Another Kamado Restoration

Midnight Smoke

I Don't get over here much but lurk around a lot.

Found an old Kamado at a yard sale, broke the bank and took it home for $10.00.

Firebox was in 5-6 pieces, metal rusted very bad, cart wheels frozen and an assortment of other ailments. On top it all there was a dead rat stuck between the Fire ring and the base. Needless to say this old smoker has not been used in probably 15 years.

I know Richard FL did a similar one a while back.

Here are a few before Pic's of the Kamado.









Have most of the restoration done and hopefully tomorrow I will have the finished smoker done and post the results.

cookn biker

Nice, looking forward to that.

Midnight Smoke

Thanks Molly, I am hoping to really knock it out of park with this one! I have spent about 26 hours now up to this point restoring this. It is going to be one of a kind at least, I cannot find another one that looks like it

markymark

I like your 'Kam-do' attitude! :cheer:

Midnight Smoke

Here are a few more to keep your attention. I will include the Rat as a special participant.














Back together...

Midnight Smoke

Forgot the Rat...

Richard Fl

Nice looking restoration. Mine also had the slots for a rotissere and a part in the back to slip a rod thru. Still looking for a rod and motor of the same length. I sand blasted all the metal and did replace the wheels.

[Deleted User]

And this is related to the genuine Big Green Egg how?

Richard Fl

Thank the Naked Wizard for the research.

http://www.imperialkamado.com/i_history.htm

Kew_el_steve

You might have to scrounge up a new firebox. If memory serves me, JB Weld is good to about 500*F. Firebox will see red hot.

Hoss

Looks FAMILIAR! :laugh:

Hoss

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Primeggister1

What do you use to seal a crack in the ceramic that will not off gas and ruin the your food? My buddy has a hair line crack at the bottom of his Kamado, what product is there, we just found one called weldbond.

dhuffjr

I've used a furnace cement at Lowes before. It is rated a lot higher but I don't remember how high.

SmokeyPitt

That is pretty cool. Silly ?- but what is the window on the dome for? Does a thermometer fit in there?

Midnight Smoke

If not cracked all the way through yet, V out the crack with a Dremel or something and use Fireplace cement, 2000º temp.

thechief96

Looks good so far. Looking forward to the "rest of the story"

Midnight Smoke

Lol, that is a good question since after the 1st smoke you cannot see through it anyway. My thermometer will be installed in it's place through a metal plate.

Midnight Smoke

I guess the question is, what came 1st, the Kamado or the Egg. :silly:

Serial Griller

Hey Richard.This place might have the rod and motor you are looking for.
http://www.allpartsgrills.com/productCat101756.ctlg?orderId=&custId=

Richard Fl

Thank you, will check it out.

ibanda

I see Kamado restoration as paying homage to BGE history, as BGE does not exist without the Kamado, and it's 3,000 year old design.

From the BGE website:
"The Big Green Egg Company was launched in 1974 in a small strip mall in Atlanta, Georgia. Ed Fisher had an idea for a barbecue grill that he thought was better than anything on the market. He took an old Oriental ceramic cooking concept, improved on it, gave it a catchy name and started selling it himself out of one little store."

Great job on the restoration Midnight. Most likely Midnight's grill was imported into the US by Ed Fisher before he started making them himself. My Dad has two of them he bought in the early '70s. I didn't so much restore them as clean them up two years ago and start using them again. They had just sat on the porch unused for almost 20 years. One of them had about 20 dirt dobber nests in it, cleaned it up did a high temp burn. Nice to see 40 year old cookers still going. I am 43, and I am sure with the better ceramic in the BGE, I will still be cooking on them for my grandkids in my 80's.

cookn biker

That's cool to have the name plate on it. I've not seen that before.

Midnight Smoke

Finished other than figuring out a new handle for the dome. Waiting for the silicon to cure before I do a couple test burns.

What do you think?

markymark

I think that's phenomenal. Excellent work.

I wonder if you dry brushed it with black it would look even better. Take away some of the flatness of the red. Maybe dry brush black.

Anyway, as-is - great second "R"

thechief96

That looks absolutly fantastic. Great work. I think I know where one is. I might look into it.

chrisnjenn

Beautiful job. You should be proud. Do you know the original manufacturer? I have researched some of the older ones and Kamado Company (Johnson own it--he is a crook) made one similar to this when they were made in Japan. Regardless, nice job.

Midnight Smoke

Thanks, I have seen that color scheme but could not figure out how to do it.

Midnight Smoke

Thanks, No markings on this one, I believe there should be some but none here. I think it was made in the 1960's but just guessing.

Richard Fl

Nice restoration. Check with Lawn Ranger and see if he is still making handles. Mine was split in half with a groove for the handle and epoxyed back together.



http://www.lawnrangerbbq.com/

Clay Q

Very nice work!
Have fun with your 'new' kamado! I can imagine you will need to do a couple of slow burns for the epoxy and paint to cure, don't want the fumes going on food.

If I came across and old kamado I'd enjoy rebuilding it also, lot's of history there. Trouble is, low fired kamados cannot take the drastic cold winters deep in the heart of Wisconsin where I live.

Nice to see a rescued ceramic cooker. Enjoy!