WIBU to have a little wood fire in a terracotta pot?

[MrsLettuce]

Or would it explode, maiming us all?

I've got a couple of friends coming over tomorrow night and we fancy a little fire. Is it a stupid idea to make a little wood fire in a pot like the one in the photo? If not I might have to sacrifice my (not very good quality and a bit knackered) wok to the cause. No ventilation in that though.

A pot like this, more or less

I can't see the picture, but some chimineas are made of terra cotta.
That said, have you got somewhere safe and ventilated to stand it?
You need a heat resistant base and plenty of air to avoid any danger of carbon monoxide build up.

Or if you mean outside, firepits are cheap. Home Bargains and suchlike have them from about £20.

You can buy a chimera for £50? Home base?

I think a terracotta pot might be at risk of cracking/shattering if you put a fire in it.
We used an old (metal) dustbin for a while as a burner in the back garden - drilled some holes in it for ventilation, but we have now moved on to the repurposed drum of a washing machine.

That was my thinking too but I'm second guessing myself. I'm thinking at the end of the garden and on a metal tray of sand (on bricked area).

X posts galore

Unfortunately I can't get out tomorrow but I'm certainly buying something decent this weekend. No dustbin lids and I've been after a washing machine drum for years.

I think the wok is maybe a safer option

What if I wrap the pot in chicken wire? Im not bothered if it cracks just concerned about dangerous explosive cracking. Someone here must have tried it

Am obviously clutching at straws here

We tried it with a terracotta plant pot once. Didn't end well.

Just build the fire on the bricks.

Could someone pick up a firepit for you?

I have an old washing machine drum as my outdoor fire. Love it but it can become an inferno very easily - guess that's because the air intake and top hole. The drum sits happily on a galvanised bin that catches the ash and keeps it off the patio.

Don't do it, it will explode.

I've seen good fire pits made from old vehicle wheels and supermarket trolleys. Also great wood burning stoves made from calor gas bottles.

I know it’s too late for tomorrow but if you’re looking for an outdoor fire you can’t beat a bio fuel one. They come in all shapes and sizes, no fumes, don’t need ventilation and look really good. You can put them anywhere

It will crack, not sure about explode though. Could you dig out a square out of the grass and build your fire in that? I've done that when camping.

What ever you do make sure you have a bucket of clean water close by to put out any accidentall Fire .

Best thing for a small fire is a colander- metal of course!

Don’t Show your guests this thread op

Than you all!

I'm going to borrow a chiminea from one of my neighbours🔥