Building a gas fire pit

[mfinley919]

I will be building a gas fire pit for my deck. I figure I have two possible was to go.

The first is to get a new section of cement sewer pipe about 36 inches wide and cut a 18 inch piece of it off. Lay that on the deck and mortar rock veneer to it and create a flagstone ledge on top. Pros is it would be round, and look really nice. Cons is getting one and moving such a heavy thing somewhere to cut it.

The 2nd way is to build a octagon fire pit out of metal studs and cement board then veneer it with rock and create a flagstone ledge on top. Pros - much easier to do. Cons - won't be as pretty as a round one.

Question 1 - I don't think the standard non-load bearing metal studs made from 25 guage will be strong enough. Not sure if they make stronger ones or where to get them?

Question 2 - anybody else got any ideas on who to build one other then the ways I came up with? Gotta be cheap.

[Rich]

You can get 16 gauge studs and even structural studs. If you know a metal framer they can do pretty damn close to a circle by crimping it - to make it round. The rock veneer would cover any defects.

[mfinley919]

Rich, you are also in Colorado I believe. Where do you get these bearing or structural metal studs?

Thanks.

[Rich]

You know I've never personally bought them.. I'll ask my metal framer tomorrow. Dietrich comes to mind.. but don't quote me on that.
Yep.. http://www.dietrichindustries.com/

[mjpliv]

Why not just build it from stone. Then you can make it any shape you want. You are already going through the trouble of attaching a stone veneer.

[mfinley919]

Why not just build it from stone. Then you can make it any shape you want. You are already going through the trouble of attaching a stone veneer.

Yes, there are a number of ways to do it. Weight is an issue now as I have committed to it sitting on the deck itself instead of on a pad, so I now have to keep it as light as possible.

There are so many ways to make this thing, but the deck has to be built to accomodate whatever method is choosen.

I'm also going to be building a outdoor kitchen island for a grill so the constuction of that will be with metal studs and cement board also.