Port-a-fire

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by freetodream

Not sure I like propane fires I have graduated to using kiln dried scraps of wood leftover from woodworking projects which should be OK where campfires are allowed. (Treated and painted wood excluded.)

Like most, I much prefer to burn wood but understand the constraints too. I've been several places that do not allow pallet wood, (nails) and a couple that had a sign banning dimension lumber. I'll have our campfire in a can with us at Osoyoos but not likely to use it if it's
as hot as predicted. But I'd show it to whomever.
Iowa Dave

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Try viewing a candle flame through a glass of good scotch.

It has been legal in Alabama for a few years now to commercially distill and sell "moonshine", so lots of micro-distilleries have sprung up (or come out of the backwoods) with clever names for their products. Some, such as Still's Crossroads "Shine", are distilled from a rye mash, and what they market as moonshine doubles as a pretty high quality Scotch.

[Losangeles]

Originally Posted by freetodream

Not sure I like propane fires I have graduated to using kiln dried scraps of wood leftover from woodworking projects which should be OK where campfires are allowed. (Treated and painted wood excluded.)

In CA campfires are prohibited almost everywhere, due to the drought... not sure this will change anytime fast...

sure is nice to be able to have a fire (in a can) with minimal set up time

plus when it is time to get our daughter to bed - it is quick and easy to turn off, and no real fire to deal with / tend to / put out.....

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

It has been legal in Alabama for a few years now to commercially distill and sell "moonshine", so lots of micro-distilleries have sprung up (or come out of the backwoods) with clever names for their products. Some, such as Still's Crossroads "Shine", are distilled from a rye mash, and what they market as moonshine doubles as a pretty high quality Scotch.

True Scotch is made from barley. The Canadian whiskers (VO, Canadian Club, etc.) are made from rye. I've had some of the Alabama products and they are excellent. However, I reserve the moniker "superb" for a good single malt Scotch. Once I acquired a taste for Scotch in my mid 20s, it became my preferred drink of choice.

[Greg A]

Originally Posted by Losangeles

In CA campfires are prohibited almost everywhere, due to the drought... not sure this will change anytime fast...

sure is nice to be able to have a fire (in a can) with minimal set up time

plus when it is time to get our daughter to bed - it is quick and easy to turn off, and no real fire to deal with / tend to / put out.....

AZ is the same, and we have enjoyed our Camp chef firepit for many years. Many times we're the only ones in the campground with a fire to enjoy.

[Loren & Cathy]

We're in the market for some sort of a gas fire pit but haven't looked at much yet. Plus, we have been downwind of other peoples campfires and that can ruin a beautiful campsite. Loren

[Mary F]

I just want a SS washing machine tub to build a wood fire in. Didn't know they were so scarce when we gave the one we did find to a friend.

[Buddy]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Try viewing a candle flame through a glass of good scotch.

Excellent suggestion, I will follow through on it for scientific research purposes only of course.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

True Scotch is made from barley. The Canadian whiskers (VO, Canadian Club, etc.) are made from rye. I've had some of the Alabama products and they are excellent. However, I reserve the moniker "superb" for a good single malt Scotch. Once I acquired a taste for Scotch in my mid 20s, it became my preferred drink of choice.

I'm with you. A good single malt is hard to beat in my opinion. Although there are so wonderful Kentucky Bourbons as well. I'm not familiar with the AL products so cannot comment on those.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by parfsten

This is a new exploration for me... have always hauled my own wood for camping. Not sure how I feel about these "canned fires". I understand there are increasing limitations on campfire so am looking into these items. I do like the smaller size and weight of the port-a-fire (I am expecting a 17B) but the jury is still out. I am hoping there will some "canned fires" at Osoyoos for me to see.

I was very much the same. Campfires and camping are synonymous, had a rising one the last couple nights. I was one that scoffed at these propane fires, but finding more and more campgrounds as I camp further from home, have seen that a propane fire is a lesser, but still decent, substitute in some situations. It makes a great focal point for a group in the evening.

I just got the Outland Firebowl. It is sitting in the box at home. I will bring it to Osoyoos and it will be set up on Saturday night for a social gathering. Whiskey just may be consumed.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I was very much the same. Campfires and camping are synonymous, had a rising one the last couple nights. I was one that scoffed at these propane fires, but finding more and more campgrounds as I camp further from home, have seen that a propane fire is a lesser, but still decent, substitute in some situations. It makes a great focal point for a group in the evening.

I just got the Outland Firebowl. It is sitting in the box at home. I will bring it to Osoyoos and it will be set up on Saturday night for a social gathering. Whiskey just may be consumed.

Hi: Jim Bennett... How can you burn Whiskey?? It's mostly water!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: Jim Bennett... How can you burn Whiskey?? It's mostly water!!![emoji23] Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Anyone who burns good whiskey will too be set afire. Such atrocious action will not be tolerated.

[paulk]

I don't have a full review of this item, but I did buy one at ETI on Monday. Looks very nice. ETI sells the one with a regulator, but I contacted the company and they sell the 20' hose with 1/4" quick disconnect for $73.75 plus shipping and tax separately. All you would need to do is use a wrench to attach the SAE 3/8 flare connection on the fire pit, at least that's my understanding.

The 20' hose should fit other fire pits that use the 3/8" SAE flare connection, which is most of them. That's the same connection on the ETI provided hose.

I like the design. The fire tray where you put the lava rocks is pretty shallow, which is good in terms of weight. There is a fire ring on the outside edge which will bring propane to the external edge, which is exactly what you want. The other fire pit that I was considering was the fire dancer, which puts all the propane at the center and relies on the vermiculite to spread the propane so it needs to be deeper and has the main fire more at the center where it's farther from people sitting around it. This fire pit looks like it will perform very well in comparison, and it's a bit wider too. I plan to use some black fire glass instead of the lava rocks to keep it cleaner. I figure black will make it look more like charcoal and should radiate heat better.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by arniesea

Open flame indoors from a propane or natural gas source = Carbon monoxide poisoning. Not a good example! (not a reflection on you Parfsten, just the video author.)

I just saw this post.
It appears to me that the demonstration/review took place in a controlled test lab or similar room.
No one would normally have 2 or 3 stoves and a number of Buddy appliances in boxes all in one room. That is unless it was a test facility and if that was the case then I am sure they would have proper venting in place to avoid gassing themselves.

However, that being said, it would not be safe to assume that one could use these fire pits inside a home.
Perhaps a disclaimer with the video would have been appropriate, But there could have been one that I was not aware of viewing the video. My high school french is not that good!!

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by JohnB

I just saw this post.
It appears to me that the demonstration/review took place in a controlled test lab or similar room.
No one would normally have 2 or 3 stoves and a number of Buddy appliances in boxes all in one room. That is unless it was a test facility and if that was the case then I am sure they would have proper venting in place to avoid gassing themselves.

However, that being said, it would not be safe to assume that one could use these fire pits inside a home.
Perhaps a disclaimer with the video would have been appropriate, But there could have been one that I was not aware of viewing the video. My high school french is not that good!!

I agree, if it was a testing facility, then a disclaimer or warning in the video itself would have been appropriate. There was not one in this case.

[parfsten]

I will be interested in hearing what you think after using it a few times. So far, what you have posted sounds good to me! I am curious why ETI doesn't sell the model that is ready for the external propane connect... ??
Thanks again for the info.

Originally Posted by paulk

I don't have a full review of this item, but I did buy one at ETI on Monday. Looks very nice. ETI sells the one with a regulator, but I contacted the company and they sell the 20' hose with 1/4" quick disconnect for $73.75 plus shipping and tax separately. All you would need to do is use a wrench to attach the SAE 3/8 flare connection on the fire pit, at least that's my understanding.

The 20' hose should fit other fire pits that use the 3/8" SAE flare connection, which is most of them. That's the same connection on the ETI provided hose.

I like the design. The fire tray where you put the lava rocks is pretty shallow, which is good in terms of weight. There is a fire ring on the outside edge which will bring propane to the external edge, which is exactly what you want. The other fire pit that I was considering was the fire dancer, which puts all the propane at the center and relies on the vermiculite to spread the propane so it needs to be deeper and has the main fire more at the center where it's farther from people sitting around it. This fire pit looks like it will perform very well in comparison, and it's a bit wider too. I plan to use some black fire glass instead of the lava rocks to keep it cleaner. I figure black will make it look more like charcoal and should radiate heat better.

[paulk]

Originally Posted by parfsten

I will be interested in hearing what you think after using it a few times. So far, what you have posted sounds good to me! I am curious why ETI doesn't sell the model that is ready for the external propane connect... ??
Thanks again for the info.

It's more versatile with the propane regulator. It's easy to change the hose attached to the regulator to the 12' quick connect hose provided by ETI with the quick connect option.