i just couldn't stand to get rid of my old smoker. but the bellows
fabric, just a rubberized cloth weave, was peeling and so porous i couldn't get
any 'poof' from it anymore. the new smokers seemed too shiny. too
new. and those guard cages seemed like just another liability shield on my
lawnmower.
so i fixed it. here's what you do...
buy a tube of 100% silicone window caulk. go ahead and splurge and
get the 50 year stuff. clear. squeeze a bunch out onto the bellows
and slather it around thinly. do the whole bellows, not just where
the fabric seems worn. let it dry a couple days. it restored the
'POOF' and seems to be holding up quite well. thinly applied, it is
flexible and seals air pressure wonderfully.
and i still get to keep my encrusted, rusty smoker. :-)
-dan