Dan and I were trying to figure out where to put a firepit. He came across the brilliant idea to use the old stump in the yard.
It was a fairly easy process (for me. I took pictures. Dan used the chainsaw). First, we (he) leveled out the stump. Then I swept all the debris and sawdust off (see! I did more than just take pictures!). Next, we cut into the stump the same way you’d slice a cake or pie; we created slices from the inside out, placing the chainsaw on the stump and letting the front tip of it just cut into the stump, creating the slices.
We tried to chisel them out using a hammer and wedge, but it wasn’t happening. So Dan brought the chainsaw back out, and cut the slices out, holding the saw with the blade horizontally rather than vertically. They didn’t all cut out easily, so be prepared to use that hammer again to knock the wedges out.
One final thing we did with the chainsaw: we cut a straight vertical line from the inside to the outside down to the ground. This will allow any water poured on the fire to drain out, and allow for some oxygen to get in to the fire from the bottom.
I came in and did some clean up (Dan helped) and there you have it! A firepit that will last! The stump will eventually burn down; the hole will deepen, but it will take quite a while. We had a fire last night and the stump is just charred on the inside.
Sorry the fire pictures are bad, it was night!
