ndg_2000

Yes this is what I do just invest in a good pair of BBQ gloves

You may be better using brake caliper paint as it's formulation is for high temperature application

Hi If you search the forum for Kinuurayaki pottery you may find a few threads here that will help nige

Hobbies other than cooking DIY I have uploaded some photos of my previous projects here. I enjoy Woodturning (I'm still learning) and I also enjoy riding my motorcycle which my friend has just finished a complete overhaul/rebuild on for me

I usually put my hand in the smoke coming out of my top vent and then smell that. I gives a good indication of what the meat will taste of

I don't think it antique I think it's from either the 60's or 70's. If you are planning to use it I would not be looking to go over 300f as the ceramic that it is made from won't take those temperatures. If you have a look through the treads here there are some rebuild threads with very similar kamados featured

If you take off the back plate off the hinge then remove the springs (easiest done when the lid is open) you need someone holding the handle to make sure the lid doesn't slam down. Then with the lid closed as best you can you should be able to loosen the band's enough to adjust the hinge band's so the lid will close. Then tighten up the bands replace the springs and the back plate and you should be good to go. I wouldn't advise adjusting the bands in place without taking the springs off the hinge. I have heared they can move with some force.

Something like this would hold the fire box together and it's adjustable if it loosens off

I would do the same as most of the kamados on here do and add a layer to your lid as well it should help even out the differences between the lid and base

hi i wouldn't purposely break the kamado base just to glue the sections together. I have seen people on here use fibre glass matting and the type of fire cement you have to glue up fire boxes that have cracked. you have to make sure the inside of the kamado is spotlessly clean even if that means sanding the inside, either side of the crack and scraping out where the crack is and driving in the fire cement with a scraper into the crack from the inside. then apply the fibre glass matting then apply the fire cement over the top and smooth out. leave this to dry out for a few day

if you put another layer of nomex on the top you wont have any problems again with the top vent . you may have a bit of fun getting the top vent settled down on it but after that and a few cooks it beds in and wont fall off i did this mod as mine was loose

I would love to but I'm the wrong side of the Atlantic

I have e decided this is the last time I'm going through this process to fix up this keg kamado. its not that i dont use it, i do its just that the time and effort and money i have spent on re-making the interior each year i could buy a mini ceramic kamado and get the same use of it. Right after looking carefully at the damage i could see the insulating concre was too soft to support the stress of the fire cement being knocked together when the lid was closing. With that i mind i decided to firm up the concrete with water glass (Sodum silicate) before re applying the fire cement.

Have a look at this thread to see what can go wrong if this is the kamado I think it is

That looks like the older Richard Johnson kamado to me so might not be worth that much. Someone who knows more than me hopefully will be along soon. Check the top cap to see if it moves and is free, CAREFULLY check the inside for evidence of cracking and the outside for lifting tiles. If all of the above is ok you might be able to snap a bargain