Having a smokeless fire pit has its beneficial attributes alongside a fire pit’s warmth and lively features. In a smokeless fire pit, fuel burns efficiently, almost wholesome for your health and surroundings. To keep the fire smoke-free, clean, high in heat output, and environment friendly, getting a smokeless one is a smart step.
You can easily carve out a smokeless fire pit from some standard household equipment. However, you may need some inserts like fire rings and dedicated tools separately if you don’t have them, which will not cost you more than 200$.
Today we have come up with 3 different processes of DIY a smokeless fire pit. Before exploring these exciting ideas, let you know some crucial facts about smokeless fire pits. Why it is better than traditional wood-burning and how it works.
Why Smokeless Fire Pit
While burning wood on your fire pit among the outstanding heat output, cozy warmth, and eye-captivating visuals of raging flame, the only drawback that can spoil your entire environment and mood is SMOKE!!! It causes improper functioning of your fire pit, inadequate air circulation, and incomplete burn of fuels. The solution to all these problems is switching to a smokeless system.
- Smoke is hazardous for both human and animal health.
- Wood smoke contains carbon dioxide, benzene, PAHs, and formaldehyde, affecting our respiratory organs and causing severe breathing issues.
- Also, wood smoke contains tiny particles that can irritate the nasal canal, cause eye burning and other discomforts.
- A smokeless fire pit reduces the percentage of smoke up to zero. It happens from 100% fuel burn. That means the utmost efficiency of fuel.
- Smoke also elevates greenhouse gas in the environment, and it can pollute the serenity of nature.
Regarding all these issues, having a smokeless one is a great decision to keep your health and environment safe. Yet, it ensures the full utilization of fuel and extensive heat output.
How Does Smokeless Fire Pit Works
Smokeless fire pits consist of two separate combustion systems that are outer and inner combustion. There is a measured gap between two compartments that is for uninterrupted airflow.
The outer part has holes in the lower part for air entering, and the inner part has holes in the upper part. This hole helps the process that facilitates air circulation efficiently that ensures the complete burn of the fuel.
And when the moisture and oil of wood burns entirely, it produces low to no smoke. Continuous airflow also regulates the temperature of both compartments. It captures a good amount of heat that elevates substantial heat flow around the fire pit.
3 Methods of DIY Smokeless Fire Pit
Creating something from scratch or renovating an old thing into something more efficient is always fun. Here we will share with you three different ways of DIY a fire pit into a smokeless one. The first one is to revitalize your backyard with clean and safe warmth. The second one is quick and easy, perfect for the campsite, and the third one is recreating a famous smokeless fire pit.
1. DIY your old fire pit into a smokeless one
Have you abandoned your self-installed fire pit for excessive fumes? Has your backyard zeal come to an end? Then follow the steps stated below to restore your old fire pit into a brand new smokeless one.
Tools you may need
- A tapeline
- Marker
- Solid steel fire ring or stock tank ring
- A driller
- Shovel
- Sand or gravel
- Brick or stone
- Concrete sheet
Step 1: Measure your fire pit space with a tapeline and take two different sizes for the inner and outer areas. Keep a 3 to 4-inch gap between them.
Step 2: Manage a fire stock ring made of steel matching the size of the inner area. You can purchase them online, or you can also custom-made them from a workshop nearby.
Step 3: Drill small holes around the steel ring with the driller. For better attainment, you can mark the point on a regular interval with the marker. It will help the equal air to flow all around the ring.
Step 4: Clean the old fire pit area with the help of a shovel. Remove the relics and debris, if any. Next, give the place a thorough wipe with a broom.
Step 5: Place the stock ring and fix the ring bottom with sand or gravel layers. Mark the outer area around the ring, keeping the calculated gap.
Step 6: Put bricks or stone pavers on the outer line and make a gap to every 3 or 4 placement. These gaps are for the flow of fresh oxygen.
Final step: After completing the circle, put the concrete plates on the top of the structure. Make sure it covers the space between the brick and steel ring. It will capture the heat inside, which will ensure more efficient burning and even extensive heat output.
2. Dakota smokeless fire pit
This firepit is named after a tribe from native America, which is Dakota. This fire pit style is popular and effective for campers. It produces low to zero smoke and burns high with maximum heat output with minimum fuel.
Tools you may need
- A small spade
- Shovel
- A strong stick
Step 1: For a Dakota smokeless fire pit, dig a hole with a small spade in a suitable place as big or deep as you want your fire. Big holes allow you much space for burning wood, and deeper ones conceal the fire from wildlife or any type of unwanted attention.
Step 2: Dig a second hole approximately 1 foot apart from the first hole. This hole is not for ignition, so it does not need to be significant or uniform. However, this hole will provide oxygen to the burning pit.
Final step: Connect the two holes with the shovel and long stick. Clear out any residue and make a straight tunnel. Fill the burn hole with wood sticks, kindler, and logs. Always put the giant log on the top of a Dakota fire hole.
3. DIY Solo Stove smokeless fire pit
The Solo Stove is one of the best-reviewed smokeless fire pits. It is popular among its users because of its heat efficiency and smokeless feature. Here we are going to share the tips and tricks for DIY a Solo Stove smokeless fire pit.
Tools you may need
- A 20-quart big stainless steel pot with a lid
- A 12-quart small stainless steel pot
- A tape
- A marker
- A driller or few nails and a hammer
- A steel cutter
- Sandpaper
Step 1: Take the big pot (20-qt) and tape it with the tape 1 inch up from the bottom edge. Drill holes around the pot with the driller, or you can use nails and a hammer. Try to keep intervals in between to facilitate a more efficient flow of fresh oxygen.
Step 2: Grab the small pot (12-qt) firmly and make holes on the bottom part. Then hole around the bottom side panel. Finally, remove the handle of the small pot.
Step 3: Sand the holed surface with the sandpaper cautiously because the edges are too sharp.
Step 4: Place the trimmed small pot on the middle point of the big pot’s lid. Mark the spot with a marker and cut it off using the steel cutter. The lid should hold the small pot above the big pot’s bottom.
Final step: Smooth the cut edge of the lid with sandpaper and set the two pots together.
You can use any sized pot following the ratio of 12qt and 20qt. If you feel interested in the Solo Stove and other ready-made smokeless fire pits, check this article on top-picked smokeless fire pits of this year.
Considerable Things While DIY A Smokeless Fire Pit
1. Fuel
Wood is the staple fuel for a DIY smokeless fire pit. And the whole technique is lying on the process of burning the wood entirely without the residue of any moisture and natural oil of wood that is the leading cause of the smoke. Yet greenwood, improperly seasoned wood, is still prone to produce fumes. So dry off your wood as much as possible before putting on flame.
2. Size
Choosing the size is a liberal choice for you, depending on how big or deep you want to DIY. For the backyard, try to balance the size of the fire pit with the sitting area. For trips and camping, deep Dakota holes are best. Other DIY like solo stove recreation choose a size that can be carried and transported easily.
3. Position
DIY your fire pit into a smokeless one means clean fire and a safe experience. However, try to stand your fire pit on a clean surface. Maintain a safe distance from trees, branches, and dry grass.
Conclusion
We hope this writing will help you to DIY a smokeless fire pit. Surely it will be fun making a helpful thing all by yourself. We wish you all the best! We will love to know your experience, which you can share with us in the comment section below. If you have more innovative DIY ideas, also do share. Stay productive and positive! Happy firing!
