Mexican style chimineas

To the right and below are some examples of Mexican style chimineas.

The traditional chiminea was made in a kiln from fired clay, but many modern (and more hard wearing versions) are made from cast iron and even copper. These metal alternatives are less colorful, but they often have fancy ironmongery to compensate for their lack of color. They can also get extremely hot - more so than a clay chiminea.

Many of the cast iron chimineas have the addition of a fire grate (grill) as a protector to prevent hot coals or wood from spilling or exploding out of the stove area.

The metalic chimineas also tend to have longer and narrower flues (chimneys) and they may rust if left unprotected in wet weather.

Most chimineas, be they clay or iron, are supported off the ground in a cradle like stand. This prevents the high heat that is generated in the base of the chiminea from damaging a patio, lawn or decking. Even so, a chiminea should not be left unsupervised, especially when mounted on flamable timber decking.

The terra cotta (clay) chiminea offer what most beleive to be the best looks. It is also the most traditional and tried and tested version of the stove. It is also claimed to produce a better taste than its iron counterpart when used for barbeques.

A chiminea can be easily damged by miss treatment or a lack of care. This chiminea care page offers extensive advice on everything from the care of a chiminea to the types of wood that can be used for burning.