Art Steel Fire Pits: A Guide to Handcrafted Wood Burners

An art steel fire pit is sculpture first and fire pit second. The Fire Pit Art pieces we carry are made to order in Tennessee, most from quarter inch carbon steel, arrive with a rust-colored patina that deepens toward mahogany from the first fire, and are sold for wood, natural gas or propane. This guide covers how they are made, how to choose a design and size, where one can safely sit, and what the warranty does and does not cover.

What makes it art steel

Most fire pits are containers. An art steel piece is a design you look at all day and a lantern once the fire is lit. The motif cut into the bowl or base throws its own pattern of light onto the ground and the people around it, so the same piece reads one way at noon and quite another at ten at night.

Fire Pit Art was created by Rick and Donna Wittrig and works from Lebanon, Tennessee. The company describes its pieces as "made to order by Tennessee craftsmen in the heartland of America" and made from recycled steel sourced in the US. Each fire pit is individually numbered by the artist on an attached brass plaque, which is a detail owners tend to appreciate years later. The Vesuvius design, for example, came from the founders' hike above Pompeii on a trip to Naples.

The steel and how it is built

The carbon steel designs are built from what Fire Pit Art calls "heavy duty one quarter inch thick mild carbon steel". That thickness is what gives these pieces their weight and presence, and it is why they are meant to stay outdoors year round. On models such as the Low Boy and Emperor, the inner bowl carries a high temperature resistant coating and a one and a half inch rain drain so water does not sit in the bowl.

There are two notable exceptions. The Bella Vita series is built from quarter inch 304 stainless steel with a matte bowl and a polished base, a cleaner, more contemporary look for modern architecture. The Fire Surfer is made from lighter eleven gauge steel and weighs about 40 pounds, so it is the one design meant to be moved around.

Fire Pit Art gives the typical weight of its fire pits as 110 to 195 pounds and says two healthy people can normally move one into place once it is off the pallet. Larger designs weigh more, so check the listed weight of the model you are considering.

Choosing a design

With about thirty designs in our Fire Pit Art collection, the motif is the real decision. It helps to think about the story your garden already tells. Wildlife and ranch designs such as Antlers, Long Horn, Funky Dog and Africa's Big Five suit rustic and mountain homes. Sea Creatures, Manta Ray, Barefoot Beach, Beachcomber and Tropical Moon carry a relaxed coastal feel. Saturn, Bella Luna, Crater and Third Rock lean celestial, and pieces like Asia, Nepal, Namaste, Kokopelli and Fleur de Lis borrow from cultural patterns. Low Boy, Emperor, Magnum and Scallops are the quieter forms that let the fire and the patina do the talking.

Two practical notes. First, the coastal motifs are about the look, not the location: Fire Pit Art's warranty excludes saltwater environments, so a beach design is a better fit for a lake house or an inland garden than a site with salt spray. Second, look at the piece at the scale of your seating. A 36 inch bowl in the middle of a tight circle of chairs feels generous; the same bowl on a wide lawn can look lost, which is where the Magnum or a taller form earns its place.

The Fire Pit Art collection is gathered in one place at Fire Pit Art, and our Fire Pit Art lookbook shows the designs side by side.

Sizes and forms

Fire Pit Art publishes dimensions for each design. A few examples show the range of forms, from low bowls to a chimenea. Always confirm the size and weight on the product page before you plan the space.

The Saturn and Magnum are also offered with a lid, which Fire Pit Art says "can be used as a fire snuffer or tabletop". That turns the pit into a low table on evenings when it is not lit, a useful double role on a smaller terrace.

Wood or gas

Most Fire Pit Art designs are sold three ways: wood burning, natural gas, or liquid propane. The gas versions come as match lit or with the AWEIS electronic ignition system engineered by Fire by Design. The match lit gas package pairs a stainless steel Penta burner by HPC with a flex line, valve, burner plate and lava rock. There are a few exceptions to know about: the Linear series is gas only, the Vesuvius chimenea is wood only, and the Fire Surfer is offered in wood or match lit gas without AWEIS.

Wood gives you crackle, scent and the full campfire ritual, and Fire Pit Art says the patina matures faster on wood-burning pits than on gas pits. Gas gives you instant, clean starts and no ash. The US EPA notes that natural gas and propane burners offer reduced air pollution compared with wood, which is worth weighing if you have close neighbors or frequent air quality alerts. Choose the fuel at the time of order; used fire pits and installed gas components are not eligible for refund under Fire Pit Art's returns policy.

Gas versions must be installed by a qualified, licensed gas professional, and Fire Pit Art says to always consult an electrician to install AWEIS. If you smell gas, shut off the gas supply, move away from the area, and call your gas utility or a qualified technician from a safe place.

Where it can sit

Fire Pit Art is direct about this: "DO NOT PLACE A WOOD BURNING FIRE PIT ON ANY WOOD SURFACE." That rules out wood decks, and it is worth treating composite decking with the same caution. Set the piece on a level, noncombustible surface such as stone, pavers or concrete, and remember that the warranty does not cover discoloration or damage to a patio or deck surface, so choose a spot where a little weathering around the base will not bother you.

Distance from the house, fences and trees is set by your local code, not by the fire pit. Some jurisdictions set specific setbacks for recreational fires, and some restrict wood burning entirely on certain days. Our guide to burn bans and local rules for wood fire pits explains how to check, and your local fire department is the final word. Keep the pit clear of overhanging branches, and plan for wind direction so smoke drifts away from the seating and the neighbors.

Spark guards and accessories

Fire Pit Art recommends a spark guard for wood fires: "It is best to always use a spark guard with your fire pit." The company's Artisan spark guards are made from heavy stainless steel mesh with two inch 304 stainless steel bands, painted black, and each size is made to fit specific designs. The 27.5 inch guard fits the Saturn, the 34.5 inch guard fits designs such as Asia 36, Emperor, Manta Ray and Namaste, and the 36 inch guard fits designs including Bella Luna, Crater and Low Boy 36. The spark guard collection lists every size, and our guide to spark screens, smoke and choosing firewood covers fit and use in more detail.

The rest of the kit is there to make the ritual easier: steel log racks such as the Crescent and Wings in Flight, fire tools, a fatwood fire starter and a marshmallow roasting piece. Fire Pit Art also makes a steel grate, clearly marked as not for cooking.

Delivery and warranty

Every Fire Pit Art piece is made to order and ships by LTL freight from Lebanon, Tennessee, typically curbside, with a call ahead to set a delivery window. Keep a pair of wire cutters handy for the steel bands on the pallet. The lead time is shown on each product page, and our team confirms it before your piece ships. Our shipping and returns page explains delivery options and how to report any freight damage.

Fire Pit Art's warranty page lists a 10 year manufacturer's warranty on carbon steel fire pits and a 100 year warranty on stainless steel fire pits for structural integrity, for the original purchaser. It states that no warranty is offered on the iron oxide patina or "rust" finish, that saltwater environments are excluded, and that damage from accident, misuse, negligence or modification is not covered. Claims start with photos of the defect sent to Fire Pit Art. The Bella Vita product pages describe a "100 Year Guarantee on materials and craftsmanship", which reads more broadly than the warranty page, so rely on the warranty paperwork that ships with your piece.

Designs to start with

If you are narrowing down, these six show the range: sculpted bowls, ringed forms, stainless steel and the chimenea.

Once it arrives, how steel fire pits patina and how to care for them walks you through the first fires and the years after.

Common questions

Can I put a wood-burning art steel fire pit on my wood deck?

No. Fire Pit Art states plainly that a wood-burning fire pit should never be placed on any wood surface. Set it on a level, noncombustible surface such as stone, pavers or concrete, away from overhanging branches and structures. Your local fire department sets the required distance from buildings and fences, and Fire Pit Art's warranty does not cover discoloration or damage to the surface beneath the pit.

Does a wood-burning fire pit make smoke?

Yes. Every wood fire makes smoke, especially while it is catching and when the wood is damp. The US EPA says dry, seasoned wood burns hotter and cleaner, and that burning only wood under about 20 percent moisture helps. A spark guard keeps embers in the bowl but does not stop smoke. If smoke is a real concern for your household or neighbors, most Fire Pit Art designs are also available for natural gas or propane.

What does the Fire Pit Art warranty cover?

Fire Pit Art lists a 10 year warranty on carbon steel fire pits and a 100 year warranty on stainless steel fire pits for structural integrity, both for the original purchaser. The patina or rust finish is not covered, saltwater environments are excluded, and damage from misuse or modification is excluded. To make a claim, the original purchaser sends photos of the defect to Fire Pit Art for evaluation.

How heavy are these fire pits?

Fire Pit Art gives a typical weight of 110 to 195 pounds and says two healthy people can normally move one into place after it is taken off the pallet. Larger designs are heavier: the Magnum is listed at 270 pounds, or 370 pounds with its lid. The eleven gauge Fire Surfer is the light exception at about 40 pounds. Check the weight on the product page before delivery day.

Sources

1. Fire Pit Art, Warranty, carbon steel and stainless steel terms, patina exclusion, saltwater exclusion, surface discoloration exclusion, claim process
2. Fire Pit Art, Delivery Method, made to order, LTL from Lebanon, TN, typical weight, wood surface warning
3. Fire Pit Art, Shipping and Returns, used pits and installed gas components not refundable
4. Fire Pit Art, Finish Disclaimer, individually numbered, recycled steel sourced in the US
5. Fire Pit Art, Low Boy, quarter inch mild carbon steel, high temperature coating, rain drain, made to order by Tennessee craftsmen
6. Fire Pit Art, Magnum and Magnum with lid, brass plaque, dimensions, lid as snuffer or tabletop, Penta burner by HPC
7. Fire Pit Art, Bella Vita, 304 stainless steel, matte bowl and polished base, guarantee wording
8. Fire Pit Art, Fire Surfer, eleven gauge steel, weight, fuel options
9. Fire Pit Art, Manta Ray, Crater, Saturn, Vesuvius, dimensions, weights, do not tarp
10. Fire Pit Art, Linear Fire Pits, gas only
11. Fire Pit Art, Vesuvius: The Fire Pit and Its Story, founders and design origin
12. Fire Pit Art, The Patina Process, patina after the first fire, do not tarp
13. Fire Pit Art, The Rings of Warmth: Saturn, patina matures more slowly on gas pits
14. Fire Pit Art, Should I Use a Spark Guard on My Fire Pit?
15. Fire Pit Art, Artisan Spark Guard SG-36.0, materials and fit list
16. Fire Pit Art, AWEIS All Weather Electronic Ignition System, consult an electrician
17. Fire Pit Art, Grate for Wood Burning Fire Pit, not for cooking
18. US EPA Burn Wise, Backyard Recreational Fires, seasoned wood, natural gas and propane reduce pollutants