The "Fire-Bowl" thread

I need to get me one of these but my wife is trying to talk me into a smokeless fire pit because we have three girls and she doesn’t want to have to wash hair every night. Are the smokeless fire pits worth it for any of those that may have one? I reckon my thing is will a smokeless fire pit really going to keep the smell of smoke out of their hair?
 
Once you get the fire burning good in my fire bowl, it does not give off a lot of smoke using dry wood. Throw some leaves or green limbs with leaves, pine or cedar limbs and it will put out some heavy smoke signals.

The smokeless pits I have seen pics of, seem like they are mainly sheet metal and pretty pricey. The bowls from the guy in Sanford will last a lifetime or two.
 
Crankbait said:
I need to get me one of these but my wife is trying to talk me into a smokeless fire pit because we have three girls and she doesn’t want to have to wash hair every night. Are the smokeless fire pits worth it for any of those that may have one? I reckon my thing is will a smokeless fire pit really going to keep the smell of smoke out of their hair?
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I have no experience with them, but kinda doubt that they are completely smokeless. However, if money were no object...I'd have the largest one.
Unfortunately, I could win the lottery and still not have a "money is no object" lifestyle.
Then again...I can't remember what these fire bowls cost way back then, but it wasn't pocket change.
 
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If anybody sees a source for these please let me know. Would love to pick one up.
 
I'm a bit of a sleuth mahself....
thrillhill said:
We had a pretty big thread going at another site. I kinda miss posting all my firebowl pics in one place and seeing what other folks do with theirs so I thought I would start a new thread over here.

These firebowls are made near Sanford NC (Deep River).

I do not make a dime off these, and we no longer sell them at the store, but here is the makers info below. I talked to him this morning (May 2nd 2017) and he has made another 10-12 of the "big" ones, 5 or 6 of the "medium" ones, and 4 or 5 "small" ones.

He is now charging $200, $150, and $100 respectively.

Earl Thurman
919-356-4689

2709 Deep River Rd.
Sanford NC 27330

Call before you stop in. Tell him Bill Hill sent ya.
Earl is now in his late 70s and may not be making these much longer. It's kinda hit and miss here lately anyway. Tank availability is sporadic.

For those that didn't get to see the old thread, he makes these from old propane tanks. Sizes vary.

Mine had anchor chain welded on for handles.

When I bought my first one about 6 years ago, they were not painted and were only $100.

Best $100 I have ever spent!

We cook, socialize, and celebrate around our firebowl. We have tried different iterations of no paint, high temp paint, stove black, and just leaving it naked. The firebowl doesn't care. It will outlast me.

I did drill 3 small (3/8 or smaller) holes in the bottom of mine to let water drain out.

Anyway, here come some pictures, in no particular order, other than the first one which is the day I brought mine home. Had one of the kids jump in for size comparison. I think she was 8 years old at the time.

Y'all post em up!

It'll take me a few days to post my pics. I love the firebowl almost as much as I love my dog and just as much as I love my old truck!



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NKD said:
If anybody sees a source for these please let me know. Would love to pick one up.
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Broke down and bought my wife( and me I suppose) a smokeless fire pit. Was it worth it? I can say there was considerable less amount of smoke than usual. We could sit anywhere around the fire pit and not have to move. The only time I saw smoke was at the beginning when trying to get it rolling and at the end when I was letting it burn down. Wife it happy, I’m happy. 34895457-42BE-4636-A40F-AB90A92C902C.jpeg
 
Ours is gonna go all weekend. We’re slicing a 17lb ribeye into steak tomorrow. Gonna Cook those over the fire bowl as well. Beef cooked over oak…. There’s nothing better tasting
 
Jp8819 said:
Reminds me I need to either build or get a grate for mine.
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I’m happy with my grate. Well worth the $50 because the expanded metal is stainless
 
Burt Gummer said:
Ours is gonna go all weekend. We’re slicing a 17lb ribeye into steak tomorrow. Gonna Cook those over the fire bowl as well. Beef cooked over oak…. There’s nothing better tasting
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Burt Gummer said:
I’m happy with my grate. Well worth the $50 because the expanded metal is stainless
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This plus a good cut of beef makes it all worthwhile.

Good beef, good dried oak, fire bowl, and a stainless steel grate takes all of the guess work out of it and assures a no-fail dinner supper experience.

I sincerely appreciate all that you and @thrillhill did last year to make ownership of this large fire bowl possible for an old man. I think of you guys every time I light it up.
 
Nice coals being formed. Oak and pecan in there now. Fighting the wind, but that’s ok. Firebowl don’t take no shit


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These are going on in an hour probably


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Haven’t lit it since it got set in place on Wednesday…but maybe next week.

In the last year, we went from a bunch of leaves and branches:

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To dirt:

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To dirt with some timbers in place:

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To a landscaped area with 15K pounds of gravel and 15 yards of mulch…plus some pavers I got for free:

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Crankbait said:
Broke down and bought my wife( and me I suppose) a smokeless fire pit. Was it worth it? I can say there was considerable less amount of smoke than usual. We could sit anywhere around the fire pit and not have to move. The only time I saw smoke was at the beginning when trying to get it rolling and at the end when I was letting it burn down. Wife it happy, I’m happy. View attachment 405370
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Smoke keeps the skeeters away. It’s all good.
 
Forgot to get a good pic with all of them on the fire. But a little attention, and a little thermometer work to take away the guessing, and you have damn good food
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thrillhill said:
Earl Thurman, the ole guy that makes these fire-bowls, passed away Saturday night (Christmas).

I don't know if anyone there is gonna carry on the business or not.
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Oh man. That’s heartbreaking to read. What a wonderful man he was
 
I hate to hear that. The day we visited him, he seemed like a salt of the earth old school kinda guy.
thrillhill said:
Earl Thurman, the ole guy that makes these fire-bowls, passed away Saturday night (Christmas).

I don't know if anyone there is gonna carry on the business or not.
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elmostump said:
Dang, did you sell a kidney…..oh that’s right government job😂😂
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Haha my uncle always buys an expensive cut of meat for Christmas for me to cook
 
CZfool68 said:
Well done!


Well done. It looks like you even got the Mrs out there, but doggie said too damn cold.
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Nope…she’s not in that pic. She and the pup did come out to check on us a couple times.

It’s down to this now:

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But if you feel like you’re missing out…you can stare at this one in slo-mo for awhile. Taken right after we dropped a chunk of tree in it. 😳

 
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