Everything You might want to know...
Why a Fire Pit?
Man harnessed the utility and beauty of fire hundreds of thousands of years ago to cook, keep warm and keep predators at bay. Early humans likely spent a good amount of time gathered around the fire cooking, making tools, sharing stories and yearning for the invention of beer. While we won't claim it is "science", we humans just might have that urge to commune around a fire baked into our DNA. In the era of smart phones and streaming services we spend time in proximity to each other, but we may not spend as much of that time interacting, chatting and otherwise socializing. A fire provides a passive center of focus for gatherings and the warm flickering fire light on a dark evening provides a relaxing environment that allows conversation to flow more readily.
If you aren't buying that...how about S'mores?!
Why a Wood Burning Fire Pit?
Wood has been the fuel of choice for fire since earliest times. Sure, people eventually figured out we could burn animal dung and coal. More recently natural gas and propane have become more convenient and widely available. With that said, a wood fueled fire is still the one that most fully satisfies that "primitive urge". It dances, pops and crackles, it gets hotter, it's bigger and the flame is more diverse in it's shape and color.
Wood provides the most "natural" experience and you can really get a rip-roaring fire going. Wood is typically readily available and it does not require a propane tank or a gas line. Of course that means you have to obtain wood from somewhere and store it on your property. It is a bit more of a challenge to start and you have to make sure it is extinguished at the end of the night. There are ashes to clean up, and of course, sparks and smoke (highly dependent on what wood you choose to burn!).
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If you appreciate a traditional wood fire and don't mind the extra bit of effort that comes with it then an Aspendell fire pit might be for you.
If you want the convenience of propane or gas, don't have the open space for a wood burning pit or you are totally averse to smoke, a woodburning fire pit just might not be your cup of tea!
Why an Aspendell Steel Fire Pit?
A steel "bowl type" fire pit is a compact and convenient vessel for containing a fire. It is portable so you can move it around your property, take it with you when you move and let your neighbor borrow it because he is too cheap to buy his own. It doesn't grow weeds in the middle and you don't have to mow or weedwhack around it like a fire ring or paver/stone fire pit. It is as much a piece of furniture as it is a fire pit.
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Aspendell fire pits are made of heavy duty steel - the kind whose thickness is measured in actual inches rather than by gauge. For example, our 36" standard pit is made from nominal 3/16 thick steel that is actually a bit over 0.2" thick throughout. It weights nearly 100 pounds so it will stay put in any weather.
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The thick, heavy steel retains the heat of the fire and radiates it outward and downward toward your feet so more than just your upper body stays warm.
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The four legs provide a wider base for increased stability and the adjustable support feet accommodate uneven surfaces. The two welded handles provide an easy means to move the pit around and the bottom drain hole allows rainwater to escape. All of these features combine to provide an experience that is safer, more convenient and will stand the test of time.
Why is my Fire Pit Rusty?
Almost all metals form a protective oxide layer on their surface - plain steel, copper, aluminum & even stainless steels. Some metal oxide layers tend to be more stable, and in the case of aluminum and stainless steels, less obvious visually. Carbon steels have a more noticeable oxide layer (a.k.a. "rust"), the reaction happens more rapidly and it tends to continue as the rust layer is more pervious and allows moisture and oxygen access to the underlying, unreacted iron more so than the oxide layers on aluminum of stainless steel. This is why steel can eventually rust away to nothing.
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Note that removing the rust will only accelerate the degradation process as that removes the more inert oxide layer and exposes the "fresh" unexposed steel more readily to the elements.
Why don't you just paint the fire pit?
In an nutshell...because Fire is hot, Mother Nature is persistent and paint always loses. Standard paints do not resist high temperature very well. While there are paints that do resist high temperatures they will only last so long on items that are left outdoors as time and mother nature are pretty much unstoppable. Just take a look at any flat black painted steel grill or big box fire pit (see examples in image below) that has seen more than a season or two of weather.
There are other means for coating things (such as powder coating) that are more robust than paint. However, these processes are more expensive as special heat resistant powders must be used and surface preparation must be impeccable. Even then, one scratch, ding or other imperfection will breach that coating and the rust will begin.
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Rust on steel is natural and, like aging, we can embrace it and the beauty that comes with it or we can try to fight it and live in frustration and disappointment.
