DIY advice - make a metal cover for outdoor firepit

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am hoping someone can help me figure out how to create a metal cover for our linear outdoor firepit…. I didn’t realize we needed one and now we have water in the gas line…. But covers the size I need are over $500 which seems ridiculous. Is there any way I can do this myself? I found a hardware store that sells metal supplies and can cut custom pieces for free (I’m not in DC anymore), how would I then get the edges to not be super sharp? And how do I attach a handle?

Hoping some handy people are out there and can walk me through a cheaper solution!

[Anonymous]

Can it just be a plastic cover??

[Anonymous]

Can you describe the general shape and size you need? If you are going to remove the cover when in use, you could slit a hose and wrap that around the edges.

[Anonymous]

Copper is easy to work with and is well suited for outdoors, it gets a nice weathered patina. Even if your craftsmanship isn't perfect it still has rustic charm.


Go to a roofing supply store and buy some copper flashing, you can usually buy it by the foot and it will come in widths of 16 or 18 inches. If you don't have a roofing supply store nearby or you want a wider width, you can buy it online here:
https://basiccopper.com/36-x-10-10-mil-30-ga-copper-sheet/

You can cut it with tin snips from Home Depot. If you need to join it, use copper pop rivets like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075D7GMFD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're super easy, you just line up two pieces and drill a 1/8" hole and put the rivet in. To set the rivet you use a pop rivet gun which you can get on Amazon or Home Depot for about $25.

If you need to make a straight bend clamp the copper between two boards and then bend and press against a table. If you need to make the bend tighter you can hammer it but that will affect the surface.

To ease the cut edges rub them with coarse sandpaper.

[Anonymous]

Is it round? What about a water heater drain pan. They are made out of aluminum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it round? What about a water heater drain pan. They are made out of aluminum.

OP cited a "linear outdoor firepit"... I'm guessing linear means a straight line, not a circular one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can it just be a plastic cover??

For fire pit?

[Anonymous]

This is to keep rain out when not in use, right? Can you use a fabric cover made for an outdoor table or sofa? I don't see why it has to be metal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can it just be a plastic cover??

For fire pit?

It is a gas fire pit. You take the cover off before you use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Copper is easy to work with and is well suited for outdoors, it gets a nice weathered patina. Even if your craftsmanship isn't perfect it still has rustic charm.


Go to a roofing supply store and buy some copper flashing, you can usually buy it by the foot and it will come in widths of 16 or 18 inches. If you don't have a roofing supply store nearby or you want a wider width, you can buy it online here:
https://basiccopper.com/36-x-10-10-mil-30-ga-copper-sheet/

You can cut it with tin snips from Home Depot. If you need to join it, use copper pop rivets like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075D7GMFD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're super easy, you just line up two pieces and drill a 1/8" hole and put the rivet in. To set the rivet you use a pop rivet gun which you can get on Amazon or Home Depot for about $25.

If you need to make a straight bend clamp the copper between two boards and then bend and press against a table. If you need to make the bend tighter you can hammer it but that will affect the surface.

To ease the cut edges rub them with coarse sandpaper.

This is good advice. I make a lot of stuff for the garden out of copper pipe and tubing and it always looks great.