31 minute project
Sakrete Quickset Concrete
a bunch of rocks (perhaps dug up from your yard)
a plastic bowl
a large canned good
chafing dish gel fuel pack
PAM cooking spray
newspaper
plastic tub for mixing concrete
stick to stir concrete
You are going to create one of these
(which, FYI, Restoration Hardware doesn't sale anymore,
hence why we are making our own)
In pictures:
For the readers:
1. Measure out your concrete. I just filled my plastic bowl/mold with dry mix.
2. Dump mix in plastic mixing bin.
3. Add water; stir with stick.
Start with a puddle in the middle of dry mix. Not too soupy, not too chunky
3b. Spray PAM all over your mold and canned good.
4. Pour concrete into mold.
4b. I poured halfway, then placed my large canned good in the center and continued filling around the can.
4c. After about 6 minutes, I rotated my can, wiggled side to side and popped it out.
PAM is awesome.
5. At the 17 minute mark, Cover top of mold with stack of newspaper.
Flip it over carefully; concrete form will slip right out.
Because...well, PAM is awesome.
6. and 7. Carefully and pleasingly place loose rocks along rim of concrete form.
8. and 9. Drop fire gel pack in center hole; light with long match and enjoy.
Fun ambiance for the whole family.
Check out what's to come with 31 DIY projects for Busy Gals by clicking the log above.
Linking up here:
DIY Under $15 @ A Little Tipsy
Tutorial Tuesday @ Hope Studios
***
Loving b3HD?
Have a life and can't view the whole blog in one sitting?
Then stalk us already!
Scroll down, join the site and become a follower!
Or follow B3HD the Blog on Twitter
Or fan our B3HD Facebook page
Promise not to stalk you back. Unless you want us to.
***
-A---MAZING!! I'm posting this link on my FB page right now
ReplyDeleteThanks! Appreciated the FB shoutout.
DeleteVery cool!
ReplyDeleteCool project. Just wondering how the Sakrete holds up to the heat...thanks for the tutorial
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I used chafing dish gel warmers. So there is really not that much heat involved. And definitely not for a sustained amount of time.
DeleteI just used one of them as a candle holder (a short pillar) and that was pretty awesome. Not heat generating and not a roaring fire, but a nice atmosphere for all.
LOVE!!! I'm your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll look you up and follow you back!
DeleteThis is awesome. I may try one with seashells around the top instead of rocks since we live close to the ocean. We just got a new (well, new to us at least) patio set from craigslist and I think this will make a great centerpiece the first time we have people over to use it.
ReplyDeleteSeashells is a great idea. Wish I lived beachside.
DeleteSo cool! Love this for patios! Thanks for linking up with DIY under $15!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehttps://yourstylishside.wordpress.com/
This looks great, how do you get the rocks to stay in place?
ReplyDeleteMy rocks were pretty flat and I didn't move the flame bowl much once it was in place. So they didn't go anywhere.
DeleteThat said, maybe using some construction adhesive (that stuff that comes in a tube that you use in a caulk gun) would really keep it in place if you wanted to permanently glue them down.
This looks wonderful. I have some hypertufa i made years ago that I would love to retrofit for this. Thanks for such lovely inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHypertufa would WONDERFUL for this project. Much lighter and easier to move them. Not that these weigh a ton, but I'd only move mine one at a time. Hope it goes well with the Hypertufa.
Deletehas anyone tried setting the stones onto chicken wire and having them sit on *top* of the sterno? It'd be a cool effect to have the fire come from below them, but I don't know how well it'd hold up.
ReplyDeleteThat WOULD be a really neat effect. When it is outdoor season again here, I think I'm going to try this. I'll have to find something with a stronger flame from beneath though...the gel cans I had produced very low flames so I don't think they would wick through the rocks.
DeleteIs the first picture from Restoration Hardware? I have used Sternos before, they usually have a very faint blue flame, how do you get it to have a more noticeable flame so people don't accidentally burn themselves? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes this is a hack of the discontinued Restoration Hardware tabletop firebowl. Good idea about the more noticeable flame. I think I saw at Home Depot that they had gel that you could pour into some tabletop flame vases they had. The container was stainless steel (?) so I'd find a suitable container first (perhaps a sterno container) rather than just pouring it directly in.
DeleteInterested to hear if anyone else found a better flame throwing alternative (smile).
The fuel gel has been recalled. I had purchased a firepot and gel and had to return it last season. I don't know why they are still selling them in some stores! Seems that it would explode and cause fires. Not a good thing! Check it out before you purchase.
DeleteIf you go to the Restoration HW link at the top, they didn't use Sterno burners... they had a burn cup & used a flammable gel.
ReplyDeleteAnd there we go. I saw the gel at Home Depot this past season. Just need to get a burn cup and you're good to go.
DeleteLame!
ReplyDeleteHow long will it burn with one can?
ReplyDeleteI believe it depends on the kind of sterno you get. There are inexpensive ones that burn out quickly (say 30 minutes), but there are more catering suitable ones that last longer. And if you get the gel and a burn cup (gel from Home Depot), then it lasts as long as you have the gel for refills.
DeleteIn minutes, I'm not sure. I blew mine out after 30 minutes and still had more to burn. It was a pretty inexpensive Dollar Store version.
Got a comment that HD has recalled the fuel gel.
DeleteThe Riverhead (NY) News-Review recapped it pretty well:
--“Due to the serious risks of flash fire and burns when consumers add pourable gel to an already burning fire pot, consumers should immediately stop using the pourable gel fuel,” the Consumer Product Safety Commission officials stated in a press release.--
Given, it probably isn't so bright to try to pour gel (or gasoline) on to a burning fire. Some folks live dangerously that way.
I've just used the chafing dish gel packs. I googled "chafing dish gel pack" and came up with lots of options.
Be safe folks!
One can of Real Flame gel lasts about 3 hrs. Here is a link to an Amazon search for it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L4T3BS/ref=s9_simh_gw_p86_d2_g201_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1AQCMNT2VTTREBXDZJPB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
Great source. That would last as long as a party on my deck before we got bored and had to find something else to do (smile).
DeleteWhy fill it with concrete when you could just fill it with rocks and some sand?
ReplyDeleteWould love to see your version. I loved the look of the concrete and that it is stand alone. And that I can use them for so many other things (ie, a planter for my succulent collection that doesn't need a lot of water or drainage).
DeleteLove to see if you did it with just rocks and sand.
I tried this with my roommate over the weekend. We used Quikrete instead of Sakrete.
ReplyDeleteThe first two times were total failures. The first time we waited about 30 minutes to flip the concrete, and it just sagged into a misshapen mess. The second time we waited an hour and the same thing happened.
We used less water the third time and didn't even try to flip it over, preferring to let it dry in the bowl overnight. This one worked better. I don't understand how you got this to work so fast.
Also, are you just resting rocks on top or are you slightly pressing them in to let them set? We did the latter with some glass shards.
To do it with the time notations for my "recipe", the Quickset Sakrete (which sets up really quickly) is pretty important to your success. Not sure if Quikrete (despite it's name) has the same quick set properties.
DeleteAlso, because I didn't mix my whole bag (as you likely didn't either), the notations as to how much water to add had to be adjusted. Perhaps, as you tried with #3, using less water? In my step 3 above, you can see that I used just a bitty pool of water and my concrete was much more dry than wet. I added a tiny bit more water, but the consistency of mine was like thick/chunky peanut butter.
All in all, try it with the Quickset Sakrete and less water. It can't be too dry because then, as you're pouring your mold, you might end up with "layers" that chunk off too. That happened on my third set when I might (or might not) have been distracted by a scene on Toddlers and Tiaras as I was pouring.
Just. Saying.
Good luck!
Let me know how it goes.
You forgot a very important detail. Make sure your river rocks are completely dry all the way through before firing this up. The water inside can vaporize quicker than it can escape causing the rock to split and sending jagged shrapnel at those sitting around the fire.
ReplyDeleteThat would totally NOT be fun. Good tip!
Deletegreat!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I hope you don't mind if I steal this for my arsenal some time in the future.
ReplyDeleteSteal away! Let me know when you make it. Would love to see your take on this.
DeleteFun little project! Should keep you busy any weekend.
ReplyDeleteOr any evening after work, after the kiddos are in bed...after dinner. At 30ish minutes, it was a great creative outlet after work.
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to try this with a painted flower pot, sand & rocks. Instead of using the fuel packs I'm going to experiment with tiki torch oil so that it can repel bugs also. Thank you for the inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteWell Done.
ReplyDeleteI found this on Pinterest and since we, at Hometipster.com deal in How To Guides, we thought this was a cracking idea.
ReplyDeleteIt's simple, it's attractive and would look really nice at nice around a patio area.
Thanks for sharing such a great idea!
Why you're welcome. Agree...especially if you make a few of them...fun times for the party to go on well in to the night. Thanks for stopping by!
Deletecan i just say eversince i jumped to your site via the 26th page of cooklovecraft via craftgawker, i have decided to COPY ALL you do. IDOL!!!!
ReplyDeleteAhhh...if you could see me now, you would have PROOF that colored folks do, indeed, blush. Too sweet. Thanks for stopping by. I might actually get a day in here soon to do more projects. I have an unitched scratch to paint/build/hack something already.
DeleteThanks for posting this! Im absolutely trying this, probably with just a candle but what a great idea.
ReplyDeleteAwesome (and much safer) idea. Would love for you to drop me a line and show me how it turned out. Or...you could pin it (smile). Not that I'm addicted to Pinterest. At. All.
DeleteMy Sis and her friend made these and asked me how to get a more yellow flame since i own a fireplace biz. Did not have the answer for her but here is a pourable ethanol gel..
Deletehttp://www.flamencoflame.com/clean.html
Perhaps a professional photographer who does food styling or other color media layouts may have a trick.
Thank you for this post, I shared a link to it on my blog Craft Connection
ReplyDeletehttp://craft-connection.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-fire-bowls.html