Since they came on the market, I liked the idea of having a tabletop fire pot. A bit of research revealed that there can be major safety issues with the gel fuel used in such pots. Some come with a metal dish that is refilled from a bottle. I don’t know exact numbers, but it seems a few people experienced serious burns while refilling the pots. Apparently, it’s not always possible to tell if the fire is out when the fuel gets low. After seeing DIY pots on Pinterest, I wanted to make my own. It gave me the opportunity to look at other fuel options.
Instead of one pot, I created two. One is mostly for ambience, while the other allows small foods, like marshmallows, to be roasted at the table.
Both pots are glazed ceramic with the drainage saucers attached. You will want something with small drainage holes so the contents of your pot don’t escape from the bottom. They’re suitable sizes for houseplants. The smaller pot uses a 2.6 oz. can of Sterno as fuel. The larger pot was designed to hold a handful of wood chips or natural charcoal in a small foil pan. The pots were filled with leftover aquarium gravel until the tops of the fire containers were level with the pot rims. (The gravel is a filler that’s not seen. It doesn’t need to be fancy.) The fuel containers were centered on the gravel. Then they were surrounded by glass decorator marbles to finish filling the pots. The sand and marbles act as insulation and keep the exterior of the ceramic pots from getting too hot.
The Sterno can in the smaller pot is not refillable. When empty, the entire can is replaced. The lid can be placed back on the can to smother any flames when the fuel gets low. Make sure to use caution, especially if there is some fuel on the bottom of the lid. (Do not use water to extinguish.) Sterno cans come with a blue dot that is supposed to indicate safe handling. If using it, make sure to read the safety instructions, and let enough time pass before handling the used can.
The marshmallow roasting pot contains 2 individual-size foil pie pans. Leave the bottom pan in the pot at all times, or the marbles will fill in the space when the used pan is removed. To use the pot, place no more than a handful or two of wood chips in the foil pan. Don’t fill past the rim of the pan. Before disposing of the used pan and chips, pour in enough water to cover the chips and wait overnight to make sure nothing is burning. If some chips are still smoldering when the water is added, that’s OK. Just keep hands and face as far away as possible so you aren’t burned by steam.
There are additional safety measures that must be taken when using pots like these. First, do not allow young children to handle pots in any way. That includes lighting, extinguishing or replacing fuel. Use your best judgment with older children. Adult supervision should always be present. If your table is under a structure make sure flammable materials are not close. Curtains should be tied back, and it might be best not to have a cloth on the table. Though it’s smaller, the woodchip fire pot is pretty much a campfire. Sparks may be carried where you don’t want them, especially on a windy day. In areas that have suffered from drought, one spark may be all it takes to create a disaster. Be smart and make sure your fires are out before walking away from the pots.
Now that the serious stuff has been covered, do enjoy your pots. Make sure you eat your fair share of s’mores. I know I will.
The Project Queen
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