Just did this, I used clothes dye to colour the concrete, with one package (next time I'll have to use more than one) but still turned out pretty cool. Thanks for the idea.
You can add a grilling grid over the gel fuel if your cement bowl is deep enough. In my case I just loaded the lava rocks around the gel fuel can. Some rocks fell into the fuel but it was okay. If too many rocks fall into it the fuel will extinguish. I actually cut a grid to size using metal snips and a cookie cooling rack. It worked okay and would have been a great option had my bowl been about 1 inch deeper.
I'm planning to make this and am thinking a small grate of some sort (maybe cut to size from a larger sheet?) over the gel can would be a good option to keep the rocks out and maybe allow them to cover it entirely. Also, I went to Wal-Mart trying to find those bowls to no avail. Are the ones you use in the video from Wal-Mart?
I wanted to do the grill grate idea too Ryan Bostick but my bowl wasn't deep enough. So you'll have to make sure the gel fuel canister can sit down into the bowl to accommodate the grate. I actually cut a grate from cookie cooling sheets and it would have worked pretty well. I did buy the plastic bowls from Wal-Mart and found them in the kitchen supplies section. Wonder if it's a seasonal thing? But they should have them.
Jeff Patterson Just so you know, Wal-Mart does not sell Tupperware. Tupperware is a trademark company that sells mostly plastic-type items, but not all (and not most) plastic-type items are Tupperware. This was a great video and I hope to make some of these cement bowls. Thanks for sharing.
Mijejo Mijejo as a former tupperware representative, one of my biggest pet peeves is people calling anything plastic 'tupperware'. but i get over it. LOL
I really liked your video on making a gel fire pit. I'm also looking forward to watching the videos you mentioned that are on each Friday. Thanks so much!
High correction I wish I had a saw the video before I purchased a small fire-pot I could have made my own thanks a bunch love the video looking forward to the next one
Another good video, I may just make one of these myself... My outside firewood box is working great per another one of your videos. Totally waterproof and have firewood now stored within feet of my house for winter heating season.. Thanks for all the great videos.. Regards Richard Faller
Jeff, this is great. I shared it with my husband and he was so excited, he stopped at Lowe's on his way home. One question (because I can't see it in the video): did you stack the lava rock a little higher than the gel can so it obscures your view (from all directions except directly above?) or did you find some great way to cover the gel with the rocks while somehow still preventing them from falling in (like a screen or something)?
This might have been suggested already, but try screwing a 1/2" long by 1/2" dia. dowel rod to the inside center of the large bowl. Coat it in wax to keep the cement from sticking. It will not only act as a depth Guage, but double as a drainage hole for rain water.
If the dowel rod still sticks, you can just drill it out. Also, I think it would be nice to set copper pipe in just slight bigger than the gel canister. That way you don't have to remove the rocks everytime you need more fuel, while adding a copper accent.
Jeff Patterson just found this on a Facebook site I follow, the Meta Picture: perfect-cement.dailymegabyte.com/he-pours-plastic-is-wonderful/ Prepare for more views. :)
+Jeff Patterson heated? lol no just set it on a picnic table filled with water, I've seen bowls like this made from solid stone that were sold as bird baths, at $75 each this is a great alternative
Hi Jeff, Vladimir here with NTD Television. Our team was very impressed by your video and our editors would like to showcase it by uploading and crediting you on some of our social media pages and websites so that our fans can see it. We are one of the world's fastest growing media companies with over 100 million fans and 1 billion monthly video views across all of our social properties. Our motto is truth, hope, and humanity. Can I send you more information in my next message / email? Thank you! Warm regards
The container used in mixing the concrete.. Is to be washed so that the remaining don't firm up. Would like to know if we can dump that water to the soil??
I made this but i used fire glass instead because it was more beautiful and cheaper bought a 10lb bag for only $20 from walmart, however the flame seemed invisible with both the gel and the wick cans, that was the only downfall of this project
Jeff Patterson I think charcoal may get to hot and the heat would transfer through the concrete bowl and damage the surface it was sitting on or any fingers that touched the bowl. The gel can may get hot when it is close to burned out but don't think it would be hot as charcoal. Just a guess though.
Jenn Lee I'd probably avoid painting it only because you'll have to repaint. But if you do you might want to look at Rust Oleum's line of products for exterior use :D
Jacqueline Mays I think charcoal may get to hot and the heat would transfer through the concrete bowl and damage the surface it was sitting on or any fingers that touched the bowl. The gel can may get hot when it is close to burned out but don't think it would be hot as charcoal.
It seems to me that we gave you a perfectly good language and you have broken it. If a fire pit is cool then what do you say when you mean cool as in not hot?
First, using the mortor that you used could possibly EXPLODE if heated up enough. Get mortor that is used specifically formulated for fireplace installations. Second, no need for a sander, that's a waste , once the small bowl is put in place lightly tap both the outside of the outside bowl, then the inside of the inside bowl with a small hammer to settle the cement. This will help prevent cracks and remove any bubbles that are either on the outside or inside of the bowl. I once was witness to a friends backyard firepit that was lined with loose cinder blocks around its perimeter, when it got hot one of the cinder blocks EXPLODED shooting pieces 50 ft. in the air. Scared the hell out of all of us in attendance.
sbc388550 I understand your concern, and that's why I used the lava rocks on the inside of the bowl. They are rated for fireplaces. The gel doesn't get as hot as a fire pit as it's self contained in the can.
This guy is henry cavil's stunt man. Props to you superman, great mini fire pit.
My daughter and I have our weekend project. We are going to make a few to set around the patio.
awesome!!
Cassandra Wright how did yours turn out? photos ?
That's cool. I loved the thumbs up when you were showing us that gloves were important. LOL
Just did this, I used clothes dye to colour the concrete, with one package (next time I'll have to use more than one) but still turned out pretty cool. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks for sharing 👍 👍 (two thumbs, right?)
Yes, thanks
You can add a grilling grid over the gel fuel if your cement bowl is deep enough. In my case I just loaded the lava rocks around the gel fuel can. Some rocks fell into the fuel but it was okay. If too many rocks fall into it the fuel will extinguish.
I actually cut a grid to size using metal snips and a cookie cooling rack. It worked okay and would have been a great option had my bowl been about 1 inch deeper.
I'm planning to make this and am thinking a small grate of some sort (maybe cut to size from a larger sheet?) over the gel can would be a good option to keep the rocks out and maybe allow them to cover it entirely.
Also, I went to Wal-Mart trying to find those bowls to no avail. Are the ones you use in the video from Wal-Mart?
I wanted to do the grill grate idea too Ryan Bostick but my bowl wasn't deep enough. So you'll have to make sure the gel fuel canister can sit down into the bowl to accommodate the grate. I actually cut a grate from cookie cooling sheets and it would have worked pretty well.
I did buy the plastic bowls from Wal-Mart and found them in the kitchen supplies section. Wonder if it's a seasonal thing? But they should have them.
Jeff Patterson Just so you know, Wal-Mart does not sell Tupperware. Tupperware is a trademark company that sells mostly plastic-type items, but not all (and not most) plastic-type items are Tupperware. This was a great video and I hope to make some of these cement bowls. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mijejo Mijejo, I guess it was a slip up on my part. Although you could use Tuppereware if you have that, too. Keep me posted on your project :D
Mijejo Mijejo as a former tupperware representative, one of my biggest pet peeves is people calling anything plastic 'tupperware'. but i get over it. LOL
I really liked your video on making a gel fire pit. I'm also looking forward to watching the videos you mentioned that are on each Friday. Thanks so much!
Deborah Youngs thank you, glad you liked this video. Yep, there'll be a video pretty much every Friday :D
Great Video. You did a super job and your humble and friendly way is really admirable. Thanks.
Ti Mo thank you for your kind words, it's a joy to just make the videos. I really appreciate your support :D
Hey, thank for making being crafty manly! I love this! More stuff like this please!
More to come Paul L. Rogers - if you see something cool let me know, it could be the next tutorial
What a cool project! Thanks for sharing Jeff!
Thanks Ticky66MN - this one was fun for sure. Anything with fire has a bit of magic to it :D
Very cool idea, and so cheap to do! I'll have to make these with my kids! Thank you.
RNPsych thanks, it's very user friendly. Make sure to wear gloves since cement can burn skin.
This is kool and easy enough to make! I'm thinking you can add color to the cement also while mixing it!
Really cool Barb Arneson
***** I don't see why not.
+Barb Arneson , How do you add color?
High correction I wish I had a saw the video before I purchased a small fire-pot I could have made my own thanks a bunch love the video looking forward to the next one
Thanks,very kool & crafty neat idea really enjoyed it, my husband & I...
Another good video, I may just make one of these myself... My outside firewood box is working great per another one of your videos. Totally waterproof and have firewood now stored within feet of my house for winter heating season.. Thanks for all the great videos.. Regards Richard Faller
That's aweomse bbtjerky - make sure to send some pics of your firewood box. I'd love to see it.
Jeff, this is great. I shared it with my husband and he was so excited, he stopped at Lowe's on his way home. One question (because I can't see it in the video): did you stack the lava rock a little higher than the gel can so it obscures your view (from all directions except directly above?) or did you find some great way to cover the gel with the rocks while somehow still preventing them from falling in (like a screen or something)?
That is very safe way to have a fire in your homemade cement bowl. You don't have to wary about burning your place down .
I love this idea!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks tracie2225 - glad you like it. Hope you're having a great weekend :D
Gorgeous
This might have been suggested already, but try screwing a 1/2" long by 1/2" dia. dowel rod to the inside center of the large bowl. Coat it in wax to keep the cement from sticking. It will not only act as a depth Guage, but double as a drainage hole for rain water.
If the dowel rod still sticks, you can just drill it out. Also, I think it would be nice to set copper pipe in just slight bigger than the gel canister. That way you don't have to remove the rocks everytime you need more fuel, while adding a copper accent.
James T. Brohard thanks for the great suggestions. I like them both, especially the copper idea :D
Jeff Patterson just found this on a Facebook site I follow, the Meta Picture: perfect-cement.dailymegabyte.com/he-pours-plastic-is-wonderful/
Prepare for more views. :)
Whoa, thanks James. I noticed this video was getting a lot of views and couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Hopefully people enjoy it :D
Very nice, going to try this same procedure for a fountain i'm planning, it should work.
You could definitely do this for a fountain or anything else Nathaniel Hamann - hope your project turns our great
looks like a cool bird bath
could be...wouldn't be a bad heated bird bath, lol
+Jeff Patterson heated? lol no just set it on a picnic table filled with water, I've seen bowls like this made from solid stone that were sold as bird baths, at $75 each this is a great alternative
Great idea!!
Thanks Carmela Abella - it's a really fun project and easy to do. Which makes it even better, lol.
Hi Jeff,
Vladimir here with NTD Television. Our team was very impressed by your video and our editors would like to showcase it by uploading and crediting you on some of our social media pages and websites so that our fans can see it. We are one of the world's fastest growing media companies with over 100 million fans and 1 billion monthly video views across all of our social properties. Our motto is truth, hope, and humanity. Can I send you more information in my next message / email?
Thank you!
Warm regards
Awesome DIY!
I loved it I wish I had a job before I purchase one
This is beyond cool, it's Super Cool!
TheQuicksilverdog thanks, I think it's pretty neat myself :D Let me know if you have any questions
Very Awesome !!!
***** thanks, it was fun to make :D
yw
Thank you for the wonderfully explanatory video!! :)
Glad you liked it Arlineo1 - let me know if you have any questions :D
The cement sets in 5 hours... still a great idea!
Patra Cardinal thanks, yah it takes a little while for the cement to setup :D
What a wonderful project. Thank you. (:
Yay - another summer project! :) This is great, thanks!!
Kay Weaver it's a lot of fun, let me know if you have any questions :D
Jeff Patterson Your directions make it look pretty easy. But... got any tips for turning an old wooden door into a headboard?
Boy, I haven't done that project yet Kay. Maybe just to ensure it's properly mounted to the wall or bed frame. When are you looking to do the project?
Jeff Patterson LOL, I've had 3 wooden doors for two summers, so obviously I'm not in any huge hurry.
Awesome! ! Thank you! 💖
Raynell Slate my pleasure :D
That was nice and easy, thanks
ellenibas glad you liked it :D
Sand : cement - 4 : 1 + plasticizer + pigment. Water - at least. Form - a pit in the sand, lined with plastic wrap.
Cool
Awesomely cool!
bem bacana vou tentar fazer em vasos menores ...gostei técnica facil
Way cool vid bro, Thanx for posting!
I want to do this for my fire inside!
You could also paint this with a fire proof paint, if that even exists for a more decorative look.
NoHellHere65 you could, I just prefer not to paint so that I don't have to re-paint :D
I want to try this!
This is great thank you....
Very cool!
Great Idea. Can't wait to try. Can you add color to quikrete?
You can add color Judy Johnson - there are dyes right next to the bags of cement :D
As soon as he said that they are "way cool", I knew I was building one of these suckers
+Jacquelynn Randle lol, it's still cool to me at least. Glad you like it
The container used in mixing the concrete.. Is to be washed so that the remaining don't firm up. Would like to know if we can dump that water to the soil??
...Actually this is my favorite
Great video, thank you for making!
Question: can fire glass be used instead of lava rock?
It would add a nice pop of color!
Li Pi thanks, I'm not familiar with fire glass. I'm assuming it's safe to put in a heated situation like this one?
Loved this video. What a cool idea. Instant subscribe :)
DTPIIXART thanks so much, glad you liked it :D
thats cool dude. thanks
9437810 glad you liked it :D
AWESOME!!!!
make it wetter you get more bubbles out and let it dry for longer and no cracking
+Tribe Maker The bubbles give it character.
Is ceramic bowl strong enough to withstand the heat?
can I use those big plastic flower pots
sure, they might work better
Cool Video! Giving you two thumbs up negated the first, so I gave you three :P
LOL, thanks Hunter Hill - I owe you a coffee or beer. Or maybe both ;D
nice!!!
Great idea, but for UK makers what is "PAM", is it a lubricant, like WD40?
Helen Dabbs PAM is an aerosol cooking spray, found in the cooking aisle of the grocery store. NOT WD40
lol. Ok cheers.
You can also use a citronella candle
Peonie Pinay thanks :D
Cool :)
Glad you like it *****
Any reason we can't use a ceramic cooking bowl or a cast iron dutch oven to do the same thing?
closingtime you could try, I just don't know what will happen :D
are you able to put fire glass on top?
i have a very windy balcony up in my condo, will this work i dont wanna cause a forest fire!
The cement bowl is pretty heavy apollyon1985, so it depends on the wind gusts :D
did u use straight cement?
+Nicholas2415 quick setting cement by Quikrete
Nice
great vid,,subscribed,,woohoo
Skip Stutler thanks, glad you liked it :D
Where do you get the gel to start the fire?
You need to be careful with ceramics if they aren't microwave save, they might crack or worse explode from the heat.
I was wondering if the bottom of the crete bowl get hot at all?
ssg jrotc the concrete bowl for the the fire pit doesn't get hot, all the heat is contained in the gel canister :D
My tabletop fire pit broke in half when I picked it up it is a clean break how can I put it back together ,,with what
I made this but i used fire glass instead because it was more beautiful and cheaper bought a 10lb bag for only $20 from walmart, however the flame seemed invisible with both the gel and the wick cans, that was the only downfall of this project
You can also burn charcoal in it?
Hans-Gerd Schmalenbach not sure about that. I chose the lava rock because they won't explode and are safe.
Jeff Patterson I think charcoal may get to hot and the heat would transfer through the concrete bowl and damage the surface it was sitting on or any fingers that touched the bowl. The gel can may get hot when it is close to burned out but don't think it would be hot as charcoal. Just a guess though.
Woqh way cool
thanks ;)
Why do you have to use a respirator? I don't have one
+Brianna Smith breathing in concrete isn't good, really anything that's a powder is bad to inhale...safety
cool
Thanks armando orozco
Do rocks explode?!
+msPlums7 no, these are special lava rocks
Is it okay to paint the outside?
Jenn Lee I'd probably avoid painting it only because you'll have to repaint. But if you do you might want to look at Rust Oleum's line of products for exterior use :D
Thanks!
I made one and it cracked and fell apart...what did I do wrong?
Jason Biggs from "American Pie", is that you?
Artur Mkrtchyan lol, sadly no. But maybe he's got a DIY channel on UA-cam, haha.
Could charcoal be used with this
Jacqueline Mays I think charcoal may get to hot and the heat would transfer through the concrete bowl and damage the surface it was sitting on or any fingers that touched the bowl. The gel can may get hot when it is close to burned out but don't think it would be hot as charcoal.
Jacqueline Mays I agree with Kirk about the charcoal, I chose the lava rock because it won't explode if it overheats :D
great idea, but im too chicken to use concrete! lol
You can do it Melissa D - concrete is just glorified play doh!!
great video two thumbs up!
Joanne Richel :D
How do you shut it down?
***** you can use the lid from the can to exhaust the flame :D
It seems to me that we gave you a perfectly good language and you have broken it. If a fire pit is cool then what do you say when you mean cool as in not hot?
это конечно красиво, только цемент от высокой температуры разрушается, в отличие от алебастра. делайте выводы.
Can you paint the cement?
+Daria Dalton The outside maybe
+InfiniteCreeper yah, wouldn't paint the inside for sure. But I'd be hesitant to paint it at all because it'll eventually come off if left outside
+Jeff Patterson Yeah, you probably can't paint it with it not flaking off over time. Maybe you could stain it though.
you could add a colorant to the cement
+Jeff Patterson , How?
3.000 Liker :D
how do you put it out
+Flying Karapet Yeah... that's what I was thinking too. This seems like a bad idea.
+Mistrblank when someone responds to your six month old comment.
and you just left ther wndering how?
First, using the mortor that you used could possibly EXPLODE if heated up enough. Get mortor that is used specifically formulated for fireplace installations. Second, no need for a sander, that's a waste , once the small bowl is put in place lightly tap both the outside of the outside bowl, then the inside of the inside bowl with a small hammer to settle the cement. This will help prevent cracks and remove any bubbles that are either on the outside or inside of the bowl. I once was witness to a friends backyard firepit that was lined with loose cinder blocks around its perimeter, when it got hot one of the cinder blocks EXPLODED shooting pieces 50 ft. in the air. Scared the hell out of all of us in attendance.
sbc388550 I understand your concern, and that's why I used the lava rocks on the inside of the bowl. They are rated for fireplaces. The gel doesn't get as hot as a fire pit as it's self contained in the can.
@threadbanger
Just awful.