I bought a metal one last year at Lowe's - not cast iron. It works great and has lasted without rusting through or anything because I keep it covered (I had an old grill cover) when not in use. Paid $79 at the time.
I'd like to smoke a pipe and some cigars on a quiet Caribbean island. I plan to do that some day. Give me a beautiful sandy beach with cocktails, my music and a good book and I'd be a happy man.
@Motie2@PappyJoe Ahhh.....but the Terra Cotta finish transforms into a nice earthy patina as it gets used, I liken it to watching and anticipation of a Meerschaum Pipe....
Had a Terra Cotta one. It was great until one cold evening I built a fire in it and then it decided to rain hard even though there was only a 15% chance and it wasn't supposed to rain. Always felt something built that thick and heavy shouldn't have cracked but it was a roaring fire and ice cold rain.
@Motie2@PappyJoe With the terra cotta (not at all sure about clay ceramic, but that is damn near terra cotta), terra cotta continues to harden as it gets warmed. The instructions will tell you to not build huge fires initially. I have my 2nd one (first one crushed by a tree in Superstorm Sandy) and have never had any issues. I would recommend that you make the first several fires using logs like Duraflame adding just a bit more wood as it settles down each time to get the terra cotta curing. Don't forget, for a lot of years chimneys were lined with terra cotta flues.
My ideal place would be Vermont when the leaves are changing colors Second,magically being transported to a cafe in Paris pipe in hand drinking an espresso and watching women go to and fro.It would have to be cloudy and temperatures in the 50s or 60s.
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Ahhh.....but the Terra Cotta finish transforms into a nice earthy patina as it gets used, I liken it to watching and anticipation of a Meerschaum Pipe....
A chiminea will keep me out on the rear deck a few extra weeks as winter approaches. Then no pipe 'til spring....
With the terra cotta (not at all sure about clay ceramic, but that is damn near terra cotta), terra cotta continues to harden as it gets warmed. The instructions will tell you to not build huge fires initially. I have my 2nd one (first one crushed by a tree in Superstorm Sandy) and have never had any issues. I would recommend that you make the first several fires using logs like Duraflame adding just a bit more wood as it settles down each time to get the terra cotta curing. Don't forget, for a lot of years chimneys were lined with terra cotta flues.