Dusting off the old Hibachi

skynard · 05-22-2012, 05:49 PM

Hello all,

Just joined your forum and am looking for help with a summer project. I inherited and old "Hibachi" grill that my father left to me. The story was that it came home with him from Japan in the late 60s after being stationed there in the Air Force during Vietnam. Anyway, I can remember him cooking on it in the back yard when I was around 5 years old. When my mom had me over helping throw stuff out under the deck last year I saw it. I hadn't seen it in years and thought it was long gone. Dad broke and repaired it more than once and its in pretty rough shape, but I would love to get it back in working order. I love to grill and currently do my smoking on a Weber Performer, so this would make a nice addition to my back yard.

I have done some reading here and I think the correct term for this is a Kamado grill, but my Mom and Dad were stationed in Tokyo for 7 years and he always called it a Hibachi, so I am personally going to have to stick with that.

The grill is in such bad shape I am not sure where to start. I am almost afraid to take off the metal hoops/hinge for fear it will fall apart. I am looking for those with experience to help give me some advise before I get started.

All opinions welcome....

Skynard

Callahan-que · 05-22-2012, 05:52 PM

I think you should post some pics. And welcome to the forum

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

landarc · 05-22-2012, 05:55 PM

Yep, welcome to the forum and post some pics. There are some real experts on restoring these old ceramic cookers.

silverfinger · 05-22-2012, 06:08 PM

Welcome Skynard,
Post photos. I smoke out of a 50 year old Kamado and there are many here that have repaired them. look foreword to seeing the progress with your Family Hibachi!

swamprb · 05-22-2012, 06:16 PM

Pics are always appreciated! There are those of us that are fans of whatever you call them!

Please, just don't call it a.....

silverfinger · 05-22-2012, 11:23 PM

Thats a beauty right there!
That has lots of years left in it!
Very Fixable!

martyleach · 05-22-2012, 11:28 PM

Very nice. I can't help with the restoration but it is a great Dad memory. I too am a Vietnam Vet and have a lot of pride for your dad.

skullbone smoker · 05-23-2012, 04:03 AM

I remember coming back to CONUS from Yokosuka and Sasebo (Japan) on USS Constellation during the Vietnam years. There had to be at least 250 of these hibachis lashed to aything that would not move. We exhausted the supply of these from the Navy Exchanges all around - on both of my Yankee Station cruises. Good luck; and, as Marty said, take pride in your DAD.

DaveMW · 05-23-2012, 07:21 AM

What a great piece!

skynard · 05-23-2012, 07:14 PM

Here are a few pics. Looking for advice on the best way to proceed. Guess I will start by taking it apart and cleaning up...

skynard · 05-23-2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skullbone smoker

I remember coming back to CONUS from Yokosuka and Sasebo (Japan) on USS Constellation during the Vietnam years. There had to be at least 250 of these hibachis lashed to aything that would not move. We exhausted the supply of these from the Navy Exchanges all around - on both of my Yankee Station cruises. Good luck; and, as Marty said, take pride in your DAD.

I had no idea there were so many of these around. I've seen the Green Eggs but have never seen another old Japanese model till looking around here. Me, my brother and sister were all born in Tokyo, but moved back to the states at age 3 so don't remember anything from over there. Will be thinking of Dad and all other Veterans this Memorial Day....

Midnight Smoke · 05-23-2012, 11:32 PM

You have a good project there! Here is mine.

Before

After

skynard · 05-24-2012, 05:42 PM

That looks AWESOME! Did you sandblast it? Have any cracks that you needed to repair (what did you use). Did you use high temp paint/primer?

Thanks for the pics. Hope mine looks that good one of these days.

V-wiz · 05-24-2012, 05:50 PM

Wow awesome stuff there

05-22-2012, 05:49 PM	#1
skynard Found some matches. Join Date: 05-20-12 Location: Saint Louis, MO	Dusting off the old Hibachi Hello all, Just joined your forum and am looking for help with a summer project. I inherited and old "Hibachi" grill that my father left to me. The story was that it came home with him from Japan in the late 60s after being stationed there in the Air Force during Vietnam. Anyway, I can remember him cooking on it in the back yard when I was around 5 years old. When my mom had me over helping throw stuff out under the deck last year I saw it. I hadn't seen it in years and thought it was long gone. Dad broke and repaired it more than once and its in pretty rough shape, but I would love to get it back in working order. I love to grill and currently do my smoking on a Weber Performer, so this would make a nice addition to my back yard. I have done some reading here and I think the correct term for this is a Kamado grill, but my Mom and Dad were stationed in Tokyo for 7 years and he always called it a Hibachi, so I am personally going to have to stick with that. The grill is in such bad shape I am not sure where to start. I am almost afraid to take off the metal hoops/hinge for fear it will fall apart. I am looking for those with experience to help give me some advise before I get started. All opinions welcome.... Skynard Last edited by skynard; 12-08-2012 at 09:08 AM..

05-22-2012, 05:52 PM	#2
Callahan-que Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-18-10 Location: Callahan Fl Name/Nickname : Rick	I think you should post some pics. And welcome to the forum Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Rick

05-22-2012, 05:55 PM	#3
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	Yep, welcome to the forum and post some pics. There are some real experts on restoring these old ceramic cookers. __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

05-22-2012, 06:08 PM	#4
silverfinger Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-02-10 Location: Santa Poco.	Welcome Skynard, Post photos. I smoke out of a 50 year old Kamado and there are many here that have repaired them. look foreword to seeing the progress with your Family Hibachi! __________________ At my age, "A good fire is better then anything" Ten Bears. Dances With Wolves Smoking up the "Fattened Fat Of The Cow". Got a stick-burner! :mrgreen: UDS In Progress: Thank's Q-Junky! :thumb: Blackstone griddle. 50 year Old Imperial Kamado with ears. Fire pit. Weber Kettle.

05-22-2012, 06:16 PM	#5
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA	Pics are always appreciated! There are those of us that are fans of whatever you call them! Please, just don't call it a..... __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/Pellet Pro WSM/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Cookshack 008/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

05-22-2012, 11:23 PM	#6
silverfinger Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-02-10 Location: Santa Poco.	Thats a beauty right there! That has lots of years left in it! Very Fixable! __________________ At my age, "A good fire is better then anything" Ten Bears. Dances With Wolves Smoking up the "Fattened Fat Of The Cow". Got a stick-burner! :mrgreen: UDS In Progress: Thank's Q-Junky! :thumb: Blackstone griddle. 50 year Old Imperial Kamado with ears. Fire pit. Weber Kettle.

05-22-2012, 11:28 PM	#7
martyleach Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca	Very nice. I can't help with the restoration but it is a great Dad memory. I too am a Vietnam Vet and have a lot of pride for your dad. __________________ XL BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Santa Maria pit, 26" Weber custom performer, MAK One Star pellet cooker, 14.5" WSM, Jumbo Joe, WGA, Arte Flame griddle insert for the 26" Weber. Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) [url]http://www.amlwoodart.com[/url]

05-23-2012, 04:03 AM	#8
skullbone smoker Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 04-07-12 Location: Bartlett, TN	I remember coming back to CONUS from Yokosuka and Sasebo (Japan) on USS Constellation during the Vietnam years. There had to be at least 250 of these hibachis lashed to aything that would not move. We exhausted the supply of these from the Navy Exchanges all around - on both of my Yankee Station cruises. Good luck; and, as Marty said, take pride in your DAD.

05-23-2012, 07:21 AM	#9
DaveMW is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-31-10 Location: Livngston, Montana	What a great piece! __________________ [FONT=Century Gothic]Weber Kettle 22.5" Restored "J" - Black[/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic]Weber Kettle 22.5" "AT" - Black[/FONT] Weber Kettle 18.5" "DR" - Black Weber Jumbo Joe "AH" - Black [FONT=Century Gothic]Weber Smoky Joe "F"- Black[/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic]Weber Genesis - Black[/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic]Weber Go-Anywhere - Black[/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic]UDS - which surprisingly is not black[/FONT] [FONT=Century Gothic]Great Outdoors Smoky Mountain Smoker[/FONT]

05-23-2012, 07:14 PM	#10
skynard Found some matches. Join Date: 05-20-12 Location: Saint Louis, MO	Here are a few pics. Looking for advice on the best way to proceed. Guess I will start by taking it apart and cleaning up...

05-23-2012, 11:32 PM	#12
Midnight Smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-24-08 Location: Southern Arizona Desert	You have a good project there! Here is mine. Before After __________________ ************************ * Terry ~ aka Pork Smoker * XL-BGE Hatched 06/20/2008 09:42 pm ** * Couple Weber Kettles, CharGriller, UDS * * Ultra Fast Red Thermapen * Projects Kamado Restoration Bandera Restoration

05-24-2012, 05:42 PM	#13
skynard Found some matches. Join Date: 05-20-12 Location: Saint Louis, MO	That looks AWESOME! Did you sandblast it? Have any cracks that you needed to repair (what did you use). Did you use high temp paint/primer? Thanks for the pics. Hope mine looks that good one of these days.

05-24-2012, 05:50 PM	#14
V-wiz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-20-12 Location: Los Angeles CA	Wow awesome stuff there __________________ Wood Fired Brick Pizza Oven.Brick BBQ Pit.Kenmore SS Grill Weber OTG. Brinkmann Smoker.