DIY Linear Gas Burner Firepit

rampantbunny

Hey all. Anyone here attempted a DIY firepit build using propane as fuel supply ?

I'm interested in what materials were used esp. w.r.t. regulators for controlling gas pressure. There are high-pressure regulators available, some of which are adjustable. Standard household appliances would use 37mbar usually. Not sure if that's enough.

I've a plumber in the family ready to plumb things up but he doesn't have any advice in this area. I know this is not something that should be played around with but I've seen it done via videos and tutorials in the US. Not all fittings/products used are available here though so interested in more local knowledge/experiences.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058277185/diy-linear-gas-burner-firepit

Only a Registered Gas installer - should install and commission any gas Installation/ appliance.

https://rgi.ie/

Lumen

I'd start by sourcing a burner. A small (11kg) tank of propane supplies about half a million BTUs, and the linear burners on sale in the US seem to be rated from about 50,000-200,000 BTUs an hour, so I guess you're looking at 2-10 hours of runtime out of a tank. What does gas cost now, €40 a tank?

Would you not just buy a patio heater?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Slate-Commercial-Patio-Heater/dp/B01GCRZ9LO?tag=which-digidip-21&th=1

rampantbunny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120048307#Comment_120048307

Thanks for the response. Can you clarify something for me - does the above statement cover any (as it suggests) gas works irrespective of where they are being installed? E.g. in a domestic setting, I assume firstly that anything in the home needs to be installed by a certified installer (and this has been done already for my existing gas installation). But does it also mean something at the end of the garden independent of the house and appliances?

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051003#Comment_120051003

I do not know the answer to your question.

You could let an answer to your questions at - https://rgi.ie/

rampantbunny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120049066#Comment_120049066

Well, I'm not really looking at this as a source of heat. I'm not a stonemason but I built some stone walls and a firepit at the end of my garden from some leftovers. Existing domestic gas install is run off two 47kg propane cylinders with an auto-changeover regulator. They supply an internal gas fire which is again not a heat source but for effect. 7 years after install and first cylinder is still not empty. I'm not going to touch this except to consider reducing to a single propane tank supply in the future (and consider taking the other for firepit).

All that said, I like being creative and this is the DIY forum. I did look for linear burners but haven't yet found anything suitable.

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051074#Comment_120051074

The first battle is to find what you're looking for, regardless of location.

Is there nothing here that would work?

https://www.woodlanddirect.com/linear-fire-pit-burners/

Common sense (which you seem to possess!) suggests that this needs to be completely segregated from your domestic gas supply. I'd be inclined to locate the cylinder close to the "fire pit" in order to avoid excessively long gas lines, to make it essentially similar to a BBQ (which doesn't require professional installation, obviously), but I don't know whether you have somewhere to stash a cylinder.

Honestly though, I think this is likely to be quite hungry for gas. Your internal fire is designed to maximize the visual impact of a tiny gas flow, but I don't see how you're going to achieve the same out in the open.

My large Weber BBQ will go through a single conventional cylinder of patio gas in a few hours. The same sized cylinder connected to my gas hob (which I use daily) lasts months.

rampantbunny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120051947#Comment_120051947

Not overly concerned about the consumption TBH (there's my green credentials out the window). What I mean is that this is for very infrequent use. We used our patio/garden area 3 times this year. A firepit won't make us use it any more than this but it will make it look nicer. I've been at so many houses this last year where proud home owners show me their off-the-shelf firepits with pride. They spent hundreds of euros - but all I can see is poorly constructed junk.

I agree re. internal appliances and how they can be frugal in consumption. I've a 1200mm linear room sealed fire already and it runs off 37mbar...no big flames, but decent effect. I'm not going to achieve anything like this outside, but I'll enjoy the experiment.

I did come across that US site you linked to. Yea, I'm sure something there would work but I'm not a fan of spending that kind of cash on something that can't easily be returned. Plus something from the US will likely need some conversion or adaptors...a headache for any installer and me consequently. Also, I want to build something, not buy (where's the fun in buying when you can risk your life playing around with gas 😜). We're effectively talking about tubing with holes. Getting the proper regulator (adjustable), air mixer (or venturri) etc. is the challenge I'm looking for assistance with.

It's not that I'm one of those that cannot be told or won't take good advice - I just enjoy the process of building things. If I don't get the effect I want, so be it. I'll fill the fire-put with a few lumps of timber when needed.

Lumen

LPG kit? Or at least components of.

https://brightstarfires.co.uk/shop/burner-kit/gas-fire-pit-burner-kit-rectangle/

rampantbunny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052427#Comment_120052427

😀 You're determined that I don't build anything!

Nice link but no available size to fit what I have already pre-built (the pit size). But it does give me good information. E.g. I can see that the regulator (UK version) sold with the kit is rated 37mbar which tells me that it's possible to run these at standard domestic pressures. I was thinking I might need an adjustable high-pressure regulator. I've found some for the Irish market adjustable from 0.5 to 2bar for example (way higher than the 37mbar obviously) but maybe I only need another 37 mbar version. The burner tubing looks may 10mm to 15mm...no need for large bore.

The flame in the video looks good but very yellow...might be prone to creating soot. I wonder if there is an air mixture value of any sort on the line. Would love to see what is inside the control box because they say that the output is adjustable...maybe this is an adjustable regulator. Thanks for the link.

Lumen

How are you going to make the correct size pin holes in stainless pipe?

rampantbunny

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052704#Comment_120052704

I've access to an industrial water jet and laser cutter, but the pipe doesn't necessarily have to be stainless. Not sure what the perfect size hole should be. It'll be a case of experimenting with pressure and hole size to see what the flame is like in outside conditions. Sheltered but with a certain amount of air movement.

Found this site. Prices aren't extravagant but no perfect fit product yet.

Lumen

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-a-BBQ-Burner/

There's discussion of parameters required to create different qualities of flame.