In simple terms the SMI Undertray™ range is specifically designed for those wishing to use their fire pit, chiminea, rocket stove, portable solid fuel grills/bbqs or portable solid fuel stoves on a combustible or heat sensitive surfaces such as grass, timber decking and even table tops outdoors. Each “under tray” is water fillable and designed to catch and extinguish any falling ash, coals or embers that drop into it from the fire containing vessel above sitting in it, when maintained full of water. The water when maintained full in the “under tray” will get tepid yet protect the surface from heat scoring below.
Slot Me In™ (SMI) introduced the very first “under tray” for fire pit usage way back in 1977 with the introduction of the WEDGE FIRE PIT™ 600 (Australia’s first “FLAT PACK” fire pit) as part of a package kit or an optional accessory. The “under tray” was conceived and came about by careful consideration and thought to both protect sensitive environmental ground surfaces in the great outdoors and be an additional safety feature too when used in conjunction with the SMI Wedge Fire Pit™. When filled and maintained filled with water (the “under tray”) with a burning fire pit standing in it acts as a water bath catching falling ash, coals and or embers (from drafting holes in the fire pit above) and extinguishes them. Born, bred and built for the bush originally by Waz founder of SMI, an avid camper and over and in “FLAME ‘N’ COALS™” cook in the great outdoors of Oz he saw first-hand at campsites both remote and popular ones the terrible black scars on sensitive ground that multiple fire pit sites or irregular ground fires had caused and set about to change the way people burnt fires in their fire pits, hence the water fillable “under tray” came about. It (the “under tray”) was also designed to take into consideration his love and enjoyment for his fire pits when used on his lawn areas at home being a keen gardener and knowing the damage a fire can do just to the grass below without protection of a water fillable “under “tray” and very importantly on decks he had too wishing to enjoy fire pits on them also. Importantly to note here that on timber decks a water fillable under tray will protect them from damage and do the job (it must be maintained full of water at all times) however we highly recommend the use of both a water fillable “under tray” in conjunction with a size suitable SMI DECK ‘N’ PATIO™ TROLLEY combined.
Each “under tray” is made from 1.6mm thick Australian mill finish aluminium. Each square, rectangle and triangular “Undertray™” (except the original UT 650/450 REC) is a single piece of aluminium with twin folded downward and inward vertical sides (25mm deep) producing a safe upper vertical outer edge at twice the thickness of the base material (3.2mm thick). All external corners are welded to seal the “under tray” so that the “under tray” is watertight and can be filled with water when required.
The original Slot Me In™ UT 650/450 REC “under tray” (as mentioned above) is made from a single piece of 1.6mm thick Australian mill finish aluminium with angled sides tapering outwards and a rolled under safety top edge eliminating sharp edges also with the corners having smooth flowing radius curves and no seam welding required. With all the round model “under trays” which again are made from 1.6mm thick Australian mill finish aluminium they have an angled outer edge with a returned rolled safety lip and being circles with no corners require no welding as there are no seams.
Currently we manufacture 24 size SMI Undertrays™ (8 square, 4 rectangle, 10 round & 2 triangular). If required we will manufacture to your specific size requirement in square, rectangle, triangle, or round. Please contact us direct for a quotation for your requirements or advice.
When considering the purchase of an “under tray” & “trolley” combination for use on a timber deck (highly recommended) ensure the “under tray” is smaller or the same size as the “trolley”. On paving, concrete, gravel, stone, soil and lawn areas and other surfaces (they need to be level for effective use of the water fillable “under tray”) the “under tray” must sit flat with the entire bottom surface area in contact with the supporting surface and not packed up in corners, sides or elsewhere to compensate for an unlevel surface. The best practise is to ensure your site for your proposed fire pit requiring an “under tray” is level. Further the size of the “under tray” should allow the entire fire containing vessel (fire pit etc) to completely sit inside it (ideally without any overhang) or at least with any venting holes/slots that drop ash, embers or coals taken into consideration making sure they fall into the tray surface area below it. Lastly maintain the water level in the “under tray” full at all times when burning in your fire pit. Big fires create a lot of heat and evaporation of the water will occur faster than with smaller fires.
Below are sizes/specifications of our “under trays”, important to note that the L x W or diameter dimensions in mm’s given are the outer (overall) measurements. Round (UT RND models) “under trays” have 30mm less flat bottom dimension from the diameter dimension given below. Also so does the UT 650/450 REC model, all other models only effectively have 10mm less internal flat bottom dimensions than the outer measurements provided below. Use this guide to determine the “under tray” that best suits your needs.
Unlike inferior galvanised or raw steel type (often open cornered and not sealed) “under trays” our SMI Undertrays™ won’t rust, are lightweight yet strong, durable, require not maintenance for upkeep, have safety edges avoiding cuts and hold water most importantly.
of $18.75
