Can't help you on the bowl, but will tell you that the pilot light on our outdoor gas fireplace constantly blows out when it is windy. However, if the fireplace is already lit, the fire does not go out during windy evenings.

I saw some nice ones at Lowe's last weekend. They had a base surround that completely contained the propane tank and looked more like a built in but it wasn't. Seemed like good quality. It had like lava rock or some type of stones.
For oceanside you will encounter problems with salt corrosion on the metal parts but that's normal.
I like ones that have a nice ledge around them like the Tortuga in the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fire pits

I can't help you with a recommendation, but I would encourage you to spend some time with someone who has a propane firepit of any kind. I spent the weekend with a friend recently. She had just had one permanently installed, and while it was pretty, the fumes nearly gagged us. It was a breezy night with the wind whipping around and seeming to change direction, probably because of the breeze off the lake. We were sitting with our feet on the stone edge of the pit and kept having to move as the wind shifted and blew the fumes in another direction. She tried to turn it down, but then it wouldn't stay lit.

The same thing happens to us when it is windy. The contractor said since it was outside, we didn't need to have a vented fireplace. So the chimney stack is faux...the fumes are not. When it's not windy, everything is fine.

Newhome, Good to know.

Errant, No, we would put it down by the waterfront and leave it there, at least for the season. But I do not want some elaborate, fancy, built in pit with elaborate stonework (which is what i see when i google the subject) I'd sooner like something that looked like an old bathtub, sorta.

Raven, I do like those where you can just put in a tank and hide it. Yes, salt air ruins everything, just a fact of life.

Marti and Newhome, Thank you for commenting, this is so helpful and just the kind of thing I worried about. I wanted gas for ease of use and to avoid any odors or smoke. Forgot about fumes. Do chiminea styles solve that?

I have seen some that were made of cast iron with tall chimneys, those help get the smoke up higher and out of your face. Burning wood equals smoke of course so you have to deal with that.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cast iron chimineas

I'm confused as to what you want...but then again, that's not surprising...I confuse easily!

By not built in, you don't mean portable, do you? To me a portable gas fueled metal fire maker is called a grill.
;)

I'm assuming you'd want it built in enough to hide the gas tank...

I can see an in-ground fire pit...with your choice of materials for the surround, figuring what you want to be sitting on when you're enjoying the fire.

[Traditional Landscape[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-landscaping-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_728~s_2107) by Santa Barbara Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Donna Lynn - Landscape Designer

But you'd need it done in such a way that it doesn't become a trip hazard...

Maybe with a low wall to shield it from the prevailing winds?

[Midcentury Exterior[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/midcentury-modern-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2115) by San Carlos General Contractors Allwood Construction Inc

Or are you thinking caldron?

[Traditional Patio[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-patio-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_725~s_2107) by San Anselmo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Annie,

Hi! I'm thinking more cauldron like. Copper verdigris.

You're welcome. ;)

Before we built out outdoor fireplace, we had a portable fire pit, the base made of wrought iron. It had covered sides made of metal like screening. Even the slightest of breezes would push the smoke all around us, and toward the screened porch. gag, gag

I was going to mention a ceramic chiminea as your best choice, but was not sure the look you would want. It would definitely help with the smoke, plus they are sturdy.

We have a firepit in an area of the yard - off from the patio. Woodburning. We don't seem to have a problem with smoke, but maybe that's because it's more out in the open? Like the pic above, we have adirondack chairs around it. It is portable, but not easily so because it is wrought iron, very heavy. We have been thinking of replacing with a built-in, stone one.

I think beekeeperswife posted a really nice looking firepit they had put on their deck last year or two. They had replaced the 'embers' with something and I can't recall exactly what they did. Maybe she will chime in here again with a photo. I believe she bought it at Lowe's; it was a bit contemporary, had a hidden tank, but can't remember much else. Sorry. It was not a cauldron though. That Saturn fire pit with the iron oxide patina in the Lowe's ad ravencajun linked is kinda cool.

I would think an open cauldron like the one pictured would get really dangerously hot on the outside if you built a fire in it. Or am I missing something.

Thx, Tina and and Newh.

I don't mean portable as in pick it up and carry it, I mean not built in. The sites refer to that as "portable" even if it's like 200 lbs. and more.

Everything I read says propane is the best choice because it doesn't have fumes!?

Seems like, more precisely it is less likely to have fumes or they are less severe? I also don't want wood because it isn't like the lake where we had kindling and old wood right there to grab.

I wonder if there is any secret to reducing fumes in propane ones .... I

I'm not real sure on this, since I didn't end up going with a propane firepit in our courtyard, it was just too big for the area I wanted it in, but, I will probably get one for our backyard after the pool is built. Fumes may get you if it is too windy, but if not, they are great to sit around. I think the really nice ones you are able to lower the flame to where they won't blow out as much in the wind. Some friends have one, and I know I have to get away from the fumes if its windy and turned up too high. But, I still plan on getting one.

We recently bought a Crossfire burner for our firepit from Warming Trends.
I noticed they have portable copper fire bowls. They were very helpful advising us about the size of the burner, number of BTUs & fireglass.
You might consider giving them a call. They may be able to answer some of your questions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Portable Fire Pits

There's some catalog I get occasionally that shows a fire pit with a glass enclosure. Looks sort of like a terrarium during a violent uprising. I'll see if I can find it.

We have a firepit under a pergola at our Cape house. We burn wood and have not had any problems with smoke, maybe because it's protected by the wisteria. We have a similar pit at our house here. It's rectangular, surrounded by multi-colored tiles and sits about a foot off the ground.

Our neighbors at both locations, ironically, just built the exact same firepit! It's circular and has seating on both sides. One uses gas the other uses wood.

We love our pit and spend many nights sitting around it stargazing.

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This post was edited by newhomebuilder on Sat, Nov 8, 14 at 16:47

Mtn, if you're going for the cauldron-like copper verdigris look, you may want to look into antique sugar kettles from the deep south. They can range from large to enormous in size, and the good ones have a beautiful patina. Often they're used as firepits. If you google "sugar kettle firepit" you will see the various types of conversions.

Nuts, thank you, sounds totally my style!

Newhome, everything i read says that the benefit of propane is "no fumes". Hmm. And isn't it the propane itself that is infused with an odor for safety reasons, so you know when you have a leak? So do fumes = leaks? IDK
It also appears that wood gives more heat, something to consider ...
As far as wind, I am not sure if there is a prevailing wind off the ocean, but i'd guess so! I saw one firepit in Malibu that was partly sheltered, in sort of a halfdome of brick!
What a lovely spot you have.

Bonnieann, It seems as though any fire that is burning hot and fast won't be smoky, so someone if your family is good at fire building, LOL. Your yard is just serene.

Thanks, Marcolo. I bet the gnomes had one too many mushrooms and chaos ensued. A microcosm of "Collapse".

Romy, thanks for the link and source!

Ollie, It's so odd , because they all brag that propane HAS no fumes! Hrmmph.

I'm starting to totally renege and now i want a sugar kettle and a cord of wood. I mean, who doesn't want a sugar kettle!

I want a sugar kettle! Neat idea and it has a story.

If the terrarium seems too tame.

I think this model is called the Global Warming 2100.

mtnrdredux - Thanks! We love it back there. Farm land directly behind us, with rolling hills to the left and off past the farmland.

I don't know anything about propane...ours is natural gas. The fumes that we get, I think, is coming off the logs.

I've been looking too. Frontgate has some tables with hidden propane tank as well as some copper or steel bowls. Most of the open bowls -- like the sugar kettle (love them) are best suited to logs or charcoal rather than propane. That's the dilemma I am coming up against -- wanting to avoid smoke in the face but liking the designs that are best suited to the wood fires.

Ain't that always the case, Lascatx? Form vs function!
You can do both if you want to bury a gas line.

But we were wanting to avoid that. If you want to go the hidden propane tank route, which sounds easiest, there are a lot of quite ugly neo-tuscan choices, alas!

I will share three other hidden propane tank options.

The first one seems cool but it was DIY so you either need to be handy and brave or find someone to make it, but I like the idea (though I'd choose a lower pot perhaps).

I like the simplicity of this; they make a square one, and a round one too but it kind of looks like a Hobo's fire.

There was also a round, sort of coffee table height one, I am trying to find the image of it again. It is shipped as a plane concrete form and you can clad it in any facing, metal or stone or tile, you like, after you get it on site. I kind of like that idea.

Mtn, knowing you've mentioned shopping at Terrain, maybe you've seen this one. It's on the small side, but what a pleasing design.

Here is a link that might be useful: Terrain Copper Fire Pit

That is nice arapaho, and i really like the tray that goes on top when not in use.

Thank you for posting!

Mtn, did you find a fire pit? We have one ordered. We went with a concealed propane tank model from California Outdoor Concepts, but we are getting a granite top from a local fabricator. We found a remnant that will work for us better than the choices from the table manufacturer.

I love the look of the big sugar bowls and copper vessels , but I didn't want to deal with washing smelly clothes every time we came inside or worry about our dogs (or people) bumping into a hot bowl. The one we ordered has a table rim around it, so it will be safer in that regard and have a place to set down drinks and such.

This is the one that caught my eye while looking at some others -- closest to the bowl shape

Here is a link that might be useful: California Outdoor Concepts Fire Pits

This post was edited by lascatx on Wed, Nov 26, 14 at 17:39

Hi lascatx,

We're meeting with some landscape designers while we are up in Maine this weekend and I thought Id talk to them about it ?.. I think we're definitely going to go with some sort of a model that hides a propane tank⦠I think I'd like something out of copper that oxidizes⦠Maybe one of them will know somebody who can make something for us?

I agree with you, we decided against wood burning fir the same reasons ... Hope you enjoy yours!

Mtn, I received a catalog from Thomas Baker (thosbaker.com) that has some nice bowl-type Fire pits and fire tables. Beautiful finishes. And one thing that impressed me was that they could be ordered in any configuration, propane, wood-burning, etc.

Thank you Outside, I will go look!