Cast Iron or Cast Aluminum Chiminea, 10 Free Buying Tips.

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10 Tips for buying an Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor fireplace designs each have unique qualities to look for when buying. Remember that you are buying a "fire-place" and the safety for your family and your property depend on its use and design.

1. Make sure your outdoor fireplace or chiminea is made of a good material.

Cast iron and cast aluminum are the most dependable and long lasting materials used in outdoor fireplace design. Chain store and mass marketed fireplaces made out of sheet steel or clay, don't provide the safety or longevity of cast iron or cast aluminum. Sheet metal necks, stacks, caps, or bodies tend rust out in a short period of time. In some instances the body is cast iron but the neck or chimney is sheet steel. Eventually you will be left with a cast iron fireplace body without a neck. The best investment for the money is in an outdoor fireplace made of materials that will last.

For reference, "chiminea" is an american word derived from the spanish word "chimenea" meaning fireplace. "Chiminea" refers to a single opening outdoor fireplace design with a stack or chimney to draft air into a fire and smoke to be drawn out the top of the stack.

2. The size and style of an outdoor fireplace does matter.

When comparing chimineas and other outdoor fireplaces, look closely at the fire area size before height. A smaller firebox will make wood buying or cutting more complicated. For a small fireplace wood will have to be cut or ordered from your wood supplier in smaller pieces at a higher price. Look for a large firebowl and stay away from tall thin chimineas, height has nothing to do with the function and a small burning area will cost more in the long run. Just because a chiminea is large doesn't mean the fire has to be, if you want a smaller fire use less wood.

Firepits with out smoke stacks do not burn as clean as a good chiminea design. The drafting action of a chiminea draws air into the fire and directs smoke out the neck. Firepits tend to smolder and smoke more then chiminea designs. Also, firepit smoke can also linger at head level making a fire uncomfortable.

3. Determine how much maintenence the fireplace will be.

Cheap sheet metal firepits are pretty much disposible items. Once they rust through their usefullness is gone. Clay chimineas can be babied, "feed slowly, keep warm and dry". But if you want a fireplace that is going to look better and last longer without to much effort, cast iron or cast aluminum is your best investment.

Cast iron left outside will eventually rust. Rusting can be avoided by painting and occasional sanding. The more cast iron you have to work with the longer it will last. If you decide to buy a cast iron chiminea make sure it is heavy and be prepared to maintain it occasionally. Cast iron chimineas may also stain any surface the chiminea is standing on if not maintained properly, so proper placement or precautions should be considered.

If low maintenence is a priority a cast aluminum chiminea will work best for you. Aluminum chimineas are cast from the same molds as cast iron and look identical to cast iron. High temp aluminum alloy will not rust and is much lighter then cast iron. Like a gas grill, cast aluminum has very little maintenence.

4. Compare the weight of a fireplace to others of the same material.

To compare cast iron chimineas of solid construction, be sure to check the weight. Cast iron is extremely heavy and will withstand a lot of abuse. The Blue Rooster recommends cast iron chimineas for campground owners and homeowners that intend to have their chiminea in a permanent location, that will be constantly used or used without supervision. The heavier the cast iron the better the chiminea. Cast iron is manufactured by weight so it should be bought by weight.

The Blue Rooster's Grapestyle Cast Iron Chiminea is a 174 pound chiminea is similarly priced to ones on the market that weigh 120 pounds. The Cast Iron Venetian Style chiminea is a whopping 197 lbs. If your planning to buy a Cast Iron chiminea, go big or don't go at all.

5.The benefits of a Cast Aluminum chiminea.

For the typical outdoor enthusiest cast aluminum is the best product. Compared to a cast iron chiminea, a cast aluminum chiminea will not rust, is very low maintenence, can be easily moved during a wind change or patio re-arrangement, and will not stain your deck or patio. The Blue Rooster Company aluminum chimineas are cast from the same molds as our cast iron Chimineas. Side by side they look and radiate heat identical.

Cast Aluminum makes a great portable outdoor fireplace that is light weight and designed with safety in mind. See our Cast Aluminum Grape Style for a good example. Cast Aluminum chimineas are easily transported to a lake home or neighbors and can be easily stored in the winter time in Northern areas. If portability is a concern then a Cast Aluminum outdoor fireplace will provide portability and longevity.

Storage is only recommended to prevent damage or theft. Both Cast Iron and Cast Aluminum chimineas are designed for year around use in any climate. The Blue Rooster has owned, burned, and studied about every type of chiminea manufacturing material available. Cast aluminum has consistently been the best product.

6. Clay chimineas and safety concerns.

There are websites that claim there is increased danger in using a metal chiminea versus a clay chiminea. From our experience you can get burned by a hot clay chiminea just as fast as a hot metal chiminea. If there was an inherant danger to using a metal outdoor fireplace, then all the gas grills would be made of clay. So if you are the type of person prone to sticking your fingers on hot items, maybe a garden fountain would be better for you then an outdoor fireplace.

If you do decide to buy a clay outdoor fireplace, make sure to take extra safety precautions. A close fitting mouthscreen and spark arrestor insert may be extra, but are well worth the investment. The main problem with clay is that when it does fail (fall apart) and it can happen without warning. If the bottom falls out while you having a fire, it can be a real mess. So if you are using a clay fireplace on a wood deck or other surface that can be damaged, have it sitting on a cement, tile or other type of protective base. Clay chimineas are usually fairly cheap, but the money saved usually is spent on add-ons or a new chiminea when the clay one fails. A good cast iron or cast aluminum fireplace will always last longer then clay.

No matter how good a clay fireplace is built, if you put a piece of a clay chiminea in a bucket of water, in a few days you will have mud. No matter how much anyone tells you their chiminea is made of the best clay available. The bottom line is that clay chimineas are just large clay pots made of burnt dirt and clay pots should be used for flowers, not fire.

7. 360° Surround View Fireplaces and Raised Firepits.

Surround 360° view fireplaces and firepits are not chimineas. Most surroundview outdoor fireplaces are built of very light materials that if tipped over will send fire, embers and ash everywhere. A heavy outdoor fireplace made of cast iron or cast aluminum is less prone to being tipped over, and in the event will contain the fire. For safety reasons chimineas are built with only one opening. If you are concerned that the people behind a chiminea will not see the fire. Visualize a campfire with a small breeze, no one wants to sit in the smoke anyway.

Chimineas were originally designed as cooking devices and are used legally throughout the United States and other countries as such. Using a firepit or surround fireplace is like building a ring of rocks on your deck or patio and may not be legal in some areas. Anyone who has experienced an outdoor fire knows that a gust of wind will blow embers and sparks around. An open fireplace may allow these sparks and embers to damage your deck or other property and possibly that of your neighbors. A good chiminea will protect the fire and draft smoke out the top for a safer and more pleasurable experience.

Chiminea fireplace designs have many benefits over 360° surround view fireplaces and raised firepits.

8. What to burn in an outdoor fireplace.

Hard woods are the primary fuel for outdoor fireplace enthusiests. Other sources are manufactured firelogs, propane, natural gas and gel inserts. Pinion wood is an aromatic addition for burning, but can get spendy if used without the addition of other hard woods to your fire. You can also add pine cones, applewood, or other exotics if you would like a more aromatic experience. Manufactured firelogs are a quick way to get a fire going but make terrible marshmellows (toxic smores anyone?). A good hardwood such as oak creates the best fire.

Some outdoor fireplaces come with propane or natural gas inserts and provide a trouble free fire source. If you like a chiminea model that doesn't have the insert, a number of companies sell conversion kits to convert almost any outdoor fireplace to propane or natural gas. Gel inserts are also available in insert kits. They are operate by lighting a canned burning insert like the ones under serving trays, but much larger. Some are even marketed for indoor use, check with the manufacture before using any indoor fire source. If you are ordering a chiminea for natural gas or propane conversion be sure to let the company know. They may be able to make any modifications needed or supply a conversion kit to go along with your new outdoor fireplace.

Although wood may be a bit more work then lighting a propane insert, the aroma of a campfire and the cooking benefits make wood the number one fuel source. If you plan not to cook on your fireplace, a manufactured fire log is a quick way to get a fire going and wood can always be added later. The Blue Rooster Company chimineas are all rated for manufactured firelogs.

9. Safety First

When using any outdoor fireplace make sure safety is your #1 priority. Have a fire extinguisher, a bucket of water or other water source available. Never leave a fire unattended and know how to use your fire safety equipment.

Don't sacrifice safety in order to save a few dollars on a bargain rate fire extinguisher or a cheap outdoor fireplace. Remember you are dealing with fire. Anytime a fire is lit there is a potential to cause damage to your self, friends, family, your property or your neighbors. When starting any controlled fire, safety is the number one concern.

10. Enjoy

An outdoor fireplace will enhance your life. At the end of the day a nice toasty fire and a good glass of wine will do wonders for your state of mind. Sharing stories around the fire has brought families and friends together for millenia. A Blue Rooster Chiminea may not replace your TV, but it's a good start.

You can see our chimineas at www.thebluerooster.com there is also a toll free number if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Blair Reuther

The Blue Rooster Company