What's Up With The Dimples?

[gilbertpilz]

This is a silly question, but I got to wondering about the dimple pattern you see on the exteriors of most ceramic kamados. Is that just a stylistic thing, or is there some ceramo-mechanical (I just made that word up) reason for those dimples?

[GolfGeezer]

Inventor is a golfer. Gotta have dimples to put spin on it and go the distance.

[gilbertpilz]

Given how old kamados are, it is probably the case that they have been used as improvised mortar shells in a war or two. Pack a small one full of gunpowder and yeet it over the castle wall with a catapult.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

supposedly it reduces the chances of the glaze cracking from repeated thermal expansion and contraction. I would argue it's also an easy way to hide imperfections just like brooming concrete.

[Troutman]

Brooming concrete is more about slip resistance although it accomplishes both.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Troutman I know, but it's often used to cover up imperfections instead of doing a quality job on things like equipment pads, decorative edging etc... and then hyped as an aesthetic upgrade

[bbqLuv]

The Dimples are for Aerodynamic Air Flow, in theory, slow down the cooling process and retain internal heat. They also help provide strain relief on the surface to help prevent premature cracking. Just guessing don't you know. A clue I have not.
But in truth the dimples pair well with PBR.

[Troutman]

I heard if you pour PBR continuously over the dimpled surface while simultaneously ingesting the very same, you get a thermodynamic cooling affect that's described in this formula;

c = pbr/ (1030 kg/m3)+drink/3150j/(kgK)+a lot/0.35W/(mK)

Of course as always its best if the PBR is ice cold !!

[FireMan]

Just like Ruffles have ridges, Kamados have dimples.

Don’t ya’ll love it when science meets the Pit?

[gilbertpilz]

Wait. Does that mean I'm supposed to smear sour cream and onion dip on my kamado? Would *that* pair well with PBR? This is all so complicated ...

[Troutman]

FireMan A poet and don't know it !! Or is that a riddler?? Oh never mind...

[Huskee]

Good question, I guess I always attributed it to the molds but hadn't though much about it past that. On a similar note I always wondered why AquaFresh toothpaste has the 3 swirling colors. Are we getting 2 extra better substances when we use it vs the others?

[gilbertpilz]

Four out of five dentists always recommend brushing with some brand or other of toothpaste. What's up with that fifth dentist? Does she/he not think we should brush or just not with toothpaste?

[bbqLuv]

I use toothpaste to wash my hands when fishing. It cleans off the human scent.

[Oak Smoke]

The dimples make it hard to see a reflection of yourself. As you grow older that's an option you will appreciate.