Smokeless Fire Pit on a SERIOUS Budget AND Disabled Friendly Build

This is an account of how I built my really snazzy looking (IMO), smokeless, turbo air charged (OK, not turbo, but you can clearly hear the air rushing in! It's super cool! Err.. Hot, actually) fire pit, mostly sitting down, for about $110.00 +tax. 

First of all, I read a lot of instructionals, and watched even more videos on the topic of DIYing a smokeless fire pit. There were lots of good builds, good ideas, and aspects of various ones that I liked. Most of them were either out of my budget range, and/or required a level of labour that I can no longer do, nor afford to pay for, and a crazy amount of them assumed that "on a budget" means under $1000, or even "really cheap" builds for $300 -$500. 

The ones that were in the under $150 range were mostly ones made from repurposed junk and salvaged materials that were not the aesthetic I wanted, or they required the manual labour to locate, pick up, haul, load, and unload salvaged materials myself, which I'm just not able to do. As mentioned elsewhere in this blog, and known to many of y'all, I am disabled. My walking and standing time are seriously limited, and any serious lifting and working must be done seated. So, I needed something I could afford on a fixed income, DYI-able within my abilities and with very limited help, that still looked attractive, fit with the natural theme I wanted, and was easily usable for me as well. 

I've never been one to give up once I decide I want to make something happen, so, next came the adapt, improvise, and overcome phase! I figured out what elements were really important for what I wanted, and what was just extra work for bragging rights.

I was able to do the majority of the work seated. I did have some help with bringing me stuff, but I also could have used my scooter and my Gorilla dumping wagon (These things are AWESOME, BTW) to do the hauling stuff myself. It just would have added a bit more time to the job. That said, that would be true even if I were fully able bodied, so no net difference. 

I applied for a Dom Depot (AKA Home Depot. LOL) credit card, and got fifty bucks off the whole haul, plus free delivery, which helped a lot! You can get most of the supplies cheaper at Wally World, but with the $50 off, this was cheaper for me. Here's what I ended up with...

Supplies

• Retaining wall blocks x34 ($81.00)

The main structure of the fire pit, obviously. Cheaper stones than these can be had, to make your overall project even more budget friendly, but I really liked these a lot, and they fit within my under $150 cap.

• Sand ($7.59) (Available at WalMart for cheaper)

Insulates, to keep fire and heat contained, absorbs and helps distribute heat evenly, supports and helps even out the base stones, absorbs moisture, to help with drainage. 

• Pea Gravel ($6.25) (Available at WalMart for cheaper)

Helps with drainage, heat distribution, and air flow. 

 • Lava rock ($14.29) (Available at WalMart for cheaper and a bigger bag)
Retains heat, to keep the fire pit hotter, longer, absorbs and helps distribute heat evenly, provides additional air flow for hotter and cleaner burning, and drainage.

Instructions

• Lay ring of 12 stones
• Mark around outside & move stones out of the way. 
• Dig out the marked circle 2-3 inches deep.

• Lay sand & level - Dump the bag out in the circle and spread it out with a rake or something. A metal rake like the one shown is best for this, IMO. 

• Replace the 12 stones, using sand underneath to level them as needed. 
• Remove 4 stones opposite one another (make sure remaining stones stay put!)

• Lay 2nd two levels, staggering stones for each layer.

• Optional, but recommended - Place two stones inside, to support wood for fire building and/or for supporting cooking grate. Having the stones there to prop a couple logs on over your tinder and kindling REALLY improves fast and easy fire starting! It will up your fire game for real. 

• Add pea gravel and level. 

• Add lava rock and level.

• Enjoy your new fire pit!.

 

• Optional step - I used a couple cinder blocks to make a holder for fire tongs, poker, skewers, etc. It works well.  

 

 • Another optional, but definitely recommend step - I built a matching bench, right up next to the pit, with some additional retaining wall blocks. It is perfect placement for building the fire whilst sitting, and some additional seating that looks great. 

 

  This should look familiar to anyone who has ever chatted in the Gorean Room on Alt.com, or pretty much any other Gorean chat room that allows RP as well.

 

Dramaville
(Sung to the tune of "Margaritaville", by Jimmy Buffet)

Typin' to some chick,
Layin' it on thick;
All of the slaves here are dainty and sweet.
Tellin' her sweet things,
She promises no strings.
Yeah someday you know that we're gonna meet

Wasted a day again chattin in Dramaville,
Searchin' for my lost honor in Alt
Some people claim that there's a troll there to blame
but I know, it's just damned Alt

Don't know the reason,
Stayed here all season
Now I got me a slave, she wears my collar with style.
But she's a real beauty,
A kajira cutie,
At least it says so on her Yahoo profile!

Wasted a day again chattin in Dramaville,
Searchin' for my lost honor in Alt
Some people claim that there's a troll there to blame
Now I think, - hell it could just be Alt.

She's up to her old tricks.
I found out her new Nick,
I made a big fuss and then called her a whore
But there's slavegirl_supine
I think she'll do just fine
I keep coming back here to take it some more.

Wasted a day again chattin in Dramaville,
Searchin' for my lost honor in Alt
Some people claim that there's a troll there to blame
but I know, it's just damned Alt
Yes, and some people claim that there's a troll there to blame
And I know... I should stay outta Alt!

Lyrics © Khaos WolfKat 2008

What is Non Sexual/Romance/Kink Oriented D/s?

 

 There seems to be some disconnect between my and some others' definition of "non sexually or romantically oriented", so I am posting this to clarify. 

I realise that many people view and/or enter into D/s dynamics as a kink, fetish, or sex/arousal oriented thing, or as the basis or a part of a romantic relationship, and that is fine, for those who practice in those ways. 

It is very important to note, however, that there are also many people who view D/s as an integral part of their lives/lifestyle, without the necessity, or even desire for any kind of kink, fetish, sexual, or romantic element to it. It is possible, and far more common than you may think, to have a D/s dynamic without any of that. 

 For those of us in this camp, a D/s element will likely be an important part of any romantic relationship, and often part of sexual or BDSM activities, but those things are not part of the D/s. Rather, the D/s is part of them because it is a part of our lives, period.

If your desired dynamic includes or focuses on any of the things like those listed below, then you are seeking a sex and/or romance oriented dynamic:

• Orgasms - Control, restrictions, requirements, causing, denying, "edging", or anything else regarding getting off or being sexually aroused.
  
• Rules, restrictions, or required wearing/not wearing of panties or anything else (bra, high heels, lingerie, short skirts, corsets, fetish wear, etc) for the purpose of feeling/looking sexy or having one's body "open" or "available".
• Sex toys, their use, requirements or restrictions on their use.
• Rules, restrictions, or required disclosure regarding masturbation, sexual partners, or other sexual activities.
• Sexually servicing the dom or others.
• Having access to the sub's body in any sexual kind of way, for any reason.
• Doing/not doing anything specifically because it turns someone on. 
  

If you want control or involvement with any of those elements, then you should be looking for someone who is also seeking a sexual dynamic, as a non sexual dynamic, by definition, does not include them. 

Non sexual dynamic means that if the dom (or sub) needs/wants a blowjob, handjob, intercourse, cyber sex/wank fodder, etc, they get it somewhere else. 

And no, calling a sex act, "punishment", because "Well, you aren't supposed to like punishment" does not make it an accepted part of a non sexual dynamic. That is just gross and rapey.

That doesn't mean some aspect is never allowed to cause arousal for anyone involved. It might. We don't always know what will cause that reaction. It just means that none of what is done or involved in the dynamic is for the purpose of arousal. 

I hope that clears things up.