Fire Pit Art Lookbook
Fire Pit Art makes steel fire pits that read as sculpture first: a manta ray gliding around the bowl, Saturn's ring, the chimney of Vesuvius. Most pieces are quarter inch steel, made to order in Lebanon, Tennessee, finished in a living iron oxide patina, and numbered on a brass plaque. Most designs burn wood, natural gas or propane. This lookbook covers the designs, the patina, and the steel and warranty details worth knowing before you choose.
The story
Rick and Donna Wittrig created Fire Pit Art, and the company works from Lebanon, Tennessee. Its pieces are, in its own words, "made to order by Tennessee craftsmen in the heartland of America," and each one is "made from recycled steel sourced here in the US." Every pit is individually numbered by the artist on an attached brass plaque, which turns a fire pit into something closer to an edition.
Some designs have a story of their own. The Vesuvius came from the founders' hike above Pompeii during a trip to Naples, and its chimenea form channels smoke and fire up the flue while its three sides shelter the flame from wind.
The look
The carbon steel pits are built from what Fire Pit Art calls "heavy duty one quarter inch thick mild carbon steel," with a high temperature coating inside the bowl and a 1 1/2 in. rain drain. The steel is sandblasted to bare metal before the patina goes on, so the cut-out imagery (animals, antlers, sea life, stars) stays crisp against a warm, rust-toned surface.
The finish changes with you. Pieces arrive with a dusty, powdery iron oxide patina, and during the first fire it shifts from a rust color to a rich mahogany. It keeps darkening a few shades with use, then settles. At night the cut-outs throw patterns of light across the patio, which is much of their appeal. For more on this style, see our guide to art steel fire pits.
The lines we carry
Carbon steel and stainless designs
We carry the Fire Pit Art catalog of carbon steel designs, including Manta Ray, Saturn, Magnum, Low Boy, Asia, Emperor, Crater, Nepal, Bella Luna, Third Rock, Scallops, Antlers, Kokopelli, Navigator, Sea Creatures and more. A few reference sizes from Fire Pit Art: Manta Ray is 36 in. wide and 22 in. high at 135 lbs; Saturn is 40 in. across its ring at 175 lbs; Magnum is 54 in. across at 270 lbs. Saturn and Magnum also come with a lid that works as a fire snuffer or a tabletop.
Two designs use stainless. Bella Vita is quarter inch 304 stainless steel with a matte bowl and polished base, in 34, 46, 58 and 70 in. sizes. Fire Surfer is eleven gauge steel, light enough at 40 lbs to move around. The Linear is the gas-only table in 36, 48, 60 and 72 in. lengths, with a steel cover that protects the burner and turns it into a table, plus leveling casters. The Vesuvius chimenea and the Fire Mesa are wood burning.
Spark guards, grates and log racks
Fire Pit Art's Artisan Spark Guards are made from heavy stainless steel mesh with two inch 304 stainless bands, painted black, and each size fits specific designs: the 27.5 in. guard fits Saturn only, and the 34.5 in. guard fits Asia 36, Emperor, Manta Ray and Namaste, with a separate 34.5 in. version for Magnum. Fire Pit Art's advice is to always use one. The wood grate is quarter inch steel and is not for cooking. Our guide to spark screens, smoke and firewood covers the rest.
See every design on our Fire Pit Art collection.
Finishes and colors
The standard finish is the Iron Oxide Patina, at no extra cost. Powder coating is available as an upgrade; Fire Pit Art mentions colors such as snow white, royal blue and glossy black on its Linear page, and the product page shows the options offered. Fire Pit Art notes that "small surface blemishes can be expected from these materials," which is part of the handmade character. Bella Vita is finished in stainless rather than patina.
What comes in the box
A wood burning pit arrives as the steel piece itself. The match lit gas package adds a stainless steel Penta burner by HPC, a flex line, a Dante valve, a burner plate and lava rock; most designs use the Penta 24 in. 200K BTU burner, while Saturn, Asia 36 and Bella Vita 34 use the 18 in. 125K BTU version. The Linear includes a stainless burner, a brass keyed valve, lava rock, flex lines, the steel cover and casters. Spark guards, grates, log racks, table tops and the AWEIS ignition are sold separately.
Fuel and ignition
Most designs come three ways: wood burning, natural gas, or liquid propane, with match lit or AWEIS electronic ignition on gas. Fire Surfer is offered in wood or match lit gas only, the Linear is gas only, and Vesuvius and Fire Mesa burn wood. The AWEIS option was engineered by Fire by Design and uses a 24 volt AC transformer, hot surface ignition and thermopile flame sensing; Fire Pit Art says to always consult an electrician for installation. The Grill Tank Conversion Kit lets a standard 20 lb grill tank serve as the fuel source.
Warranty
Fire Pit Art's Warranty page gives a "10 year manufacturer's warranty" on carbon steel and a "100 year warranty on Stainless Steel Fire Pits for structural integrity," for the original purchaser. Fire Pit Art will repair or replace free of charge, excluding shipping and handling. "No warranty is offered on the Iron Oxide Patina finish," and "saltwater environments are excluded from this warranty." Claims start with photos of the defect sent to Fire Pit Art customer service. HPC adds a lifetime warranty on its stainless burners, the AWEIS carries a 1 year limited warranty, and spark guard mesh is covered for sixty days with the frame covered for ten years. Some product pages use different wording (for example lifetime or a 100 year guarantee on materials), so check the paperwork that ships with your piece.
Care
Let the patina mature. Fire Pit Art says the patina is maintenance free and can stay outside in all weather, and asks you to keep wet leaves and debris off the steel while it matures. It also says: "Do not tarp your fire pit, the tarp will cause the patina to blacken and stop the oxidation process." Because some store listings include a cover, ask us before covering a new pit. Coastal buyers should note the saltwater exclusion. More in our guide to how steel fire pits patina.
Lead times and ordering
All Fire Pit Art pieces are made to order. Lead time is shown on each product page, and our team confirms it before your order ships. Pits ship by freight on a pallet from Lebanon, Tennessee; keep wire cutters handy for the steel bands, and plan on two people to set the pit in place. Each pit is built for your order, so confirm the finish and fuel type with us first. See Shipping and Returns or call 888-887-1870, Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5 Eastern.
For designers
Fire Pit Art does not publish spec sheets, CAD or BIM files, and its user manual is published as images. Ask us for dimensions, weights and burner details on any design and we will confirm them with the maker. Fire Pit Art also offers personalization on the Saturn ring. Trade buyers can use our Contractor Program.
Common questions
How does the rust finish change over time?
The iron oxide patina arrives dusty and powdery, then matures with use. Fire Pit Art says it turns from rust to a rich mahogany during the first fire, darkens a few shades, and then stays. Keep wet leaves off while it matures, and remember that the patina itself is not covered by the warranty.
Should I cover my Fire Pit Art fire pit?
Fire Pit Art advises against tarping, because a tarp blackens the patina and stops the oxidation process, and it says the patina can stay outside in all weather. Fire Pit Art does sell canvas covers of its own, so ask us for current guidance before covering a new pit.
Can I burn wood and gas in the same pit?
Most designs are sold as wood burning, natural gas or propane versions, so choose the fuel when you order. Fire Pit Art does not publish a wood to gas conversion, and the Linear is gas only while Vesuvius and Fire Mesa are wood only. Ask us before changing fuel on a pit you already own.
Sources
- Fire Pit Art, home page, address
- Fire Pit Art, Warranty, Fire Pit Art, Artisan Spark Guard and HPC terms
- Fire Pit Art, Shipping and Returns
- Fire Pit Art, Delivery Method, made to order, LTL, wood surface warning
- Fire Pit Art, Finish Disclaimer, recycled steel, blemishes
- Fire Pit Art, Iron Oxide Patina Color: Before and After
- Fire Pit Art, Vesuvius: the fire pit and its story
- Fire Pit Art, Should I use a spark guard on my fire pit
- Fire Pit Art, Manta Ray, gas package, do not tarp
- Fire Pit Art, Saturn
- Fire Pit Art, Magnum, brass plaque, sandblasting, lid
- Fire Pit Art, Low Boy, Tennessee craftsmen, steel, patina care
- Fire Pit Art, Bella Vita
- Fire Pit Art, Fire Surfer
- Fire Pit Art, Linear Fire Pits
- Fire Pit Art, Vesuvius
- Fire Pit Art, AWEIS All Weather Electronic Ignition System
- Fire Pit Art, Grill Tank Conversion Kit
- Fire Pit Art, Grate
