How to turn old firepit into a birdbath?

[JessicaAA]

I have a large cast iron fire pit I would like to turn into a bird bath. It fills with rain water and the water is filled with rust. How can I seal it (using non-toxic products) to make it into a safe bird bath. Will I need to clean off all the rust first? Could the inside be rendered with cement or something similar?

Thanks!

[JacobZ]

Hi @JessicaAA,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Yes, it’s best to clean off as much of the rust as possible before sealing. Rust itself isn’t highly toxic to birds, but it can leach into the water and make it unpleasant. Make sure you wear gloves and a dust mask, then use a wire brush or sandpaper to scrub away the loose rust and wash the surface thoroughly.

Once the rust has been removed, clean the surface with warm soapy water, allow it to fully dry, then apply a pond sealer such as Crommelin Clear Pond Sealer or Crommelin Black Pond Sealer to the surface. They are both non-toxic products that would be perfect for this application.

Cement render is not a great option as they are porous, meaning water would still get to the surface of the fire pit. The pond sealers would be a much better option.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[JessicaAA]

Thank you so much Jacob,

Definitely will take your advice re cleaning off the rust. Regarding the Crommelin sealers- do you have an information about what the are actually made from? I see on the safety data sheet about requiring ventilation when applying it, so evidently the have some VOCs etc. Are they just non-toxic once dried?

Appreciate your time and expertise,

Jessica

[EricL]

Hello @JessicaAA 

Just to reaffirm what @JacobZ said earlier, both products are nontoxic once they fully cure. You'll see it printed at the back of the can. My best advice is to paint the bird bath outside in a well-ventilated area. 

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when using this product.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eirc