No, using a rusted fire pit is not a good practice. Under certain conditions, rust exposure can be hazardous to your health. When exposed to moisture, fire, or water for an extended period, rust can develop on your fire pit, may it be steel, iron, or metal fire pit. This article will guide you through the detail on why fire pit rust and how you can prevent fire pit from rusting.
Is it Safe and secure to Use a Rusty Fire Pit?
No, it is not safe at all to use a rusty fire pit for you. Simply coming into contact with rust may damage your skin. However, if the bacterium typically found on rust enters your body through damaged skin, such as a cut or wound, you may develop tetanus, a dangerous infection. In addition to the health dangers, rust can cause other issues. Rust not only ruins the appearance of an attractive metal fire pit, but it can also jeopardize the structural stability of the fire pit if left to erode too much.
How Does Rust Get on a Fire Pit?
Rust is a reddish- or yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide generated by oxidation. Rust is typically linked with steel, iron, or metal, particularly when exposed to fire, humidity, and water. Consequently, its properties deteriorate over time, and one of its effects on the fire pit is the formation of holes in it, lowering its ability to work correctly. When a fire pit is repeatedly exposed to fire, it undergoes a variety of modifications, and it causes rusting.
Reasons for Fire Pit Rusting
- Leaving the fire pit open outside when not in use.
- Keeping the fire pit uncovered when it rains or snows.
- Lack of maintenance checks and cleanliness for a more extended time
- Not remove debris, waste, and ashes after each usage.
- Refusing to clean up the food leftovers after use.
- Not cleaning and drying up the fire pit, even if it got soaked into a sudden shower.
How to Remove Rust from Fire Pit?
The removal process of rust is straightforward, read this section clearly, and you will be a pro in rust removal! Rust removal can be divided into two easy parts; remove the rust and reseal the fire pit.
STEP 1: Remove the rust
There are two main ways to remove the rust from the fire pit: natural or rust removal products. I will explain both of them in a detailed process.
Removal of rust by using natural way-
You can scrub the rusty areas naturally by using sandpaper or a brush. However, the more practical elements can be:
Baking soda: First, form a paste by combining the baking soda and water. Rest the paste on the surface for hours and scrub the rust off with brush or scrubbing tools. You may have to do the same process two or three times.
Lemon juice: Sprinkle coarse salt over the rust and drizzle with lemon juice. Remove the liquid and rinse.
Potato: Slice a raw potato, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda, then massage it over the rust spot. This procedure is more effective if your rust is not entirely coating your metal fire pit but is only present in some areas.
White vinegar: Pour the white vinegar directly on the rust patches or wipe them away using an old cloth. It is sufficiently acidic to dissolve rust. However, prolonged exposure to acidic vinegar may cause damage to the fire pit’s surface.
Removal of rust using rust removal products:
Rust removal products are chemical and can be toxic for pets and children. Yet, if you are not interested in traditional practices and want a faster result, you can try them. Also, we have discussed some rust removal products in the below section of this article. So, make sure to review them!
The step-by-step guide to using rust removal products;
- Place the fire pit bowl in a well-ventilated area so it doesn’t harm any trees or plants in the garden.
- Clean the fire pit using water and a soft scrub brush or steel wool.
- With an old brush, apply the rust dissolver or spray from the spray bottle to the rusted spots.
- Rust dissolver needs 15-30 minutes to work on most metal products. If the rust is significant, you may need to apply it again.
- Finally, rinse away all of the rust dissolver solutions.
STEP 2: Reseal the Fire Pit
After successfully removing the rust using chemicals or natural treatments, you will need to reseal the fire pit and possibly repaint it if it is painted. This will keep it from rusting again and make it seem brand new.
The process of resealing the fire pit:
- Sand the paint away: Sand the fire pit until the metal beneath the color is exposed.
- Smooth the fire pit: Sand the metal again with the help of sandpaper. Make use of smooth circular motions. Continue until the metal is entirely soft.
- Apply Sealant: Holding the can of high-temperature metal sealant about two feet from the fire pit, apply adhesive. Seal the entire surface with a thin, consistent coat of sealant.
- Paint as follows: Stand 1 to 2 feet from the fire pit and apply the high-temperature metal paint to it. You may need to use a second layer of pigment to cover the fire pit completely.
- Apply a second layer of sealer: After painting, apply a second coat of sealant. The second layer will guard against water damage to the paint.
Effective Ways To Prevent Fire Pit Rust
1. Always cover the fire pit
Exposing your fire pit to rains or winter fog can help it become rusty quickly. Instead, use a good fire pit cover or tent to cover the fire pit when you are not using it.
2. Store Your Fire Pit Indoors
This is for portable fire pits; it is great to store the fire pit inside rather than keep it outside the house. In addition, this step will protect it from moisture and air humidity.
3. Don’t burn anything other than the fuel
This is one mistake that shortens a fire pit’s lifespan. Only use wood for wood-burning fire pits and gas for the gas fire pits. Avoid putting waste, garbages, or food trashes in the fire.
4. Do regular maintenance checks and cleaning
Scrub the fire pit with wire wool or brush in a scheduled way and do an all-over cleaning of the fire pit. Maintenance of good hygiene is necessary to ensure the fire pit is fit for use and free from rusting.
5. Apply vegetable oil over before use
When the fire pit is used for cooking, it is ideal for applying cooking oil before placing the food on it. This practice can help stop sticking to foods.
6. Clean the ashes after use
The best way to raise this habit is to remove the ashes when they have cooled. This maintains it clean and rust-free at all times.
7. Do not put out the fire with water or any liquid
Many users put out the fire by sprinkling water because they were in a rush or were reckless with the fire pit. This, in turn, will corrode the fire pit, causing it to rust and weaken in no time.
8. Get a quality fire pit
No matter how much maintenance and repair you do, it comes to the quality of the product. So, always try to buy after you have sought through its user review and history.
How to Paint a Rusted Fire Pit?
The process of painting a rusted fire pit is simply the same as the process of removal of rust.
So, we will describe it within four steps:
STEP 1: Clean and remove the rust from the fire pit
You can use natural or rust removal products to scrub away all the fire pit’s rust. And finish cleaning it with water thoroughly.
STEP 2: Sand your fire pit
Put sand on the fire pit’s outside, inside, and base. Sanding creates a rough surface for the spray paint to adhere to and removes any stray paint left over from the cleaning phase.
STEP 3: Wipe up the fire pit
Please put on your gloves, take a clean cloth, and dab some denatured alcohol on it. Wipe down all surfaces and avoid getting alcohol on your skin. Allow 30 minutes for the fire pit to dry.
STEP 4: Paint the fire pit!
There are plenty of fire pit paints in the market, and some are highly rated, for example, Krylon K01707077 High Heat Spray Paint, Rust-Oleum 248903 high heat spray paint, Seymour 16-1203 Hot Spot High-Temperature Paints, etc. So, choose a good one with or preferred color.
For 1-2 minutes, shake the paint can. Then, spray in a circular motion 12-16 inches away from the surface or as instructed on the can. Switch back and forth between the pit, the wire top, and the base. Allow a couple of hours for your fire pit to dry before using it.
Few Rust Removal Products:
In this section, we will be describing the three best rust removal products that you can use:
Evapo-Rust- The Original Super-Safe Rust Remover-
This rust remover removes rust without sanding or scrubbing from the cookware and automotive tools. We recommend it because it is elementary to use. The solution is water-based, and you can rinse the solution with water. Also, it has zero acid and no foul odor.
Goo Gone Rust Remover-
This is a citrus-powered rust remover, which can be used for any metal or glass item. It makes the surface ready to paint. And this one is easily affordable and available in the market.
Weiman Gas Range and Stove Top Cleaner and Degreaser-
This rust remover is excellent for those who enjoy cooking over a fire pit. Weiman gas range and stove top cleaner will clean the rust and grease from food spilling. Cleans and shines gas ranges, stovetops, knobs, drip pans, grates, and gas BBQ grill grates.
Conclusion
Fire pits are prone to rust, and it is better to check for them regularly. In addition, the earlier approach will expand a fire pit’s lifespan. Finally, it is up to you to maintain healthy maintenance and care for the aesthetic of your backyard.
