricks. The top brick should be smaller than the bricks that you are using to line the barrel. Fill the space in between the bricks with sand. You will need to make sure that the sand is level. So use again make use of your level on the sand so that the sand is even.

Adding a grate

After you have filled the sand between the bricks, place the fire pit grate on top of the fire pit. You will have to cut the grate to fit. We used a 8’x4′ fire pit grate. The grate should fit perfectly on the fire pit. You can also use a cover for the fire pit if you would like. You can cover the fire pit with a piece of sheet metal or even a piece of glass.

The fire pit can be used right away. You can use a gas grill to cook on the fire pit. You can also use a fire pit ring to cook on the fire pit. The fire pit ring can be placed on top of the fire pit grate.

Getting the job done

This project should only take a few hours to complete. Once you have the bricks stacked and sand between the bricks, you can start laying the fire bricks. You should be able to get this project completed in a day.

If you are looking for a DIY project, this fire pit is a good project to complete. It is easy to complete and will give you something to do outside.