Hillbilly Chimenea or Garbage Can Chimenea

Most Chimeneas go for $100 and up, and they only seem to last a year so I came up with one that will out last them and allot cheaper. I made this for $34. The can was $15.50 at home depot and the BBQ grate was $8. the stove pipe and cap. bolts and screws made up the rest.

The only tools i used were a sharpie, 3/4 inch drill bit, cordless drill, pair of metal cutters, tape measure and a metal rasp OH and a pair of leather work gloves

Step 1: Parts Needed

1 metal can

1 - 24' piece of 4" stove pipe

3 - 1 inch sheet metal screws

1- connector end piece

1- 4' cap

1 BBQ grate

3 bolts ( 3/4 inch - 3 inch long ) , 6 washers, 6 nuts

Step 2: Lay Out Pipe Connector

lay out connector and mark with an sharpie

Step 3: Drill Out

Drill a bunch of 3/4 " holes

Step 4: Cut Out

Use metal snipers

Step 5: Install Pipe

Fasten end piece and install stove pipe

Step 6: Fasten Togeather

use the 1 inch sheet metal screws

Step 7: Install Cap

Push the cap on, You don't need to screw it on. (makes it easier to clean)

Step 8: Mark Holes for the Bolts

Measure up about 8" from the bottom, Mark 3 spots evenly spaced out around the can

Step 9: Drill Bolt Holes

Use a 3/4 inch drill bit

Step 10: Install Bolts/Washers and Nuts

Now take your bolts and install ( bolt, nut. washer stick it through the hole then washer and then the last nut. tighten it up good and tight)

Step 11: Install BBQ Grate and Test Fit

Should like this

Step 12: Lay Out Opening Hole

now lay out a couple of lines at 10" to 16" this will give you an 6" opening

Step 13: Measure Out the Length

make it about 14" wide

Step 14: Drill Some Starter Holes

drill a few holes in each corner and a few in the center

Step 15: Cut Out the Opening

USING GLOVES cut out the opening.

THEN take a good metal rasp or grinder and knock the edges off.

If you don't your going to slice the Sh*t out of your hands and I will laugh at you for being a dumb a*s and not listening.

Step 16: Drill Some Air Holes on the Side

About 4" up from the bottom, drill about 8 - 3/4" hole

Step 17: Drill a Few Air Holes on the Bottom

Space them out This will help with airflow and if any water gets in it will drain.

Step 18: Put It All Together

Then make fire.

took me less the an hour to make.

Comments

[DavidB1328]

Well after a dozen fires in the can, all the galvanization cooked off. No it did not kill me. But after a couple of rains I noticed a little bit of surface rust. So I got a couple cans of high heat paint from home depot and painted it. seems fine now.

[framistan]

Galvanized metal can give off toxic fumes when heated. If you build it out of a regular 55 gallon drum, you will not have that problem. My brother welded on galvanized metal, he says it made him have diarrhea for a day or 2. I don't know if it can kill someone or give them cancer... you might want to research the heating of galvanized metals before using this.

[Mugsy Knuckles]

I'm not a pulmonologist, a metallurgist, or a phrmacologist.
Here's what I know about heating galvanized metal though, as a guy that has made very very hot rocket stoves out of galvanized ducting.
You're outside. The first time you get it really hot, don't inhale right next to it. You can't really do that anyway, since it's gonna be a thousand degree air, but when you get it really hot it'll get very shiny(this is the zinc liquifying) and then very dull grey (the zinc has boiled off).
After that it's just steel.
So maybe don't fire this thing up in your car with the windows rolled up. But it's outside, so dont sweat it.

[Toga_Dan]

+1, framistan
ive seen a galvanized can lined with plaster + sand for a foundry the zinc seemed to stay cool enough on that not to burn off.

[Bensk85]

I had to look this up, and you're right they do have toxic fumes at high temperatures, however, much higher than burning wood will provide.

From what I found they say metallic coating will begin to melt around 427 degrees Celsius (800 degrees Fahrenheit).

Your brother probably did get hit by some toxic fumes, but welding is actually melting the metal at insanely high temperatures, so I believe this project should be more than safe as long as you're not lighting thermite in it.

[mphillips018]

if you want to be on the safe side, just give it a solid coat or two with furnace paint. keeps the zinc from breaking down and creating fumes and gives you more style options.