This project continues from the previous post, “100-Liter Dye Pot | Building a Dyeing Kamado (Part 3): Test-Fitting the Pot”.
The dyeing kamado we began building for the 100-liter dye pot is finally starting to look nearly complete. As the brick exterior takes shape, we are also finishing the inside where the fire will burn. Something that once existed only in my head is becoming real, and that makes the work more exciting by the day 😁.
▼ The inside of the kamado for the 100-liter dye pot is nearly finished.
Separately from the kamado body, we made a mold in advance and cast the top section from refractory concrete. Since this is where the large pot will sit, we made a large circular opening in the center.
▼ The top section, made separately in a mold from refractory concrete.
We set this piece on top of the kamado and then placed the actual pot on it. I knew it should fit because I had built everything from careful measurements. Even so, I was a little nervous until the pot was actually in place.
▼ The refractory-concrete top is set on the kamado, and the 100-liter pot is placed in position. This is how the finished structure should look.
Ohhh! Looking good! 😁
Once the large pot was in place, what had looked like a construction site suddenly began to look like a real dyeing kamado. It should be useful for preparing large batches of dye liquor and dyeing bigger pieces of cloth.
But if we are going to build it, simply making it functional is not enough. I already like the red bricks. Still, I decided to cover the top of the kamado with the retro round tiles I had wanted to use for a long time.
▼ We begin covering the top of the dyeing kamado with retro round tiles.
As the tiles go on, the plain gray refractory concrete changes completely. With white round tiles against the red bricks, the kamado is taking on a slightly nostalgic look, almost as if it had always been here.
▼ The kamado for the 100-liter pot is now covered with most of its tiles and is nearly complete!
This dyeing kamado project began with the 100-liter dye pot. It has taken more time and effort than I expected. Because we have built it little by little around the way we actually work, I feel more attached to it as completion draws closer.
Just a little more!
Once it is finished, I want to put this large pot to work and make as many natural-dyed products as we can 😁.