How to Make a Concrete Fire Bowl
Does everyone eventually end up outside when you’re entertaining? With a few items and a bag of concrete, you can create a fire bowl that will add warmth to your outdoor space. Learn how to make a concrete fire bowl in this DIY Network video:
For this DIY project, you will need the following materials and tools:
- 22-inch outer bowl
- 18-inch inner bowl
- Cement mix
- Water
- Rags
- Tarp
- Vegetable oil spray
- River rocks
- 14-inch charcoal grate
- Lighter
- Gel fuel
- Weights
- Sander
- 220-grit sanding block
- Mixer
- Bucket
- Drill
- 1/2-inch masonry bit
- Mallet
- Dust mask
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
1. Once you’ve gathered all your materials and tools together, prep your workspace with a tarp and then mix up your concrete to the consistency of pancake batter. Tip: Avoid using separate batches in a mold as it can lead to cracking.
2. Prep the two bowls (the molds for the project) by lightly spraying them with vegetable oil and wiping them down. Don’t skip this step as it will help you later when you pull the bowls away from the cured concrete.
3. Pour your mixed concrete into the larger bowl, filling it up about halfway. Rotate the smaller bowl down into the larger bowl until the concrete mixture rises up to just below the lip. Add some weights to keep the inner bowl from shifting around as the concrete cures.
4. Once the inner bowl is secure, gently tap the outer bowl with a mallet. The vibration will help release any air bubbles trapped inside of the mixture. The more bubbles released, the smoother the finish will be, and the stronger the concrete will be.
5. Let the fire bowl cure for a couple of hours. Tip: The concrete will lighten in color as it dries.
6. The inner bowl should come out easily with a little coaxing. Just tip the outer bowl to release it.
7. Sand the rough edges of the concrete, using an extra fine grit to smooth it out.
8. If your fire bowl will be placed in an uncovered area, it needs to have a drainage hole. Using a 1/2-in masonry bit, drill a hole in the center so that any rain water that accumulates will drain out the bottom.
9. Move the fire bowl into its final position. A nice layer of rock or gravel is a safe ground cover and looks great as well.
10. Place cans of gel fuel in the bottom. Top it off with a grill grate that’s a little bit smaller than the diameter of the fire bowl. Add some smooth black river rock to give it a sophisticated modern look.
Light it up, and enjoy your fire bowl!
