Inside the Campfire redesign
We could hear where we’d saved money.
The original Campfire was good for the money. But the clank of a log hitting the bottom didn’t feel like Edge Right. So we changed what came first.
By Edge Right · The thinking behind the build
The first Campfire was a good fire pit for the money.
But there was a moment that bothered us: dropping a log inside.
Clank.
That sound made it feel cheaper than we wanted. We expected the solid thump of an Edge Right product.
We changed what came first.
The original Campfire began with a price. The redesign began with quality. Price still mattered, but it came second.
We wanted it to feel substantial when you picked up a panel, put the pieces together, and added the first log. The feel was part of the product.
That decision took the Campfire from 14-gauge steel to 3/16-inch plate.
- Original Campfire · 14 gauge
- 0.0747 in · 1.90 mm
- New Campfire · 3/16 inch
- 0.1875 in · 4.76 mm
About 2.5 times as thick.
Nominal thicknesses, shown on the same scale. Gauge conversion from Xometry’s steel chart.
The reason goes beyond the sound.
The other reason was longevity. We wanted more steel between the first fire and a hole in the bottom.
Corrosion removes steel over time. For the same material in comparable conditions, a thicker panel gives corrosion more metal to get through before it makes a hole. That extra material is a practical reason thickness can extend a fire pit’s useful life.
The number of seasons still depends on where the pit lives and how it’s used and cared for. Moisture and salt exposure affect how quickly steel corrodes. A thickness measurement can tell you what you’re starting with; it can’t put a date on the last fire.
You have to carry the extra steel.
More steel adds weight and material cost. You notice one when you assemble the fire pit and the other when you buy it.
For a pit you plan to pack up every weekend, that weight would be a drawback. Our Campfire is meant for a spot in the yard. Choose the spot, get a second person to help with assembly, and settle in.
Look for the measurement.
If you’re comparing fire pits, ask how thick the steel is, including the bottom. Then look at the material, construction, care requirements, and what you’ll have to lift.
For us, the answer is 3/16-inch steel in the Campfire and 1/4-inch in the larger Bonfire. Those are concrete choices you can compare against how you’ll use the pit.
The first Campfire started with what it should cost. This one started with what it should be.
Technical references: Xometry’s sheet steel gauge chart supplies the nominal 14-gauge conversion. The American Galvanizers Association’s corrosion guide explains how environment affects steel loss. These references support the material explanation; they are not lifespan tests of our fire pits.
Keep reading: Why smokeless fire pits still smoke.