Some say that a metal fire pit will be safer and you will have a lessor chance of being burned than if you touched a clay chiminea.
Even though the material is clay, they can get very hot, just as much and just as quick a a metal one.
You may just want to use common sense when around any fire pit or fire place and just don't touch any of them.
Clay is more brittle than metal and it can fail at amy moment,so you will want to wait until it has cooled down completely before touching it.
Because of the potential of failing, you will want to position it in a place where nothing that can catch fire is underneath it.
Having tile or some other smooth surface as a base may be a good idea just in case the bottom falls out and you have a mess on your hands to clean up.
Clay chimineas are usually sold at discount retailers and usually at a low price.
This is for a reason.
No matter how good these type of units are made, they are still made out of clay, and if you put a section of a clay fire pit into a glass of water, you will have red mud in a day or two.
This type of material is better suited for flower pots, not fire pits.
You also should take into account where you would be placing a clay chiminea.
If you have no other location to put one except uncovered and outdoors where the elements will have its way with it, you may want to reconsider getting a metal, stainless steel or cast iron version.
Nothing will ruin a party quicker that having your wet clay fire pit come crumbling down in a hail of smoke and fire embers while your guests are standing close by.
What You Should Burn Inside A Fire Pit If you plan to cook over your fire pit, a good hardwood like oak would be a good choice.
You can check online or in your local newspaper for any fire wood dealers that might be in your area.
Some fire pits can be fitted for other fuels like propane, gel, and natural gas hook ups.
Some can also be fitted with artificial logs when equipped with natural gas or propane sources.
Pinion pine is another alternative, but it must be dry or it will pop.
Pine also will give off a nice aroma if burnt in a low fire.
You can also add apple wood, pine cones or other exotic wood for a more aromatic smell.
You can also use manufactured logs that you can find in hardware and retail outlets, but do not cook over these as they have added ingredients that can spoil the taste of your food.
In smaller fire pits or fire bowls, you can use gel inserts, sort of like the ones used in fondue cooking, but these will put out little heat and are mainly for ambiance.
It can also get a bit expensive using these as they will not last a long time.
One of the most cost effective and safest fuel to burn in a fire pit would be propane or natural gas.
A propane fir pit will be quicker to light and will not have the smoke and spark issue that wood burning units have.
They will also give you peace of mind when the party is over and you need to turn them off.
Whereas a wood burning fire pit will continue to burn until all the fuel is spent, you only need to turn the regulator off and the fire is out.
For those that have a permanent location set for the pit, natural gas is even better.
The fuel cost is even cheaper and you will not have to mess with hooking up external propane tanks to the unit, nor will you ever run out of fuel in the middle of the night.
One thing you shouldn't do is use the fire pit for burning trash.
Not only is this a pollution problem, but if plastics or other material that doesn't burn completely are left to melt to the sides of your fire pit, it could ruin the finish and give you toxic and unwanted odors on the next re-light.