Are you asking yourself, what is a repurposed fire pit outdoor coffee table? Well, it’s fairly simple. You start with a firepit frame that no longer supports the portable firepit. Add a little pallet wood, and you have the perfect outdoor coffee table!
Repurposed fire pit Outdoor Coffee Table Tutorial
Here is the firepit frame in question. Yes, it has some rust on it, but it’s still mostly structurally solid.
This is the fire pit in it’s former state last Spring before I started the backyard camper retreat . In fact, where the shed is in the picture is where the camper rests now. The old fire pit frame has been hanging out in the wood shed since the backyard makeover.
Pallet Boards and Reclaimed Fence
I dug in the wood shed to find some great pallet boards. Luckily, they were already dismantled. If you need tips on dismantling pallets, I have a great post—Pallet Projects & Tips for Dismantling Pallets.
Designing Fire Pit Coffee Table
At first glance, you may think the boards are too long, but look at how the feet of the former fire pit flare out. In the background you can see the garbage can enclosure.
Build 2x4 Frame
I used reclaimed 2x4 lumber for the skirt of my outdoor coffee table. When you’re cutting reclaimed wood like this, be oh so careful about leftover nails. I like to cut where I can see the nail holes.
This was a trial and error situation. I turned the fire pit frame upside down on my work surface and fit the 2x4 frame around it.
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After cutting the 2x4’s to size, I drilled pilot holes and secured the frame with wood screws using my drill. I was actually using two drills for this task, one with the drill bit, the other with the screw bit.
Sand Pallet Boards for Outdoor Coffee Table
Since the pallet boards that I’m using for the outdoor coffee table top were so rough, I used my orbital sander with a 60 grit sandpaper.
Clean Metal Fire Pit Frame
After tackling the frame with a wire brush and some sandpaper, I hit it with the hose and left it in the sun to dry thoroughly.
Add Pallet Boards to Backyard Coffee Table
Again, I used two drills—one armed with a countersink bit while the other has the screw bit for the wood screws. The second to the right board has been drilled, the far right board already has the screws.
So, here it is—the repurposed fire pit outdoor coffee table for my backyard!
Paint Outdoor Coffee Table Turquoise
I went looking for the orange paint that I used for the pallet love seat bench. I couldn’t find it. So, I grabbed this turquoise paint that I’ve had for so many years. It actually was used to paint my daughter Jamie’s bathroom. I know because I painted the bathroom while she was at work. She came home and was very upset with the color she had chosen once it was on the wall.
When my paint cans rust, I store them in jugs, mostly laundry detergent jugs. How To Deal With Rusted Paint Cans.
Spray Paint Fire Pit Frame
Raising your project up on sawhorses makes it so much easier to spray paint! I prefer using several light coats for the best coverage and protection.
Add Repurposed Fire Pit Outdoor Coffee Table to Backyard
I place the frame in front of the orange pallet bench. You can see the table top to the left. It was easy to lift and rest on the the repurposed fire pit base.
I love, love, love my backyard. It was unused for the last 25 years or so. Now that I’m following Kentucky’s stay at home orders, I find myself in the backyard many times every day!
The outdoor coffee table also make a great ottoman or foot rest. In addition, I place one of the cushions on it with a blanket for Lulu Mae when it was too chilly for her to lay on the ground.
I think the pallet boards were the perfect option for this repurposed fire pit outdoor coffee table. I purposely left large gaps between the boards for weather. Although, it’s easily removed for easy storage when the weather turns too cold to hang out in the backyard. Do the colors make you smile as much as they do for me?
Do you have some sort of metal frame hanging around that would be perfect to make a pallet board outdoor coffee table?
gail
Cathy
Love love love the coffee table!!!
Gail Wilson
Thank you!!! It makes me smile and it's very handy as a foot rest!
gail
Jennie
Ok this is brilliant. I see these fire pits at yard sales a lot. And I think to myself I have a nice propane fire pit. It never dawned on me that this could be a table. And of course I love that turquoise color.
Gail Wilson
Thank you Jennie! I don't know why it took me over a year to figure it out. LOL I was sitting back there last night and using it to put my feet up. 🙂
I love that backyard now. Especially being on lockdown. It gives me a home away from home.
take care!
gail