How to Make a Lowfire Clay Suitable for Fire Pit
A lined fire pit holds heat more efficiently. It also looks better than a simple hole in the ground. Lining a fire pit with refractory clay that won't crack and break is not complicated. It does take time and effort, however. If it is done properly the lining will last for years with only minor patching of small cracks in between firings.
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Things You'll Need
- Shovels
- Scrap wood
- Garden hose
- 5-gallon bucket of plain water
- 5-gallon bucket of sand
- Large ABC fire extinguisher
- Broom and coal scuttle
- Trowel
- Mixing trough
- 100 pounds of refractory cement or 100 percent clay kitty litter
- Self-starting charcoal briquettes (about 30 pounds)
- Hardwood firewood
- Fireplace matches
Instructions
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Clear an area 20 feet in diameter of anything that could catch on fire, including paper, grass, leaves, twigs, trees, shrubs, buildings or vehicles. Spray the area outside the 20-feet diameter circle with water to prevent any chance of fire from stray coals or ash. Have a garden hose, 5-gallon bucket of plain water, 5-gallon bucket of sand and a large ABC fire extinguisher next to your fire, and use them when needed.
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Dig your fire pit in the exact center of your cleared area. Choose a week when there is absolutely no chance of rain, as the refractory cement will take at least 48 hours to dry completely before firing. Build and feed a fire until it is burning bright orange in your bare-earth fire pit. Allow it to burn down overnight. This dries the earth properly so that the cement will be able to cure. If you do not dry the earth around the perimeter of the pit, moisture from the ground will prevent your refractory cement from binding to the walls and drying.
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After your fire pit is cool, clean it thoroughly by shoveling out as much ash and charred wood as possible, until all surfaces are smooth, baked earth. Use an old broom and coal scuttle to sweep up any remaining fine ash. Save the ashes and partially burnt coals for your compost heap.
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Go to your local furnace or foundry supply company and buy enough refractory cement mix to line the pit with a minimum of 4 inches of cement. This will probably be two 50-pound bags. According to Gypsy Wilburn, 20-year industrial blacksmith, you can substitute 100 percent clay generic kitty litter, as it has the same composition as refractory clay and is significantly cheaper. Mix cement/clay with water in a mixing trough until it is milkshake thick. Use a trowel to line your fire pit with at least 4 inches of the clay mixture.
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Allow the clay mixture to cure for 48 hours or until the center of the fire pit does not feel any cooler to the touch than the surrounding baked earth.
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Line the entire pit, including the edges, with self-starting charcoal briquettes. Fill the pit with hardwood firewood until it is heaped at least 12 inches above the top edge. Have several chemical-based fire extinguishers available in case coals or ash starts a fire outside the pit, as any exposure to water after the fire is lit will ruin your fire pit lining. According to Senecaville, Ohio, volunteer firefighter and EMT Norman W. Wheeler, bonfires can easily burn out of control and become wildfires. It is vital to have fire suppression tools on hand. It takes only 2 minutes for a residence to become fully involved in a fire, and it typically takes a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes to respond to a wildfire.
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Light the charcoal at dusk in at least four evenly spaced places, trying to start the fire as evenly as possible around all edges. If the fire burns down, carefully add more wood until your fire has been "roaring" for 2 to 3 hours. Allow it to burn down slowly overnight. Keep a designated fire tender at the fire until it is down to embers. The coals in the bottom will be extremely hot, and a slight wind could cause catastrophe. Allow your fire pit to cool to the outdoor air temperature. After that, your fire pit is sealed. The refractory lining should last years, with only an occasional patching using premixed stove and furnace cement.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult your local fire department before you begin to ensure that there is not a burning ban in effect for your area.
