OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring Review: The DIY Bonfire Solution We Put to the Test

There’s an almost primal allure to a backyard fire. It’s the centerpiece of late-night conversations, the source of perfectly toasted marshmallows, and a beacon of warmth on a crisp autumn evening. For years, we debated the best way to bring this experience to our own outdoor space. The options felt overwhelming: expensive, permanent masonry pits that required a contractor, bulky portable units that dominated the patio, or flimsy, rust-prone bowls that barely lasted a season. What we truly wanted was the best of both worlds—the custom, integrated look of a built-in pit without the prohibitive cost and commitment. The goal was to create a gathering spot that felt intentional and permanent, yet offered the flexibility to adapt. This search for a versatile, affordable, and effective core for our dream fire pit is what led us directly to the world of fire pit rings and liners.

What to Consider Before Buying a Fire Pit Ring

A fire pit ring is more than just a metal circle; it’s a key solution for creating a safe, controlled, and efficient wood-burning fire. It acts as the foundational element for a DIY project, allowing you to build a custom surround with bricks, pavers, or stones, or it can function as a minimalist, standalone bonfire container. The primary benefits are control and efficiency. A well-designed ring contains embers, improves airflow for a cleaner burn, and provides a clear safety perimeter. For anyone looking to upgrade from a simple hole in the ground or a deteriorating fire bowl, a dedicated ring is a transformative step towards better, safer, and more enjoyable backyard fires.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a DIY spirit, a homeowner looking to create a custom landscape feature on a budget, or a camper who wants a substantial yet portable fire container. It’s for the person who sees a blank canvas and enjoys the process of building something unique. Conversely, this might not be suitable for those who want an all-in-one, out-of-the-box solution with no assembly or additional work required. If you’re looking for a fire pit that includes a spark screen, a cooking grate, and a decorative stand, a full-featured portable fire pit model might be a better fit. The beauty of a ring lies in its simplicity and adaptability, which is precisely what its target user is looking for.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The diameter and height are paramount. An outer diameter of 33 inches, like the OUSHENG model, creates a substantial fire area suitable for larger gatherings and standard-sized firewood. You must measure your intended space, ensuring adequate clearance (typically 10-20 feet) from any structures, trees, or flammable materials. Consider both the inner diameter (the usable fire space) and the outer diameter if you plan to build a stone surround.
• Performance & Airflow: Not all rings are created equal. Look for features that enhance combustion, such as integrated vents or airflow holes. The promise of “smokeless” performance, often achieved through a double-wall or strategically ventilated design, is a major selling point. This technology promotes secondary combustion, burning off smoke particles for a cleaner, more efficient, and more pleasant fire.
• Materials & Durability: The material dictates the lifespan of your fire pit ring. Most are made from steel. Pay attention to the gauge or thickness of the steel—thinner steel is lighter and more affordable but may warp or rust out faster. Cast iron is heavier and more durable but also more expensive. The finish is equally important; a high-temperature resistant powder coating is designed to withstand the heat, but its real-world performance can vary dramatically.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Consider the assembly process. Multi-panel designs are easier to ship and store but require assembly. A bottomless ring design requires a proper base of sand, gravel, or fire bricks to protect the ground underneath. Long-term care involves cleaning out ash and potentially treating surface rust with high-heat paint to extend its life.

While the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring is an excellent choice for a DIY project, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing and Assembling the OUSHENG Fire Pit Ring

The OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring arrived in a surprisingly compact and lightweight box, a testament to its multi-panel design. Inside, eight curved steel plates were neatly packed, along with the necessary hardware and even a small wrench and screwdriver—a thoughtful touch that means you don’t have to raid your own toolbox. The initial feel of the steel is, as some users noted, on the lighter side. This isn’t the heavy-gauge, commercial-grade steel of a pit costing several hundred dollars, but it felt adequate for its intended purpose. The matte black powder coating looked sleek and uniform out of the box.

Assembly was straightforward and intuitive. We found it helpful, as one user suggested, to have a second person help hold the first couple of panels in place while tightening the bolts. This prevents the structure from being wobbly during the build process. By lining up the holes and securing the nuts and bolts, the full 33-inch ring took shape in under 20 minutes. Once fully assembled, the structure was more rigid than we anticipated, though we’d still advise against moving it frequently after it’s built to avoid stressing the connection points. Its minimalist aesthetic is clean and functional, designed less as a standalone showpiece and more as a powerful engine for a custom-built fire pit. To truly appreciate its potential, you can see its full feature set and user-submitted project photos online.

Performance Under Fire: A Deep Dive into the OUSHENG Fire Pit Ring

A fire pit ring lives or dies by its performance during a real fire. It’s here that we separate marketing claims from backyard reality. We put the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring through its paces over several evenings, evaluating everything from its setup versatility and smoke reduction to its much-debated durability.

Assembly and DIY Installation: A Perfect Foundation

The true genius of this product lies in its role as a DIY centerpiece. Before committing to a permanent location, we first tested it as a standalone ring on a large gravel pad. As the product information notes, it is a bottomless ring, which is crucial for safety and proper function. We laid a two-inch base of sand inside the ring to insulate the ground and provide a stable surface for the wood. In this standalone configuration, it’s perfectly functional. The 10-inch height is sufficient to contain a respectable pile of logs and prevent embers from escaping easily.

However, the real magic happened when we embraced its intended purpose as a liner. We purchased a set of affordable concrete retaining wall blocks and arranged them in a circle around the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring. The 33-inch outer diameter (with a 30-inch inner diameter) is a fantastic size for this, leaving a small air gap between the metal and the blocks, which is ideal for heat dissipation. This simple project, completed in under an hour, transformed the functional metal ring into a stunning, custom-looking fire pit that looked far more expensive than it was. This versatility is its strongest asset. Whether you want a quick bonfire for the weekend or a permanent backyard fixture, this ring provides the perfect, easy-to-assemble core. The process was so simple it confirmed our belief that this is one of the best entry points into creating a custom fire feature.

The “Smokeless” Promise: Does the Airflow Design Deliver?

“Smokeless” is a bold claim, and one that often leads to disappointment. In the case of the OUSHENG ring, the claim is rooted in its 360° airflow design. A series of holes perforate the bottom of the ring, drawing in cool air from the outside. As this air is heated within the ring’s structure, it rises and exits through another set of holes along the top inner rim. This process injects superheated oxygen into the top of the fire, igniting smoke particles before they can escape. This is known as secondary combustion.

During our testing, we found the system to be remarkably effective. After the initial smoky start-up phase—which is normal for any wood fire—the smoke dramatically subsided once the fire was hot and roaring. The secondary burn was visible as flames danced and swirled around the top rim of the pit. We were able to sit around the fire without constantly playing “musical chairs” to dodge the plume of smoke. Many user reviews confirm this experience, with one happy customer noting it “really delivers on its smokeless promise, creating a clean, hot burn that keeps smoke to a minimum.” While no wood fire is ever 100% smokeless, this advanced airflow design is a feature that really sets it apart from simple, solid-walled fire rings, making for a far more enjoyable experience for everyone gathered around.

Durability and Finish: The Critical Trade-Off

This is the most important—and most contentious—aspect of the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring. Out of the box, the matte black finish is clean and attractive. However, our experience mirrored that of numerous other users: the finish does not hold up to intense heat. During our very first fire, as the flames reached their peak, we witnessed the powder coating on the upper portion of the ring begin to bubble and then flake off. One user bluntly stated, “Finish immediately destroyed first 10 minutes of use, looks terrible, rusty the next day.” Another shared a photo and said, “Very first fire and outside finish is bubbling off.”

We can confirm this is not an isolated issue; it is a fundamental characteristic of the product at this price point. After cooling, the affected areas were left as bare metal, which, as expected, showed spots of surface rust after the next morning’s dew. It’s crucial to set expectations here. This is not a defect in a single unit, but a trade-off for affordability. The ring remains 100% functional. The steel itself holds its shape, the airflow system works perfectly, and it contains the fire safely. The issue is purely cosmetic. For those building a stone surround where most of the ring is hidden, this may be a non-issue. For those using it standalone, be prepared for it to develop a rustic, weathered patina very quickly. The thinner gauge steel also suggests that it may not last as many seasons as a heavier, more expensive model, with one reviewer aptly calling it a “disposable item.” If you’re willing to periodically sand the rusty spots and reapply a high-quality, high-heat grill paint, you can certainly maintain its appearance and extend its life. Prospective buyers should be fully aware of this compromise before they check the latest price and availability.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user feedback on the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring paints a remarkably consistent picture. The overwhelming majority of praise centers on the ease of assembly and its functional performance. One user summed it up perfectly: “Works great and easy to put together!” Another highlighted its versatility, saying, “We’ve been using this ring as a standalone fire pit, and it works great… We also plan to use it around the yard for burning down stumps, which makes it even more practical.” This sentiment of it being a solid, functional tool for the price is a common thread.

However, the praise is almost always followed by the significant caveat regarding the finish. The most critical reviews are almost entirely focused on this single point. As one user detailed, “While it does work well as a fire pit, the finish has started peeling away after a couple of uses, which makes it a bit less aesthetically pleasing, however no less functional.” This perfectly encapsulates the product’s core dilemma. It’s a product that forces the buyer to choose between cosmetic perfection and functional value. For many, like the user who concluded, “Other than that I’m happy with it,” the functionality wins out. For others, it’s a deal-breaker.

How Does the OUSHENG Ring Compare to the Alternatives?

The OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring occupies a specific niche as a DIY-focused liner. To understand its value, it’s helpful to compare it not only to direct competitors but also to other products in the fire pit ecosystem.

1. BALI OUTDOORS 32 inch Wood Burning Fire Pit with Grill

The BALI OUTDOORS fire pit represents a completely different approach. This is a full-featured, all-in-one unit designed for those who want a fire pit that’s ready to go out of the box. It includes a deep fire bowl, a stand with decorative legs, a poker, and most importantly, a swiveling cooking grate. If your primary goal is to grill over an open wood fire, the BALI model is unequivocally the better choice. It offers functionality the OUSHENG ring simply doesn’t have. The trade-off is that it lacks the DIY customization potential. You get a portable, functional fire pit and grill, but not the foundation for a permanent, custom-built landscape feature.

2. Solo Stove 2-Piece Fire Pit Tool Set

This isn’t a fire pit, but rather a premium accessory set that highlights an important point: any fire pit requires good tools. The Solo Stove set, with its long, stainless steel poker and tongs, is built for serious performance and safety. While the OUSHENG ring is a budget-friendly starting point, pairing it with high-quality tools like these is a smart investment. They allow you to manage the fire from a safe distance, reposition logs to optimize the smokeless airflow, and handle hot materials with confidence. This alternative is for the user who understands that the pit itself is only part of the complete fire experience.

3. Panacea 24-Inch Cast Iron Fire Grate

The Panacea Fire Grate is a highly recommended companion piece for the OUSHENG ring. Because the OUSHENG is a bottomless liner, you need to build your fire on a bed of sand or directly on the ground. Placing this cast iron grate inside the ring elevates your firewood off the ground. This has two major benefits: first, it dramatically improves airflow from underneath the fire, leading to a faster start, a hotter burn, and even less smoke. Second, it helps protect your base material (or the ground itself) from direct, intense heat, prolonging the life of your setup. For a small additional investment, this grate can significantly upgrade the performance of the OUSHENG ring.

Our Final Verdict on the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring

After extensive testing and careful consideration of user feedback, our verdict is clear. The OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring is an excellent value proposition for a very specific type of person: the budget-conscious DIY enthusiast who prioritizes function over flawless aesthetics. Its large size, simple assembly, and surprisingly effective smokeless airflow system make it a fantastic and affordable engine for creating the backyard bonfire of your dreams. It serves as a perfect, low-cost liner for a custom stone or brick surround, delivering a high-end look for a fraction of the price.

However, we cannot recommend this to anyone who will be bothered by a peeling finish and the subsequent surface rust. The high-temperature coating simply does not last, and you must go into this purchase expecting the ring to take on a weathered, rustic look almost immediately. If you can accept this significant cosmetic compromise, you are getting a highly functional and versatile fire pit core at an exceptional price. For those ready to build their own backyard oasis and understand the trade-offs involved, the OUSHENG 33 Inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit Ring is a smart, practical choice that we can confidently recommend.