Good points on the rust issue—I had a similar experience with mine. I skipped the paint at first, thinking it wasn't necessary, but after one winter it started looking pretty rough. Ended up sanding it down and applying heat-resistant paint like you mentioned, and it's held up nicely since. Definitely agree thicker metal is worth the extra cost; thin stuff just doesn't last. Yours sounds like it's holding up well though, nice job.
"Definitely agree thicker metal is worth the extra cost; thin stuff just doesn't last."
Yeah, thicker metal's usually better, but honestly, even the good stuff can warp if you push the heat too far or too often. Seen plenty of "premium" pits buckle under heavy use...just keep an eye on it.
Thicker metal definitely helps, but honestly, airflow and heat management matter just as much. I've built a couple pits myself, and even thick steel can warp if you're constantly running it like a blast furnace. Learned that the hard way after a summer of intense grilling...ended up with a pit shaped like a potato chip. Keep your fires reasonable, and even thinner metal can hold up surprisingly well.
Totally agree on airflow and heat management being key. A few extra points from my experience:
- Consider the type of metal, not just thickness. Stainless steel or corten steel can handle heat cycles better without warping compared to mild steel.
- Elevating the fire grate slightly above the pit floor helps airflow underneath, reducing hot spots and uneven heating.
- If you're worried about safety, adding a layer of fire bricks or refractory cement lining inside can significantly reduce heat stress on the metal walls.
- Also, don't underestimate drainage. Moisture buildup combined with heat cycles can accelerate corrosion, weakening the structure over time.
I built a pit a few years back using thinner gauge corten steel with proper airflow and lining, and it's still holding shape perfectly. Just something to think about before you crank up those fires too high...
That's interesting about the corten steel—I hadn't even considered that. When I built mine, I just grabbed mild steel because it was cheaper and easier to find locally. Now I'm wondering if I should've gone with something else. It's held up okay so far, but I do notice some slight warping after a few really hot fires.
One thing I'm curious about is the lining you mentioned. I've seen fire bricks used before, but does refractory cement actually hold up better over time? I've heard mixed things—some folks swear by it, others say it cracks pretty quickly with regular use. My neighbor lined his pit with fire bricks last summer, and he says they're already starting to loosen up a bit. Maybe it's just how he installed them, though...
Also, good point on drainage. Honestly, I didn't even think about moisture buildup until you brought it up. My pit doesn't have any dedicated drainage holes or anything like that—just figured rainwater would evaporate once the fire gets going again. But now I'm thinking maybe that's not enough? Would drilling a few small holes in the bottom be enough to prevent corrosion issues without messing up airflow too much? Or is there a better way to handle drainage without compromising the heat retention?
I definitely want this pit to last a while since we put quite a bit of effort into building it into our patio area. Guess I'll have to rethink a couple things before winter hits hard...
