Do you think it is a good idea to buy a Mexican clay chiminea?

[JaneCarter]

Now, it is winter, so it is too cold to barbecue in the outside, but I want to buy a stove can be used in spring or summer. So I found some Mexican clay chimineas on LavaDeals ( http://bit.ly/sWOyHW ) and want to buy one. But I heard that they are hard to use and maintain, isn't it? Do you have other ideas or know other better stoves ?

Thank you very much!

[Andy M]

We have had a metal one for many years (from Machine Mart I think) and it requires NO maintenance (well, once I used a wire brush on it) and it sits outdoors all year. I gather the clay ones need to be protected from frost and rain - would not suit us. But then the clay seem cheaper.

[tracy]

We had a clay one, and it was great... until a visiting group of young men and some beers spent an evening seeing how hot they could get it. It cracked!

When well looked after, it was fine!

[SimonFisher]

I'd be more inclined towards a metal one. This page on Wikipedia gives a bit of background as to their origin and their unsuitability for our climate. There's quite a few at www.castironchimineas.co.uk and www.chimineas-direct.co.uk.

[RichardKing]

Hey, how about building something similar, it would cost nothing.
Have you seen those bread ovens that they build at places like the Weald Woodfair ?
Construct an internal structure of Hazel sticks in the shape that you want.
Cover it with a thick coating of clay mixed with straw & sand.
Let it dry for a bit.
Light a small fire in it to burn out the Hazel & dry it out a bit more.
Progressively build up to a good size fire.
The shape would have a larger opening in the front to form a fireplace, back of the fireplace would angle forward so that heat reflected off of it.
Chimney would go up a few feet.
Might be good to build a small earth platform to raise it off the ground a bit.
In fact you could even incorporate a few iron rods threaded through it to BBQ on !

[Toby Allen]

I'm with Richard, make one or give the work to a local fabricator and have a metal one made.