|
 | About Chimeneas |
 |
|
|
What is a chimenea and what do Chimeneas do?
Originally, all clay open fire garden heaters imported from Mexico were known as Chimeneas. As the story goes, Chimeneas originated hundreds if not thousands of years ago by Mexican tribesmen who developed the Chimeneas as a means of heating for their family as well as a vessel for cooking in. The original Chimenea was designed to keep the rain off the fire and the family warm using merely a couple of sticks.
Unfortunately, the Chimeneas currently imported are unable to withstand the thermal shock associated with a sudden down pour of rain. Admittedly the Chimenea originates in Mexico where there is generally low rainfall and not exceptionally low temperatures and in general produces a radiant glow which is sufficient to keep warm. In Mexico, when the cooking pot or Chimenea cracked and fell apart, they simply scooped some more mud or river clay together and made another.
|
 |
|
Chimeneas from Bushman Burnersare built to specifically withstand the typical English weather and because they are made from Industrial clay, you will not get burnt by touching the outside of the burner.
|
| |
|
|
Consequently, due to the generally low quality of clay used in the manufacture of so many Chimeneas imported into Europe, several companies copied the original idea hoping to improve on the basic concept and throughout Mexico, numerous companies popped up, all claiming to manufacture better quality Chimeneas using superior clay. Some companies disappointed with the general low grade of Mexican clay decided to use Mediterranean clays and had the Chimeneas fired to very high temperature to enable them to withstand bigger fires to be made in them.
Unfortunately, the higher the temperature in the firing process, the more brittle the end result became and the less tolerant the product was to thermal shock or rapid temperature changes making them ideal for Mediterranean dry climates but fundamentally flawed for our wet, cold and freezing English climate.
|
|
|
Chimeneas in Terracotta tend to be fragile and unable to cope with the cold English climate.
|
| |
|
|
In order to overcome the fragile nature of the clay or terracotta Chimeneas, other companies decided to manufacture a range of garden heaters in cast iron. Unfortunately, rather than improving the original Mexican Chimenea, a new cult of rather ugly products hit the shelves, which are now in demise due to two main reasons - rust and heat!
This new range of cast iron heaters when hot are so lethally dangerous that a mere brush with them can leave you with horrific burns, not to mention the fact that after the first fire the paint effect burns off and leaves you with a rusty old tin can in your garden. Well let's be honest, you may just as well save your money and stick to an old 44 gallon oil drum with holes in it!
|
|
|
Chimeneas in Cast Iron are not good outdoors as they rust easily and due to the metal construction they can leave you with burns by simply brushing past them.
|
| |
|
The only garden heater (Chimenea) that addresses all of the critical factors relating to the essence of an open fire garden heater is the Bushman Burner range, which is made in England specifically to withstand the English climate.
All Bushman Burners are individually hand made from a blend of industrial fire clays that are designed to withstand temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees centigrade coupled with the fact that Bushman Burners are reinforced with a wire mesh which hold them together, so even if you do get a thermal craze it will not fall apart like a Chimenea. Furthermore, only Bushman Burners are capable of withstanding the temperatures associated with burning all smokeless coal, house coal, charcoal and logs.
Unlike the simple clay Chimeneas, the Bushman Burner can be left out all year round even in the frost and snow. You can make massive fires in the Bushman Burner without the outside over heating, which means that your plants, family and friends will not be cremated!
Furthermore, we have designed and manufactured the hole in the face of the burner bigger so that you are able to feel more of the raw heat and see more of the fire and if you enjoy cooking in a Bushman Burner you can actually see what you are cooking without losing the oven effect.
In summary, a Bushman Burner is a Chimenea in the basic form of the word but is actually far superior to any of the competition!
For further information on Chimeneas, please read our
Chimenea FAQ's
|
|
