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