marauders

Rarely clean mine out the ash protects the bottom from heat same as your fireplace protects the fire brick

Ive Used Amaco Kiln Cement to repair

i also only used the bottom gasket start half open bottom slide same for the top once you see temps climb shut bottom to a sliver adjust the final temps with the top

as far as cost they retail new 3k

this a Richard johnson K-7 i have one from the same mfg era .....these on this stand seem to very well built refractory concrete and weight 600Lbs parts are available thru galaxy outdoor L V Nev

Pics?

500$ buy a Kamado with a good reputation for warranty

looks all good you may have something there .... charcoal wood light it set the stone never fill after lighting anyhow ... good idea

Amaco Blick --- Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=amaco+kiln+cement&sprefix=amaco+kiln%2Caps%2C226&crid=JMAF2YNDJJO2

ive used Kiln cement and it also works well for crack repairs https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwj49uvYr9bcAhUEhMgKHVvhBKsYABAWGgJxdQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESEeD2d5sZtCYdtVDkvgXLaSRK&sig=AOD64_2BCb_HWMy9k9uXw2jpIbfngUJOrA&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwjQ_-TYr9bcAhXPxVkKHbnHAlsQ9aACCDs&adurl=

try https://www.kickashbasket.com/ most have gone to using a stainless wire basket in place of the original earthen clay cookware , which is quite different than todays modern ceramics ... best suggestion is to keep the temperatures under 400 degrees

i love my mine i hope you can get it restored it is the next best refractory cement kamado next to the Komodo Kamado

i really could relate to his dry sense of humor .. sorry to hear about this and to his family!

i wouldn't remove tiles that are solid.....use vegetable oil .. and the top screw spindle i now use a Party Q Guru controller.. wonderful invention

i started just like a tile job.. bottom up.. its not a perfect science to putting a flat tile on a round surface. just know your grout job will make up the difference!