Anybody here have any of C~W dome clips?

RRP

Every time someone loses a dome for what ever reason I think back about Char Woody's (C~W) little metal clips. They were short slightly bent pieces of metal which were bolted through existing holes in the dome side band. They lapped over that ridge going around the dome and secured it quite well. I recall C~W tried to sell the concept to Ed Fisher, friend and founder of BGE, but no dice. Then for a few years C~W made and sold them along with the necessary nuts and bolts. Then he quit making them for a variety of personal reasons. Recently I had a customer inquire about them so I wrote to Fred (C~W) to see if he still had any extras laying around and he said no - he was done with that part of his life.

While the discussion of torquing nuts, bent bolts and expanding bands due to high heat gets frequent play here it's a shame that such a simple solution that C~W came up with in his work shop hasn't lived on.

Little Steven

Didn't Char Woody end up on the primo forum?

RRP

Little Steven said:

Didn't Char Woody end up on the primo forum?

Yes - he was one of the many casualties by the now deceased old jackass (JJ) who haunted the old forum. Actually Fred and I have stayed in contact all these years. I was hoping he would send me a picture of the clips but he still hasn't - probably just slipped his mind.

Carolina Q

Google Images. Not sure who took the pic. Wasn't me. 

RRP

Carolina Q said:

Google Images. Not sure who took the pic. Wasn't me. 

Thanks, Michael! That's them! Now people can see how easy they are to make if they want to!

noregard

hmm, that's a damn good idea, a little more peace of mind.

NPHuskerFL

Such a simple and cost effective item. It would seem that this would only make sense to market and sell if even only as an aftermarket item. Was there a reason this didn't take off?

RRP

noregard said:

hmm, that's a damn good idea, a little more peace of mind.

I suppose some may think it's akin to wearing both a belt and suspenders, but it's also cheap insurance against a fallen/busted dome! 

UrbanForestTurnings

Great idea. Should be easy to make

NPHuskerFL

It would appear to be made from the run of the mill 1" mild steel stick & then it's powder coated. 4 points of security?

RRP

NPHuskerFL said:

Such a simple and cost effective item. It would seem that this would only make sense to market and sell if even only as an aftermarket item. Was there a reason this didn't take off?

Knowing Fred I'm sure it wasn't the cost meaning that he priced them too high, but rather they only appealed to some people. You know the mind set of "that will never happen to me"! Then they also meant people had to loosen their bands wide open so as to get the flat headed clinch style bolt through the band from the inside. Some people are reluctant to mess with their bands for fear of getting them out of whack. Also some guys were born with 10 thumbs if know what I mean? And lastly C~W had just started offering these on greeneggers when JJ ran him off so few in the Green world ever knew they existed.  BTW he told me recently he doesn't go to Primo now anymore either.

RRP

NPHuskerFL said:

It would appear to be made from the run of the mill 1" mild steel stick & then it's powder coated. 4 points of security?

yes - there is also a chance that the old style bands had more pre-drilled holes in the bands. Otherwise people would also need to drill them creating another hurdle to some people!

NCEggSmoker

Cool idea. @RRP is probably right though. I'm a bit nervous about messing with my bands.  I'm developing a bit of an overbite but haven't messed with it as it's not too bad yet.  I'm hoping that it and my gasket will hit the tipping point at the same time and I'll address it at the same time I reach out to @RRP for a Rutland.  My guess is both will be before summer this year. 

HeavyG

I've never understood why kamado makers that use bands to hold their lids on don't mold a groove that the bands could sit in which would act as a mechanical key and thereby prevent lids falling out of the bands if the bolts are a wee bit loose.

There must be some ceramic molding technical problem I'm not aware of that precludes that. Or something.

RRP

HeavyG said:

I've never understood why kamado makers that use bands to hold their lids on don't mold a groove that the bands could sit in which would act as a mechanical key and thereby prevent lids falling out of the bands if the bolts are a wee bit loose.

There must be some ceramic molding technical problem I'm not aware of that precludes that. Or something.

Oh I agree! The molding process is quite simple and is called slip molding, whereby liquid clay known as slip is poured into 2 part casts made of plaster of Paris. Then the mold draws the water out leaving behind the clay in the precise shape of the cast. So a groove as you describe would be extremely simple to achieve! BTW that damp molded clay vessel is called green ware at that point and must be fired in a high heat kiln to become hard and then it is called ceramic. The exterior green color is glaze which is sprayed or brushed on the ceramic and is fired again. But getting back to your point a groove is doable and then a new style band and hinge could be designed also with ease I would think! Perhaps the answer lies in the cost of retooling the casts vs. the low incidence of dome breaks most all of which are customer faults - not corporate! You know...follow the money!

DoubleEgger

CGS should start selling this if it is not patented. 

RRP

DoubleEgger said:

CGS should start selling this if it is not patented. 

I don't really see how that is something that could be patented. I know C~W is/was a real tinkerer and thinker and loved to solve problems and then move on to the next challenge! BTW he is a retired railroad train mechanic. 

bcsnave

HeavyG said:

I've never understood why kamado makers that use bands to hold their lids on don't mold a groove that the bands could sit in which would act as a mechanical key and thereby prevent lids falling out of the bands if the bolts are a wee bit loose.

There must be some ceramic molding technical problem I'm not aware of that precludes that. Or something.

in molding a groove....you need to have at least 2 sliding members that would form the "groove"...think of a cake or a cupcake and in order to form a ring around the outside means you need to have something protruding INTO the outside diameter. If the mold has this feature..the cake would never be able to be taken out unless it split into 2 pieces. 

cook861

Great idea im one of those  guys with 10 thumbs :} 

RRP

bcsnave said:

HeavyG said:

I've never understood why kamado makers that use bands to hold their lids on don't mold a groove that the bands could sit in which would act as a mechanical key and thereby prevent lids falling out of the bands if the bolts are a wee bit loose.

There must be some ceramic molding technical problem I'm not aware of that precludes that. Or something.

in molding a groove....you need to have at least 2 sliding members that would form the "groove"...think of a cake or a cupcake and in order to form a ring around the outside means you need to have something protruding INTO the outside diameter. If the mold has this feature..the cake would never be able to be taken out unless it split into 2 pieces. 

Sorry, but the way these are made - as I described above - are in slip molds which are in two parts. Once the piece has been formed then the two pieces are merely pulled off. Any groove in the mold will thereby be on the clay. Been there done that.

RRP

Link to further explaining slip casting;
http://www.dochollidayceramics.com/slipcasting.html