Ohio Flame Liberty vs. Patriot vs. Lunar: Which One Belongs in Your Yard

Ohio Flame Liberty steel fire pit on a curved base
Comparison

Three Fire Pits, One Steel

The Liberty, the Patriot, and the Lunar are all handcrafted in Northeast Ohio from American carbon steel. What separates them is shape, height, and what the yard needs. Free shipping on all orders.

Shop Ohio Flame Call 833-777-2962

Want a recommendation for your space? Email info@smokeforges.com

Ohio Flame Liberty steel fire pit shown on a curved base
Same steel, same warranty, three very different silhouettes.

The Fast Answer

Short answer

Liberty if you want architecture. A bowl on a tall, squared steel base, five diameters, four base profiles. It anchors a designed patio.

Patriot if you want the fire and nothing else. Lower, flatter, edgeless rim, same five diameters and the same steel. It disappears into the space and lets the flame do the work.

Lunar if you want a sculpture that happens to hold fire. Part of the Skillman Signature Series, made to order, individually numbered, and interesting to look at on the days you never light it.

All three are wood burning. All three are welded carbon steel with a Natural Steel Finish that patinas outdoors. All three carry Ohio Flame's lifetime warranty on the steel bowl and welds. Nobody is buying more durability by choosing one over another, which is exactly why the decision comes down to the room.

Side by Side

Liberty Patriot Lunar
Character Architectural, linear Minimal, low profile Sculptural, artisan
Diameters 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 in 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 in 30, 37, 41 in
Base Four profiles: standard, hollow, curved, angled Single flat base Integrated sculptural form
Steel 3/16 in to 1/4 in by size 3/16 in to 1/4 in by size Handcrafted American steel
Finish Natural Steel patina Natural Steel patina Patina
Drainage Integrated rain drain Integrated rain drain Integrated drainage
Production Handcrafted to order Handcrafted to order Made to order, numbered
Warranty Lifetime on steel and welds Lifetime on steel and welds Lifetime on steel and welds
Entry price Lowest tier Lowest tier Highest tier

Height and shipping weight change with diameter on all three. Current figures for the exact size you are considering are on each product page.

The Liberty

Ohio Flame Liberty steel fire pit with the standard four-sided base
Liberty, standard base. Bowl lifted on hard vertical lines.

The Liberty is the one that reads as a designed object. The bowl sits up on a welded steel base with strong verticals, which does two useful things: it raises the flame closer to seated eye level, and it gives the pit real presence when it is not lit.

It is also the most configurable. Four base profiles change the whole feel without touching the bowl. The standard base is squared and grounded and is the one our customers order most. The hollow base opens the sides and lightens the mass. The curved base softens everything for planted, informal landscapes. The angled base is the most sculptural of the four.

Choose it if you are furnishing an outdoor room, the hardscape has straight lines, and you want the pit to look intentional from across the yard.

The Patriot

Ohio Flame Patriot steel fire pit with fire burning in the bowl
Patriot. Lower, cleaner, and out of the way of the view.

The Patriot is the same steel with the drama removed. The bowl sits lower and the rim is edgeless, which sounds like a styling note and is actually a usability one. There is no lip to fight when you load a log or scrape ash toward the drain.

Because it sits low, it does not interrupt a sight line. If the reason you are out there is the view past the patio, or if the fire pit is going in the middle of a seating group where a tall base would feel like a wall, the Patriot is the better answer. It is also the more accessible entry point into Ohio Flame steel.

Choose it if you want the fire and not the furniture, you are seating people close, or you want the same steel and warranty at the friendlier end of the range.

The Lunar

Ohio Flame Lunar artisan steel fire bowl with sculptural crescent form
Lunar, from the Skillman Signature Series.

The Lunar is a different kind of purchase. Designed by artisan Matt Skillman, it takes the waning crescent of the moon and turns it into a fire bowl. It is made to order, individually numbered, and available in 30, 37, and 41 inch sizes.

The test for whether this one is right is simple: look at your yard on a Tuesday afternoon in March when nobody is lighting anything. If there is a spot that wants an object in it, the Lunar earns its price on the days it is cold. If the pit will only ever matter when it is burning, the Liberty or the Patriot is the smarter buy.

Choose it if you want a piece that works as outdoor sculpture year round and you are comfortable with a made-to-order lead time.

The Lunar has siblings The Skillman Signature Series also includes the Stellar, the Fire Flower, and the Fire Chalice, all in similar sizing and all made to order. If the sculptural direction appeals but the crescent is not it, call 833-777-2962 and we will walk you through the rest.
Ohio Flame Stellar artisan steel fire bowl Stellar Star motif cut into the bowl wall. The most graphic of the artisan pieces when lit from inside.
Ohio Flame Fire Flower artisan steel fire bowl with floral silhouette Fire Flower Floral silhouette in heavy steel. Reads as a planted form in garden settings.
Ohio Flame Fire Chalice artisan steel fire bowl on a pedestal Fire Chalice Raised pedestal form that lifts the fire well off the ground. Strong at the end of a sight line.

Picking by Situation

Modern patio, straight hardscape, entertaining regularly

Liberty, standard base, 36 inch. Big enough to feel like a real fire, tall enough to hold the room, and the squared base matches the geometry already on the ground.

Small courtyard or townhome patio

Patriot, 24 or 30 inch. Low profile keeps a tight space from feeling crowded, and the smaller bowl burns less wood per evening.

Open lawn with a long view

Patriot, 36 or 42 inch. Nothing blocks the sight line and the larger bowl carries the scale of an open space.

Naturalistic landscape, planted borders, gravel

Liberty on the curved base. Softer profile settles into irregular planting better than hard verticals do.

Design-led yard where the pit is the focal point

Lunar or another Skillman piece, 37 inch. Budget for the lead time and treat it as a commissioned object rather than an appliance.

Ranch, estate, or commercial patio

Liberty 48 inch. Quarter inch steel, serious mass, and the presence to hold a large open area. Place it once and leave it.

What All Three Share

  • Wood burning only. Ohio Flame does not make or sell gas or propane models, and does not offer conversion kits.
  • Non-combustible surfaces only. Concrete, stone, or pavers. Not wood decking. Ash falls through the drain and the steel radiates downward.
  • Natural Steel Finish. Arrives raw, turns orange as it oxidizes, darkens to brown over months. That patina is the protection.
  • Lifetime warranty on steel and welds. Screens, grates, hinges, paint and finishes are excluded, and altering the product voids coverage.
  • Handcrafted in Northeast Ohio from American steel sourced primarily at Ohio mills.
  • Free shipping on all orders from Smokeforges, no minimum.

Common Questions

Is the Liberty worth more than the Patriot?

They start at the same tier and use the same steel and warranty. What you get with the Liberty is the taller base and four base profiles to choose from. If the base profile does not matter to your space, the Patriot gives you the same steel in a lower form.

Which one gives off the most heat?

Diameter drives heat far more than model does. A 42 inch Patriot and a 42 inch Liberty hold a comparable fire. Height changes where the heat lands relative to seated people, which is why the taller Liberty base can feel warmer at chair level even with the same fire in it.

Can I cook over these?

They are built as fire pits rather than grills. Ohio Flame does offer cooking accessories and log grates separately. Ask us what fits the diameter you are considering.

How long is the wait on a Skillman piece?

The artisan bowls are made to order and individually numbered, so they run longer than the Liberty and Patriot. Call 833-777-2962 for the current window before you commit to a date.

Do any of them come with a cover or screen?

The Liberty and Patriot ship with the integrated rain drain plus a 4 inch round blocking plate and centering tee. Flat lids, fire rings, log grates and fire tools are sold separately and we stock them.

Can I move it once it is placed?

The smaller diameters are movable with help. The 42 and 48 inch sizes are heavy enough that placement should be treated as a one-time decision. Set them on a prepared non-combustible surface where they will stay.

Still Deciding?

Send us a photo of the space and rough dimensions. We will tell you which of these three fits it, what diameter to run, and what the current build window looks like on that size.

Liberty | Patriot | Lunar | All fire pits

Call 833-777-2962 or email info@smokeforges.com

Free shipping on all orders. Easy returns.

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