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Char-Griller Pro

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midnight a~ 1/4 smoke

midnight a~ 1/4 smoke

Fire Starter
Original poster
Sep 20, 2007
52
10
Hi all,

I am getting ready for the upcoming BBQ season.
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I need some advice, should I remove the original exhaust stack and move it to the opposite side making the smoker a reverse flow unit. If I do this I will install a baffle to direct the heat down then use a 1 piece tuning plate so the heat will flow under it and rise up to the grates and flow across the meat back to the stack. Correct?

Opinions on this setup, is there any advantage to a reverse flow smoker? I want to really even out the temps across the entire grate. I am only using 1/2 the unit because of the temp being to high at the firebox side.

Thanks
 
I have a Char-Griller Pro myself. Gramason has some mods to do on this unit. One thing you can do on evening out the heat is to flip the charcoal tray upside down so it will distribute the heat better. I tried this out on mine Sunday and it seemed to help alot. Another thing he will tell you is to add some aluminum dryer ducting to the exhaust to bring it down to the cooking grates. If he sees this thread he will help you out. I don't think you need to move the stack.
 
Thanks Daniel,

I have seen the posts on extending the exhaust stack. To be honest the upper rack if not removed is really in the way for that Mod. If I did the baffle with tuning plate that may be a way to go, I really would like to find out more about reverse flow.

These BBQ's are not very efficient, until I get the time/money to build a real HD unit I just want to get the most out of this one, it is a good smoker.
 
I have a Char-Griller and have done quite a bit of mods, ecspecially with tuning plates. When you speak of reversing the smoke flow , I am thinking the smoke will not travel so much through the smoker and pretty much just go straight up and out of the smoker on the side of the smoker you do not have your food on?

I purchased my Char-Griller last summer and only go to use it about a dozen times; then I parked it for the winter. But I have been thinking alot about evening out the temperature through out the entire smoke chamber by mounting another firebox on the other side and using less charcoal on both sides. To me this makes tons of sense, am I not thinking right?

If this does make sense I am thinking of adding a brinkman side firebox to the left side.....
 
Pork, try flipping your charcoal rack over like Cook said, or installing a baffle from the fire box. The reverse flow idea sounds pretty good, it would be nice to even out the heat a little more.
 
I disagree with you on this, lot of guy's here with that unit that have the temp evened out pretty good, do a little research on the mod's (there's a lot of them) and take time to learn your pit and you will be rewarded!!
wink.gif
 
I don't think the reverse flow concept is necessarily a bad idea, but if you do it, I think you will need a full sheet of steel on the bottom with only an opening on the left side (opposite of the firebox on the char-griller, for all you Brinkmanites). I've been tempted with the Lang style, but have abandoned the thought because I think the Char-griller is just too short to benefit from it. I'm just concerned you are going to replace one hot spot for another. The only benefit I see is that the sheet on the bottom will obsorb some of the temperature, acting like a heat sink, and radiate it upward.

I would suggest however, if you do try it, don't mount the new stack on top. Mount it on the right side of the door, just past the swing point of the firebox lid.

Also, Lang shapes his bottom sheet with a "V" in the center of the plate to give the drippings some place to go. I think I would add some kind of drain, or at least make the plate removable so you can clean.

Keep us updated!
 
I did not mean to talk down anyone's rig. I like mine, what I was trying to say is the unit is great for the price but the construction is thin walled metal not to good at holding heat and it does leak smoke pretty bad. But it will make some great BBQ, no doubt about it.
 
No problem bro, it's a great starter pit with a couple of mod's, but i would'nt bother going as far as a reverse flow, like ya said, it's thin and drafty!!
wink.gif
 
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