New to forum

ASDadam

Hello everyone.  Just got this grill home and did a first cook on it last night.  
Figured you guys might be able to give me some info or help on this thing.  It says Made in Japan right under the front handle and the firebox is permanently mounted inside.  Judging by the bottom color I would assume that is is clay instead of ceramic or porcelain?  It also has Japanese writing going vertically right above the handle.  My dad had this thing in his shed for over 30 years and I never knew he had it until cleaning it out one day.  
Did my first cook on it last night, figured i'd keep it simple at first with some beer bratwurst and my wife and I both agreed it came out tasting better than it ever had from my gas grill.  
Since I am testing the waters I only used some cinder blocks as a stand right now but if I keep it I plan on building a nice L shaped table.  
I do want to add a temp gauge, does anyone have a recommendation for a gauge that will fit that isn't the $50 BGE version?

Skiddymarker

Keep the heat low and you will get years out of it - 800º pizza and you will take it away in a wheelbarrow. 

http://www.amazon.com/Tel-Tru-LT225R-Replacement-Thermometer-degrees/dp/B0055777EU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428774929&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=tel-tru+barbecue+thermometer+for+BGE

temp gauge....

EDIT - Welcome.

blasting

'bout time she saw some use!  Cool find.

NPHuskerFL

Welcome. Maybe a high temp gel type paint on the shell would freshen it up also. I would stick with a Tel-Tru for reliability. As shown by @Skiddymarker they can be found for a reasonable price. Enjoy. 

ASDadam

I'll be picking that thermometer up soon, as well as a 3/8ths hole saw.  What kind of high temp gel paint would work?  Just did a quick google search and didn't see anything, but then again I don't know what i'm looking for.  

SoCalTim

oh man ... that's AWESOME! I love old komado's! That one has amazing character!

SGH

Welcome to the forum. Great score on the kamado. I love old nostalgic stuff like that. I would leave it as is. As brother SoCal said above, it has character. I wouldn't change a thing. Enjoy it.

Chowman

Welcome! It's big, and kinda green ....  I would add some kind of screen at the bottom vent to catch hot embers.  Want to protect your deck.

Lmidkiff

Welcome and post more on this story often.

NPHuskerFL

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+refinish+a+Kamado+grill#

Skiddymarker

ASDadam said:

I'll be picking that thermometer up soon, as well as a 3/8ths hole saw.  What kind of high temp gel paint would work?  Just did a quick google search and didn't see anything, but then again I don't know what i'm looking for.  

You need to talk with @henapple, he redid one he calls Ag - guess what colour he used? I'm sure he will have some first hand knowledge. 

Eggaroo

Welcome! I think it looks cool the way it is. Awesome find. Enjoy. 

henapple

@ASDadam ....I had an old grill dome I used high heat auto spray paint. It's rated over 1000 degrees. Not being sure what it actually is would sand it, clean it and do a test spot to see how it holds up. Do you have the ceramic topper? Personally, I'd redo my bands and leave it...looks cool the way it is.

NCEggSmoker

Cool find.  Thanks for sharing it. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like some of the ceramic/clay may be exposed.  If so, my primary concern would be having it absorb water and then cooking.  May be that you would want to either "seal" it with some high temp paint/glaze or keep it covered and use it for lower temp cooks.  Whatever you do, it's really cool that you'll be cooking on a kamado that your Pops acquired so long ago.  Welcome aboard and good cooking to you.  

pescadorzih

Awesome find.  Like mentioned above, keep it to low and slow and it will be ready to be handed down in the future

ASDadam

Did a test run today to see how it would do a low and slow.  Filled up the firebox with lump and was able to keep it at a steady 250 for 8 hours before calling it quits.  Still had over half of my lump left.  Although I did notice a half circle crack going along the bottom of the dome.  It goes almost all the way across but only about 8-10 inches high.  Doesn't go outside of the dome though, only confined to inside.