Chiminea

[t-man403]

Man I love this thing!
Just perfect for our needs but I made the mistake  of burning birch the other night and I think it was just to hot. As I sat there enjoying the burn a chunk just fell out  so now what?
Any ideas on how I could fix it would be appreciated or maybe it's a lost cause.....I don't know. Im off to Home Depot to see if I can find something that may do it.

[Jess from VA]

They should replace it.

Only try to fix it if they don't replace it.

Some kind of high heat adhesive?

I would lighten up on the raging fire.  I might also move it away from the fence a bit.

[f6john]

Just thinking out loud, most pottery is fired at much higher temps than just a wood fire. I would think it was a defect in the piece itself.

[msb]

Try a refractory mortar, from a masonry outlet...such as IXL or Brockwhite there in Calgary.
A high-temperature epoxy mortar/grout may also work.

[John Schmidt]

Burning too hot I think, you have fire coming out the top. That appears to be a pretty strong fire for that kind of device.

[t-man403]

Try a refractory mortar, from a masonry outlet...such as IXL or Brockwhite there in Calgary.
A high-temperature epoxy mortar/grout may also work.

Texted a friend of mine in Ireland that's a mason and you pretty much quoted him.

[msb]

Try a refractory mortar, from a masonry outlet...such as IXL or Brockwhite there in Calgary.
A high-temperature epoxy mortar/grout may also work.

Texted a friend of mine in Ireland that's a mason and you pretty much quoted him.

[cookiedough]

it appears already cracked in the middle had a weak spot in it to begin with

[Bighead]

Stack 2 blocks where the piece fell out and burn it

[trout dude]

Well hell Terry you know what our little buddy (Gordon Lucky 13) says you can't have nothing nice. I hope you and Linda are doing well and you get your problem with this taking care of and hope to see y'all next year
Dennis

[Jersey mike]

Has it been rainy or real damp where you are? Has it been cold, freezing?

When these became popular here in NJ a couple decades ago, this would happen quite often, I can see a crack on the right side of the first photo while the fire is burning. These will absorb water and crack if it's too cold. When not in use keep them covered or in a shed. Also it should have a retainer ring around the base so it's not sitting directly on the ground, let the heat dissipate from the base.

When it's real cold start your fires small for a while before you really get them cooking.

[semo97]

Trapped water in a crack will build up steam pressure and you will hear it hissing then pow something is going to give. Had some rocks around a fire pit that had cracks and when it blew it was rock shrapnel all around. Also looks like a crack from a drop.

[t-man403]

Thanks for your input guys  !

I got this stuff at Home Depot as advised and put it back together.


It now looks like this.



So now I'll wait a few days before having a fire. After it cured I'll take a wire brush or something to get rid of the smears.

You guys are right, it has always had a fairly wide crack in it since the day it was given to me. Friends had two of them just for decoration. I have never shown any mercy to it as it has alway sat exactly where it is now for at least ten years or more. Never covered, -20 full of snow even buried in it and I'll have a rip roaring fire in it! Always use pine but this last fire I used birch I
got from dead branches from my sisters tree. I figured it may have been to hot. Most likely just coincidence and I guess I deserved it from all the abuse it gets. I've seen the stand for them but never liked the look. Might be a good idea though.
Didn't realize how much they cost till now either . Guess I'll be a little easier on it!

Heres something to keep you warm! Love this thing!!!

https://youtube.com/shorts/izvh-CO_ftE?feature=share