Help w/ intake, please.

[xtexan]

I am having difficulty getting enough air in the main chamber when I foil and switch to gas, it continues to go out at low temps. I am thinking of having a door cut on the inside of the fire box that sits next to the chamber(see pics) and use this as my intake.The door would be installed on the left side below the lower grate. Obviously I would keep this closed when stick burning. The burner in the chamber is approx, 4 1/2' long. I hope this is enough info...

Can anyone think of a better place to have this door cut out?

Thanks,

Will
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/c...Picture003.jpg
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...Picture005.jpg

 

[pigcicles]

What do you use for the air intake now? If you open the door to the firebox would that be enough air to keep the burner going? I can't imagine that it wouldn't be unless there isn't enough draw through the box to the stack while running the gas.

Are you certain that the regulator is good on your gas burner?

 

[xtexan]

That is what I was hoping for, but the unit uses a top baffle system and the burner is at the bottom of the smoker and the air just will not make it all the way to the bottom.

 

[xtexan]

Oh yea, it is a new regulator, but it could be bad.

 

[richtee]

Ideally, you'd have an opening for combustion air directly below the burner, and let convection do it's thing. But I WOULD check the reg...

 

[xtexan]

Honestly the propane part of this thing has been a dissapointment. It is basically a pipe w/ holes drilled in it that connects to a gas hook up. I am looking to replace the burners but have no idea where to start. I was thinking about using two grill inserts at the bottom of the unit and doing away w/ the home made pipe. Any ideas????

I have to say that the construction of the unit(smoker) is great but this guy did take some lame a$$ shortcuts.

Should have sold my house, both vehicles, and a kid and bought a Klose!!!

 

[ds7662]

Need more info on the burner? If it is just a black iron pipe with holes how is it attached to the gas line?
Somewhere on that burner should be what is called a "venturi" This is what allows O2 to mix with the propane for proper combustion.
On the venturi opening is usually a piece of metal that moves to allow more air to the burner or less which ever its needs. To much air and the flames lift and could cause it to go out. Not enough air and it would go out. Also should be some kind of orifice on the end of the tube. Need to make sure that is the right one as well.

 

[~kev~]

I am going to guess that Picture005.jpg is your firebox?

It looks like the builder used 3/8 plate steel for the door and sheet metal for the firebox cylinder? Is that mesh what the wood sits on? It looks like the vent is too small for the size of the firebox.

If I were you, I would cut an hour glass design in that door. PLUS, I would get rid of that mesh and use grating (aka - catwalk material).

I just took these pictures just for this reply. A buddy of mine built this door for me, so I can not claim the credit for the design. The bolt in the middle has a filter spring out of a truck motor on the back side. This provides tension to keep the door from just closing or opening real easy.

My air vent in the closed position


Air vent in the open position. I did not see the cat until just now. It must have been standing on the trailer.


In this picture you can see the grating material inside the firebox. The wood is held a full inch off the bottom of the firebox. The slats in the grating run long ways in the firebox allowing air to get under the wood.

 

[short one]

XTexan, maybe I'm missing something, but are you trying to use the air in the heat or smoking chamber to mix with your gas to fire your burner? IMHO you should have an outside fresh air intake to feed air to your burner for proper operation. I didn't see the burner in any of your pics. Like I said maybe I missed something or am totally lost.