I think that a fire pit that's raised up like that is much safer .... imagine someone tripping or slipping face first into one that's sunk into, and level with, the ground surface
I remember being at an event where a sheep was being spit-roasted over half a barrel ... someone slipped and put their hand out to save themselves and touched some hot coals ... fortunately they had buckets of cold water ready just in case and the Pitmaster plunged the chap's hand into a bucket of water ... bags of ice were fetched and packed around it, and although there was some blistering the injury was really quite minor ... but it could've been much much worse.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
More fire pit tales - my previous neighbour with a penchant for bonfires disposed of the ashes from their bonfire into their wheely bin one night after a few too many drinks. It caught fire during the night - luckily it was under their bedroom window and the smoke woke them! (Now you can understand why I moved!)
I think the OP's fire pit is designed to sit on, not in the ground so I would forget the hole digging and lining.
If it's position is to be permanent, just lay some slabs or a thick layer of gravel under where it will sit and wide enough for you to walk round the fire to remove ashes and clean it form whichever side the wind is blowing from without compressing the soil and grass around the fire.
If you really want it in a pit it will need to be wider than your chosen design of fire in order to let the fire breathe and also to prevent damage from over-heating of the surrounding stones.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have recently purchased a fire pit similar to the above. It is recommended that it is stood on a pit of builders sand at least 4 ins deep to prevent heat traveling into the surrounding garden, patio area. I am planning to dig out a pit, line it with fire bricks before backfilling with sand, to stand mine on. I think I will also stand it on fire bricks for stability. I have a feeling average pavers could crack from the heat if the fire pit is lit, standing on them with no protection. I had assumed the bowl would need to be emptied each time it is used to allow for a draught to circulate. It is possible to buy a plastic tarp. type cover for some fire pits to protect them from the weather when not in use. Not particularly pretty but sensible perhaps?
Joyce, I appreciate your thoughts. I'd like to add that a lot of people ask what to do with rust or how to clean pits generally but no one asks about how to prevent it. We've purchased this cover. As far as I understood right, it's customizable for all kinds of fire pits.
Posts
I remember being at an event where a sheep was being spit-roasted over half a barrel ... someone slipped and put their hand out to save themselves and touched some hot coals ... fortunately they had buckets of cold water ready just in case and the Pitmaster plunged the chap's hand into a bucket of water ... bags of ice were fetched and packed around it, and although there was some blistering the injury was really quite minor ... but it could've been much much worse.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If it's position is to be permanent, just lay some slabs or a thick layer of gravel under where it will sit and wide enough for you to walk round the fire to remove ashes and clean it form whichever side the wind is blowing from without compressing the soil and grass around the fire.
If you really want it in a pit it will need to be wider than your chosen design of fire in order to let the fire breathe and also to prevent damage from over-heating of the surrounding stones.
I had assumed the bowl would need to be emptied each time it is used to allow for a draught to circulate.
It is possible to buy a plastic tarp. type cover for some fire pits to protect them from the weather when not in use. Not particularly pretty but sensible perhaps?