gluing firebox

Rick

I am trying to restore an old Kamado and the firebox is broken into 7 or 8 large pieces. Can anyone suggest a glue that can take the heat and not give off toxic fumes or is it best to just buy a new box. My Kamado is very old but seems to have the same dimensions as a Large or #5 egg. Not sure what they make the new fireboxes out of but mine looks like terra cotta.

FlaPoolman

Try JB Weld. I've never used it on a firebox but has held for 6 months on one of my platesetters.

Firestarter21

JB Weld, found any local hardware store for 5 bucks.

BigGreenDawg

Your time has come to get an egg! :woohoo:

JimBeam

Use furnace cement. JB Weld can't hold up to the high heat of the firebox.

Check out this thread on repairing an old egg.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44688&highlight=Imperial+Kamado

thebtls

JB weld has been holding my firebox together for about 3 or 4 months now on 3-4 cooks per week. Can't go wrong.

JimBeam

Take a look at page 3 of the thread I posted. JB Weld is only rated to 500 degrees and the firebox gets hotter than that. I had the same problem. The JB Weld just turns to powder and the cracks reappear. A third person in that thread reported the same issue. All 3 of us used it to repair the same ancient Kamado that the OP is trying to repair.

Maybe it works in the newer eggs, but it doesn't in the earthenware Kamados. Stove and gasket cement was recommended, but I've yet to try it. I'm just trying to save Rick from doing the repair twice.

Rick

I guess I'm a little confused. In the link you posted the guy used JB weld. I guess I missed the page where it said that wouldn't work. Everyone seemed to praise his work and copper color. There was another link on that page that said they also used JB weld. The JB weld web page said it is good up to 500 degrees and you don't want to go any hotter than that with the old clay pots if I understand things correctly. I am happy to use furnace cement if I can find some. I too am in the Seattle area. I was suprised to see the flat rope as a gasket, Doesnt BGE use a much thinner gasket? I will have to find a better spring system for mine. When I open the lid the pot wants to tip over. I will eventually put it in a table which should also fix that problem. My egg also is missing alot of clay ont the outside. Like it's flaked off or rubbed off or something. Not sure what I'll use for that.

Old Salt

I rebuilt my firebox using Refractory Cement. Other repairs I used firebrick cement. Mine was eaten out so had to rebuild the complete firebox. If your's is just broken apart use Firebrick cement. It costs about $6 for a 10oz tube.
I'm going to have to post before and after pics of my Firebox. I priced one today from Imperial Kamado and they are $145 plus shipping. They still make the clay eggs.

Old Salt

This is my firebox before I rebuilt it.

JimBeam

Rick,

Continue reading the thread to post #35. The original poster later used the egg and JB Weld broke down. He said: "JB Weld does not hold up in the firebox. Coal temperatures are too high for the material to withstand (500F temperature rating only). On the firebox, most of the JB has flaked off and/or turned into white powder. As a result, the JB no longer bonds or seals."

The copper egg is being repair now for the third time.

That other link, also had his JB Weld break down. He later recommended "Hercules Furnace cement." He is now repairing another 30 year old egg and is only using furnace cement. You can track his progress here: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45920

As I said, I haven't gotten to rerepairing my Kamado, but all of the original cracks are back. The weight of the fire ring keeps everything in place, so I've been putting it off until I buy my Large BGE in the fall (waiting on Egg Fest, so I'm cheap and lazy :P ).

Michael B

The JB weld web page said it is good up to 500 degrees and you don't want to go any hotter than that with the old clay pots if I understand things correctly.

You shouldn't take one of those old Eggs above 375*. The shell can't take the higher temps.
Lump burns between 1200* and 1400*. The firebox protects the shell from the direct heat of the burning lump.
JB Weld will not hold up on the fire box.

madmike

Red Hot 2000 .....works on car exhaust manifolds :woohoo:

UnConundrum

Try Respond. Good to 2300F and only $12.95 for a small tube.

You can find it here.

Rick

that looks like it is mainly for metal.

Rick

ok, I went to my local EGG supplier and asked for furnace cement. What they gave me was Rutland fireplace Mortar which is good up to 2000 degrees. However, upon looking at the label more closely, I see that it takes 1200 degrees to fully cure the mortar and there is no way I can accomplish that. I see on the Rutland website that the refactory cement also takes heat to cure but only 500 degrees. So I will be taking this back and trying again. Thanks for all your help, everyone!

Rick

IF lump burns that hot maybe I CAN cure the fireplace mortar I bought to patch the firebox. It needs 1200 degrees. I would just have to leave the firebox out of the egg and start a fire in it. Is there a LUMP coal that burns especially hot?