MES Hot Spot

I had a couple of pieces of 3/16 steel laying around That I used. I cleaned them up with an angle die grinder. Than did season run on my smoker. It coated them in a nice golden color. They were ready to use with some meat. I have another solution rolling in my head I just need the time.

This is what I have been using, a insulated cookie sheet wrapped in alum foil. You may have to worry about the cooking tray's embedded insulation burning, but so far I haven't had a problem I double or triple wrap the tray.

Look at the bottom image, see comments there....








This image is the side that faces down inside the MES. You can clearly see the outline of the protective shell for the elements and wood chip tray. The left side of this image is the right corner of the MES. Some observations:
• The left corner is NOT the hottest spot, you can easily tell by how dark the alum foil has turned.
• The area directly between the element protective housing and back wall is the hotest. Notice that to the left (when in MES) of my heat baffle shows it is hotter than the right (which in the image below the right is hotter). This is a little puzzling because the right wall of the MES around the feeder tube really gets hot to the touch. So why doesn't that heat reflect on this heat baffle? I think it is due to the cool air coming in from both the vent holes and whatever air leakage the feeder tube allows in. Not sure just a guess.

Go the the hardware store and get some fire bricks. They shouldn't crack unless they get super super hot.

Isn't 3/4" a bit thick and cause the water pan to NOT rest on the rack's support rails?