Metal Casting Zone Info Blog

Posts Tagged ‘fire pits’

Chimeneas: The Essential Backyard Equipment

Chimeneas are an alternative to fire pits having similar functions. They are used to provide warmth outdoors and also used for cooking purposes. They possess a huge round bottomed flask-like structure with an exception of a huge opening at one of its sides that acts as the fireplace. They originated thousands of years ago in Mexico and were used by their tribesmen to provide heat on cold winter nights as also to bake breads and other foodstuffs. They often decorate the patio or the deck as ornamental structures when not in use. They are available in different sizes, shapes and styles.

They are provided with a narrow smoke outlet at the top that ensures the release of smoke upwards without causing hindrance to the surrounding environment. They are usually available in metal or clay. Amongst metals, cast iron, copper and cast aluminum are commonly used. The metal versions of chimeneas are usually more durable than the clay version of it simply because clay tends to crackle and crumble when comes across high impact force on its surface. Most basic designs have dimensions that measure up to five feet lengthwise and two feet breadth wise.

They serve so many purposes that they are just the essential add on to your patio or deck. Other than providing heat to the surrounding and being useful in grilling and roasting meat or baked potatoes they can also be used to get rid of mosquitoes by the use of certain varieties of wood known as Pinon wood or Mesquite. They are a great addition to the pool areas, gardens and backyards. You can have family gatherings and also organize parties with friends at the outer portion of your house during the winter season without any hassle by using these proficient and dependable heaters.

Since they come in varied designs, in seasons like summer when you might not need the chimeneas for warmth, they can be used as ornamental structures. All you have to do is cover the top of the chimenea to protect it from dust or other unwanted substances settled in that space. Even if you may have placed the chimenea in a place not prone to fire accidents it is very important that you take necessary precautions when using them. You need to be equipped with fire extinguishers or some water source when you use the chimenea for cooking and grilling purposes. Usually larger chimeneas are a better choice because the bigger the space through which you have to place wood the better it is to handle and manage the fire and you don’t have to chop the wood too fine to fit into smaller holes. Thus having a chimenea can be quite handy all year around for your outdoor living space convenience.

Patio Heaters: Fire Pits, Fire Tables & More Options

There’s no reason to cut your evenings outdoors short just because the weather is getting cooler. You can create a warm and inviting space with some outdoor heating accessories and continue to spend all the time you want on your patio throughout the winter months. There are a number of different outdoor heating accessories to choose from that offer both function and great style. Fire pits, fire tables, outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, and heating lamps are some of the top patio heaters on the market.

Fire Pits
Fire pits, often mispelled as one word (firepit) are one of the most common choices. Fire pits come in many, many different styles ranging from basic to tremendously designer.

Fire Tables
Fire tables are unique outdoor heating pieces derived from the form of fire pits. Many of them have cool fire “patterns.” This means that the flames come up and burn in specific shapes, like flowers or peace signs. Many people use fire glass on their fire tables for a truly luxurious look.

Outdoor Fireplaces
Outdoor fireplaces are typically built into large outdoor living spaces. They can be composed of brick, stone, cement, and other materials. There are also free standing outdoor fireplaces that are “open” on both sides and that burn using gel fuel.

Chimineas
These lovely patio heaters are becoming quite popular. They have a unique look with a bowl shaped bottom and chimney structure on top. Chimineas have excellent air flow systems in which air is pulled into the chiminea to fuel the fire and smoke is filter away from guests. Chimineas can be made of various materials like clay, cast iron, cast aluminum, and more.

Heating Lamps
These great backyard accessories give a cool lounge feel to outdoor entertainment areas. Many people don’t realize that you can have these in your home and that they are affordable. They are typically seen in the outdoor areas of bars, restaurants, and clubs.

Self-made fire pits can complement accessories gathered from home improvement stores. However there is nothing like constructing it in the original way. You can use plain landscaping blocks or stones. A few decide to use concrete blocks. Although this tends to get deteriorated with heat, however worth using as changing them is not costly. Drainage is an important part of domestic fire pits. You can dig a 3-4 inch hole 24 inches. Then fill it with gravel. This hole requires to be dug right in the bottom center of the pit. It is supposed to work like a sump and let the water drain. You have to dry-stack the stone first. The dry-stacking is as well useful for replacing cracked or broken stones. A few opt to cement the courses by laying cement on exterior half. This is considered useful for shielding the cement from high temperature.

Here are a few other things required here, retaining wall blocks, steel pit ring with tabs, metal grate, sand and gravel. Ring and grate are necessary things when constructing a fire pit at home. This can be found at home improvement stores or near garden stores. At times it is easy to buy these online. The width of the wall blocks used here can be 12 inches wide, 4 inches high and 8 inches deep. Put a substantial amount of sand and gravel in the pit.

Dig a hole at this moment. This hole is supposed to be 2 feet wider than the fire pit. Dig the hole around 7 feet diagonal to the fire pit. The hole is supposed to be round. To make it so, mark the circle. Dig out 1 foot of soil. Then dig for four inches of gravel plus four inches of sand. That layer is required to be compressed flat, next work with the base course of blocks. It has to be laid down and you have to level it carefully. The space out of the blocks has to be filled; you can fill it with gravel. The first course will be more or less buried this way; this in turn will strengthen the stone base.

Now you have to focus on laying more helpings of stone. At this point you will draw on the steel ring. The ring should keep the grill intact. This is done to confirm that each of the helpings is round with precise diameter. The ring has to be made vertical to each other and to the ground surface. If you notice that the center of your pit is roughly 36 inches in diameter- you will recognize you did well. At this point you can overlap the stone layers. In each of the helpings, you are supposed to leave 3-4 openings between stones. The openings are planned to let air to flow in and help the fire burn.

Given that by now the entire job is finished, it is now time to lay the last helping of stone. Ahead of the final helping is laid; the steel ring has to be placed in the spot. As a standard guides, a fire pit constructed this way can have 7 layers. Your pit constructed this way is supposed to be 24 inches high. For better results from your fire, you can take out a layer or two.