Vintage Kamados

[swamprb]

Hey all! I'd like to share some pics of my collection of vintage Japanese Kamados that I have refurbished over the last few years. I've been fascinated by these oriental cookers ever since I was a kid and a neighbor stationed in Japan in the late 60's brought one back with him. About 16 years ago I found my first, an Imperial Kamado at a garage sale for $15. I never could get it to do low n' slow efficiently and used it mainly as a grill. Then I attended a BBQ competition in Seattle and a guy was cooking on a Big Green Egg, I hung around and told him about mine, and my lack of knowledge in using it as a smoker. He took the time to show me how to regulate the draft, adjust the damper and advised me to get a decent thermometer, and hipped me to the BGE. I didn't know it at the time, but it was Ray Lampe-DrBBQ! And cooking with him that day were Chris Lilly and Jim Minion! I got inspired to refurbish mine and the rest is history, I was hopelessy hooked on BBQ'n!

Imperial Kamado Modern Style Large


I replaced the rusted out slide draft door and added a BGE spring assist hinge, and built a table for it to nest in next to my old ceramic Big Green Egg


I used the repair tips from the Imperial Kamado website and found that they are pretty easy to work on, though time consuming, I found that I really enjoyed refurbishing these old eggs!
Imperial Kamado, traditional charcoal cooker/smoker

I found a couple old Chinese/Taiwanese "Big Green Eggs" that I repaired then sold, for some reason they just don't move me, but are fun to work on.












And they just kept coming! Here is an Imperial Kamado Medium Modern style. Before













After




Here are some Traditional style Japanese Kamados with the plug to regulate air intake.
Large Sakura Kamado









Hibachi Pot Medium
















Fuji Kamado "Barbecue Pot" Medium Made by Noritake China







My trusty old ceramic Big Green Egg even needed repairs and is now in a new nest.







Egg Family portrait



East meets West



I use JB-Weld, Hercules Hi-Temp Furnace cement and Rutland Stove and Gasket cement on the earthenware Kamados with good success,since they are made of fire clay, but found only the JB-Weld adheres to the ceramic of the Big Green Egg. I'm hoping to get a replacement bottom from BGE if they have an old one in stock, they have changed molds several times over the years and the new ones are larger (and heavier).



If you have an old claypot Kamado, they may look like a BGE, Primo or Grill Dome, but need to fired differently. They use less coals, and you add fuel as you cook, almost like stoking an offset. The Naked Whiz has the original Pachinko Palace Kamado Cookbook and Manual, that is essential to have if you own one. There are also Manuals for the Fuji and Sakura Kamados as well.
Information Central -- The Naked Whiz's Ceramic Charcoal Cooker Page

Japanese Kamado/Hibachi
Japanese Kamado/Hibachi



Hope you enjoy them and if you have one I'd love to see it!

[swamprb]

Spare parts that came with the Large Imperial Kamado
Ring and charcoal grate

[swamprb]

[jon]

Those are cool Brian, thanks for sharing. While I have seen the BGEs before, I must admit that I had never even heard of the Kamados, I'll have to keep an eye on Craigslist and such. I too love to tinker and fix old stuff.

[The Big Pig]

That is just about the coolest thing I've seen. Your collection is inspiring. I've bid on a few Kamados on eBay but they always fetch a higher price than I've been willing to part with.

I also didn't realize JB Weld works under such extreme temps.

[swamprb]

The JB-Weld will degrade if used over 500* in say the firebox, I just use it to set the broken joints then cover with furnace cement. The lids and bottoms don't get that hot and its fine for them.

[BrooklynQ]

Here's some pics of mine that I bought on craigslist for $100. Never been used. I think it's from the 1960's.









If anyone knows how this thing goes together for use, I'd appreciate hearing from you. What are all those parts?

[The Big Pig]

If anyone knows how this thing goes together for use, I'd appreciate hearing from you. What are all those parts?

You may want to check out some of the links Brian posted. Also, his 16th picture shows how those pieces go together.

On second thought, I think you should box it all up and ship it to me.:D

You guys are killing me. I have such cooker envy now.

[The Big Pig]

Here's some pics of mine that I bought on craigslist for $100. Never been used. I think it's from the 1960's.

I would think an antique cooker like that which has never been used is worth a lot more than one that has been used. It may have extra value to a collector. If it were me, I'd want to find that out before cooking on it.

[BrooklynQ]

I would think an antique cooker like that which has never been used is worth a lot more than one that has been used. It may have extra value to a collector. If it were me, I'd want to find that out before cooking on it.

That's been the dilemma. A friend told me that it could fetch as much as 2K on EBay, so my daughter wants me to sell it and take her to Disney. Whenever I've watched EBay or Craigslist, I never see these things go for anywhere near that.


What would you do?