How To Cure A Chiminea

To cure the surface, put the grate inside the chiminea and light a small fire using little bits of kindling wood. Leave it to burn for about an hour then light a bigger, full fire straight away, before things cool down, using larger chunks of wood. Let it burn for an hour then let the chiminea cool down.

What does it mean to cure a chiminea?

Curing your chimenea hardens the clay and accustoms it to the heat ensuring that it is much less likely to crack when being exposed to high temperatures. Step One: Build a small fire using small balls of paper, allow this fire to extinguish naturally and the chimenea cool.

How do you season a new chiminea?

Curing a clay chiminea hardens the clay, helping prevent cracks forming when it is being exposed to high temperatures. Put a few inches of sand in the bottom of your chiminea and build up a small fire slowly using balls of paper. Allow this fire to got out naturally and the chiminea to cool down.

How do you break in a chiminea?

To cure a chiminea, iron or clay, follow these steps: Set balls of paper inside, and ignite them. Let this small fire burn out naturally, and allow the chiminea to cool thoroughly. Line the interior base with sand. Repeat this twice or thrice more, increasing the size of the fire each time.

What happens if you don’t cure chiminea?

If you don’t treat them carefully during use or handling, they are highly likely to crack or break, rendering your device useless. Careful preparation will ensure that your device remains safe from the elevated level of heat that it will encounter hold this heat and release it slowly.

Should you put sand in a chiminea?

The fire in a clay chiminea needs to be built on a bed of sand so the fire doesn’t actually come into contact with the clay. Check your instructions carefully to make sure you set the fire properly. Not doing so may cause cracks in a clay chiminea. Children’s play sand will work well.

Do I have to seal my chiminea?

It is absolutely mandatory to apply a sealer to the OUTSIDE of your chiminea. The manufacturer recommended finishes are Future acrylic floor finish or a wood sealer, such as Thompson’s Water Seal. The sealer keeps moisture from seeping into the clay. Reseal the chiminea at least once a month during periods of use.

What do you burn in a chiminea?

The best wood to use on a chiminea is a hardwood such as oak, apple or maple, that burns slowly without smoking. Woods that burn well on a fire pit include branches, logs, and hardwoods. A pile of softwoods such as pine will give off too much smoke, while a pile of hardwood will give off very little.

What do you put in the bottom of a chiminea?

(6) Put sand in the bottom of the chiminea before starting a fire. Hot wood coals can cause the clay to crack. Protect the bottom of the chiminea by covering it with at least three inches of sand. You can also use a small metal wood rack to raise the wood if you chiminea is large enough, but it is unnecessary.

How do you keep a chiminea burning?

Step Four: Keeping your Chiminea warm Allow the roaring fire to burn for another hour until you have white hot embers inside the chamber. At this point leave the chiminea to burn, poking the embers to allow air to flow around them and keep the heat at a maximum.

How long does a chiminea last?

Depending on where you place your chiminea, and whether you keep it covered, sealants on average last approximately three to six months.

How do you use a chiminea for the first time?

First you must fill the chiminea with sand to about three quarters of the way to the top of the mouth. This ensures that the flames of the fire do not directly touch the clay for the first few fires whilst you heat during the curing process.

Do you put sand in cast iron chiminea?

Do I need to Put Sand in the Bottom of my Cast Iron Chiminea? Usually no unless specifically advised in the manufacturer’s guidelines for your particular chiminea. Putting sand in clay chims helps protect the bottom of the fire bowl from the direct heat of the fire as in clay it’s an area prone to potential cracking.

Can I use play sand in my fire pit?

You are able to use all-purpose sand in a fire pit. The composition of all-purpose sand is such that it will not melt under the heat of a fire pit until it reaches 3090°F.

How long do clay chimineas last?

Whether you’re an avid user of clay chimineas or just a beginner, the answer to that question is no different. Collective wisdom contends that a clay chiminea that is used often can last 5 years or more and will last for many years more if looked after properly.

Do you have to put sand in the bottom of a steel chiminea?

For steel and cast iron chimeneas, seasoning helps to cure the paint which protects the metal from the heat. Layer some sand, gravel or lava (pumice) stones into the bottom of the chimenea. This will protect the bottom of the pit from the heat.

How do you rust proof a chiminea?

3. Rust Prevention Fix the grate inside your chiminea. Light a modest fire inside using kindling. After the kindling burns for an hour, light a larger fire using logs or wood. Allow the roaring fire to burn for another hour. Let it cool down.

Is a chiminea better than a fire pit?

Traditional clay chimineas are more prone to damage due to the material they are made from but cast iron chimineas are more durable. Fire pits tend to be made from cast iron or steel and are therefore much more durable in the long term than chimineas.