Fire pits are usually considered an attractive feature of outdoor spaces; however, the smoke they produce can often be less than welcoming. The lingering smell on your clothes or hair can be an issue, (or if you’re the one who seems to be sitting where the wind blows the smoke) and cutting down on the amount of smoke can enhance the quality of your time by the fire. Although there is no such thing as a smokeless fire, the so-called “smokeless” fire pits use double chambers for combustion that releases considerably less smoke. So, through this article we bring to you a complete guide on how to build a DIY smokeless fire pit.
There is no such thing as a smokeless fire, the so-called "smokeless" fire pits use double chambers for combustion that releases considerably less smoke
What are smokeless fire pits?
Smokeless fire pits aren’t completely smoke-free, and it’s impossible to completely remove all smoke if the burning material is wood. However, the smoke-free fire pit design permits it to burn hotter and in a more efficient way, producing less smoke.
Smoke is a byproduct of incomplete combustion. The complete combustion of wood generates only water and carbon dioxide. Incomplete combustion, in the event of a lack of oxygen, creates carbon monoxide and soot along with carbon dioxide. It is no surprise that incomplete combustion can cause air pollution, which is detrimental to our health as well as the environment.
How do DIY smokeless fire pits work?
DIY Smokeless fire pits use a double-wall construction with added ventilation, which creates the right conditions for near-complete combustion, with ash collecting at the bottom of the fire pit instead of sooty smoke being released into the air.
The air is heated as it moves through the outer wall and more fuel burns off at a greater temperature, causing less ash, residue, and smoke to escape. The drawback is that the hotter fire is likely to radiate heat upwards more quickly than it does outwards. Therefore, it does not provide the same amount of radiant heat as the traditional fire pit. However, it does have glowing flames and warm light that you can still be able to feel the warmth of the flame.
The design of a do-it-yourself fire pit isn’t very complicated, and you can make one if you have decent DIY skills and a few hours to make it.
How to Build a DIY Smokeless Fire Pit
To build a smokeless fire pit yourself, you will need:
- Two stainless steel stock pots, one larger and one smaller. Get ones with steel lids, not glass ones. Your inner pot can be aluminum (it’s much easier to drill through than stainless steel), and the outer will need to be steel.
- A drill
- A sanding bit
- An angle grinder
- A heavy pair of metal working gloves
- Safety goggles
- Ear protection
Steps Involved:
Step 1: Drill Small Holes along the Base of Your Bigger Pot
You’ll be able to build a DIY smokeless fire pit more easily by marking the location of your holes using a pen or marker and spacing them out by 1/2 inch. Make use of a 1/4-inch bit to make the holes.
Step 2: Remove the Smaller Pot’s Handles
The smaller stock pot will have to be placed into the larger one, which is why you’ll need to remove the handles. It’s not as easy as unscrewing them since most of the handles of stock pots are riveted and can be cut off with an angle grinder. Be careful because you don’t want to damage the pot.
Step 3: Drill Holes in the Smaller Pot | How to Build a DIY Smokeless Fire Pit
Use your 1/4 inch drill bit, make holes through the bottom of the smaller pot and a few across the top. It isn’t necessary to drill as many as in the edges of the larger pot; however, it is necessary to drill several, as it will ensure that the air is circulated properly within the DIY smokeless fire pit.
Step 4: Cut a Hole through the Lid
To ensure a snug fit, measure the diameter of the smaller one and then cut a hole in the lid of the larger pot with the same diameter. This will ensure that you don’t lose heat through areas around your fireplace when using the smokeless fire pit. If you want to remove the ashes from your fire pit, it is as easy as lifting your lid, and then the smaller pot will easily come out.
The most effective method of putting the hole in the lid is to drill numerous small holes in front of each other until the center emerges, a bit like the top of a can.
Your fire pit is now ready for use!
Can I make an existing fire pit smokeless?
If you’ve already utilized the fire pit concept and own a fire pit – that is brick-based, for example, it is possible to drastically cut down on the smoke emissions it creates with just a few techniques.
Below are a few recommendations:
- Only use dry wood that has an average moisture content of 30 percent.
- Make use of hardwoods like oak, hickory, and maple.
- Make sure that your fire pit is clean and dry. It is ready for use. Take the time to create an ideal fire using Teepeed wood since it burns longer and puts off less smoke. If you place more logs on the bottom and smaller ones on top, the fire will move downwards, creating less smoke.
To make your fire pit work take the metal ring from the pit and extend the base to lays about an inch from the exterior of the pit’s metal rings, leaving about enough room for your finger to sit between the outside of your pit and the ring is enough to allow air to travel around the outside of it.
After you’ve laid the initial layer of brick or stone, you’ll have to make space for air to flow through the gaps. Many people split their stones near the bottom to create an intake hole around every foot or so along the perimeter of their pit. If you’re using bricks, you can use a half brick with a space to each side of it every second or third brick. Then you can rebuild the outer wall of your fire pit with no gaps.
After that, you’ll have to drill holes in your fire pit rings. Utilize your drill and a metal drill bit to create one hole every foot and about an inch away from the edge of your ring made of metal. It is recommended to use your safety equipment for this task to prevent metal splinters. Use the file to smooth your edges around the holes you made, and then remove the barbs left. Insert the ring into the fire pit, and you’re done with DIY smokeless fire pit.
