| Chimeneas made of clay come from Mexico. | | | | |
| Chimineas are small fireplaces with an egg | | | | Cast aluminum chimeneas have gained in |
| shaped firebox and a smoke stack. Originally | | | | popularity. Cast aluminum will not rust, it |
| it is said that chimeneas came from Spain and | | | | is light weight compared to cast iron so it |
| were brought to Mexico centuries ago. These | | | | is more portable. The aluminum casting must |
| small fireplaces were used for cooking and | | | | be thick. Too many manufacturers are making |
| heating indoors or out. Centuries ago and | | | | the casting thick by the openings and thin |
| today in some areas in Mexico homes had dirt | | | | around the fire box. Cast aluminum will burn |
| floors and a hole in the center of the roof | | | | through at a low temperature always burn |
| for the smoke to exit. Chimeneas made of clay | | | | small fires in them. Cast aluminum will tend |
| are baked in the hot Mexican sun. These clay | | | | to warp under heat if the casting is too |
| chimeneas are inexpensive. Clay chimeneas can | | | | thin. Did you ever have a gas grill that |
| crack and break with temperature changes. | | | | after a short time the cooking grids shrunk |
| | | | and kept falling down? The cooking grids |
| Today you can still purchase clay chimeneas | | | | didn't shrink the aluminum grill head warped |
| but because of the breakage the cast aluminum | | | | from the heat. The same thing holds true for |
| and cast iron chimeneas are more popular. | | | | the chimeneas as they can reach higher |
| Chimeneas are widely used outdoors on the | | | | temperatures than a grill if over fired. |
| patio as a small fire pit. Pinion wood is | | | | |
| popular because the smoke wards off | | | | Most chimeneas have a small opening on one |
| mosquitoes. Cast iron chimeneas will scale to | | | | side. Since they are primarily used for |
| a reddish brown color but it will be years | | | | cooking and heat it makes sense. The viewing |
| and years before it rusts through. When | | | | of the fire is limited through the small |
| looking at cast iron chimeneas made sure the | | | | opening. Some chimeneas have been made that |
| smoke stack is cast iron as well. Many | | | | are open on all sides for viewing and are |
| Chinese manufacturers are using sheet metal | | | | more popular for patio fires. If placing on a |
| for the chimney and this rusts out rather | | | | deck or patio a hearth pad is recommended for |
| quickly. Cast iron takes awhile to heat up | | | | protection from sparks, heat and any rust |
| but it holds the heat long after the fire has | | | | marks. Chimeneas make great patio heaters. |
| died down. | | | | |