Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Building a brick fire ring

I've got a lot unused bricks that I need to put to use. Does anyone have any free plans or suggestions for an above ground brick fire ring? I just need something that I can sit around on cool nights and enjoy an outdoor fire with friends and family. I don't need anything complicated or with gas hookup.

thanks

Troup

Are they fire bricks, such as line the inside of fireplaces, or plain old building bricks? If they are not fire bricks, they are probably not suitable for use in a fire ring. If they are concrete paver bricks, definitely do not use them. These bricks can and do absorb moisture, which expands in the pores of the concrete and can explode when exposed to high temperatures.

Pecos

Fire with regular brick and non-refractory mortar = bad thing. Spend some time researching brick ovens, and you'll learn everything you would ever need to know about building a fire pit--fancy or plain.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brick-oven

A great resource for anyone looking to do things with bricks and fire. You'll also find various links to "Alan Scott ovens," and plans and photographs of how to build those ovens are found all over the 'net for free.

http://www.fornobravo.com/pompeii_oven/table_of_contents.html

Forno Bravo sells ovens, but the owner also has free plans for the oven he sells on the site; he's a great guy who's very responsive to questions on the forums, too. What you'll want to review is the directions on hearth and insulating slab construction.

Also, you can pour a fire pit from refractory concrete, but you'll need to dig for that information. You can probably find that information at the Yahoo group, as I know Alan Scott (who sells plans for a refractory concrete oven) chimes in pretty frequently there.

You can use the bricks you have as a facing material once you build a liner from the refractory products.