Hello all

Please forgive me I am a metal guy. Also please forgive my spelling and grammer as I cant seem to go back and fix any thing I type.

I was asked to develop a wood pellet fired grill for a customer. My knee jerk is a sheet metal enclosure but I have come to the conclusion that a cerrmic type grill is the way to go. Some of you might be familar with the "egg" type BBQ's on the market. I have been looking at a solid slip cast type product from a two part mold, think of two halves about the size of a gas BBQ grill. This would not be a mold were you pour out the slip once a certian wall thickness is achived, I am assuming slip can be used to to make a solid peice. Again please humor me as I am not informed. I understand the slip molding process, There seems to be limit to the practical size of slip molding, I see were sinks and toilets are slip molded. Is the limit based on getting the green peice out of the mold and keeping it stable before firing?

Another question is slip type. The temp inside this grill would max out at maybe 900F on the high side. Seems like earthware type slips might be the right choice, do you want to keep the operating temp well below the firing temp / cone number? Should I be looking at a refractory type material?

Be nice to make this semi light both from a shipping stand point and insulating stand point. Looked into paper slip mix but wondered if the green piece can be glazed during intial firing as the paper out gasing may bubble the glaze. Any thing else you can add to the slip to promote weight saving and insulation while still allowing a one step fire/glaze process? This stuff looks realy fun but i need to be realistic.

My shop is too full of other hobbies for me to think about doing this myself, I am hoping to learn enough to approuch those who may be equiped and inclned to tackle such a project.

Thank you

Dave