Firebox and cracks

[Sappo]

I have a kamado that was built around 2002. The firebox recently fell apart but the rest of the K is in tact. There are cracks in the sides but they happened during the break in period. Has anyone used Rutland fireplace cement to fix a firebox and repair the cracks? Any other suggestions?

[CharlieBrown]

So we got the kids this ride-on jeep for Xmas. This particular morning a few weeks ago they were buzzing around the yard and backed up into the spring-prop. I told them to not run into anything and to put it in forward and in the midst of trying to get them on the right course they floored it in reverse again and knocked over my kamado.

CRACK!






Isn't it curious that it cracked in a stair-step pattern?






This crack was something I had noticed on the inside years ago-- it ran the circumference of the base about a foot down from the lip. When it fell, it just completely separated along that fracture line, all the way around.





Is that red cinder in there?

Anyway, I picked it up and got it put back in place. It went back together pretty decently. Fortunately it didn't just fall into two pieces when I lifted it, but I honestly have no idea what held it together.



So here it's back in place and looks mostly normal. I needed to do a complete band adjustment because they were shifted and/or warped in the fall, so it sat cocked open an inch or two. I needed to replace some tiles and grout. and whatnot.

http://imgur.com/6ROOW.jpg


Here's what I did. Took off the lid to work on the base alone.



But the base had filled with water from the recent storms:



Scooped it out and wiped it down.



Separated the crack with pencils and metal rods.









Filled the crack all around with Rutland's furnace cement. Replaced lid.
Used Rutland's to mortar the lost tiles.






Started a small fire... then a big one... cooked some chickens.



When it was all done, the seam was rock solid all around.



I also filled all internal and exterior cracks I could see, as well as patched the firebox a bit. Looks like Frankenstein is good for a few more years.

After baking, the Rutland's furnace cement is rock solid. I ordered mine on Amazon.

[img][/img]

[Sappo]

Did your firebox fall apart before the crash? It looks like mine.

[CharlieBrown]

No, it didn't fall apart... it had some cracks beforehand, and more pronounced cracks after the fall, but it's still holding. I filled all the cracks with Rutland's just for the heck of it.

If it DOES fall apart, I will be repairing it with Rutland's. The stuff works great. I also used it to install the the Komodo-Kamado spin top when my original spin top rusted solid and I broke off the neck trying to free it.

[tcoliver]

I think you mean a Krapado-Kamado as Komodo-Kamado spin tops do not rust.

[curly]

[CharlieBrown]

Exactly, I'm rocking a hybrid now. When the POSK top rusted shut, I got a replacement from KOmodo and did a whole re-fit.

All detailed here: http://komodokamado.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1009

Again, Rutland's is what you want, not some M-6xx crap from RJ.

Good luck!

[Unbelievable]

Majestic wrote:

[curly]

[CharlieBrown]

I did say that was the last time, didn't I?

Then, of course, when disaster strikes, I found I was much more interested in fixing it again than spending a lot of $$$.

Hehe.

[tcoliver]

Ah, now I understand. Just received my upgraded KK, go ahead bite the bullet its really worth it.

[dtruitt2]

I am interested in getting some struts for my kamado to help open/close the lid. Can you still buy replacement parts for these? If so could you let me know.

Thanks,

Derrick

[Admin]

You might try the forum at http://www.kamado.com/forum/

Those guys are likely your best/only chance at getting replacement parts.
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