Preparing for my first build

garretthall29

Fire Starter

Original poster

Apr 20, 2010

35

10

• Apr 29, 2010

• #1

I am planning on build an offset style with the cooking chamber to be rectangle in shape. the dimensions im thinking are making it 5ft in length 2ft wide and maybe 30" tall. Im thinking by making it that tall I could have two cooking grates with 10" clearance each, effectively doubling my cooking area. my first question is should I make this a reverse flow or not and y. I would like some input from someone that has experience with both styles. more questions will follow once I determine which way I want to go.

 

thunderdome

Master of the Pit

Nov 19, 2009

1,034

27

Casa Grande, AZ

• Apr 29, 2010

• #2

I posted a thread about some of the big pit makers, and how some are reverse flow, and some arent. There's some good opinions here that might help with your decision
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=93110

The end result seemed to be a "to each his own". And those who "know" their pit and it's ins-and-outs are better off.

If youre a fabricator, I suggest making it traditional at first, and get to know how it cooks, the hot spots, etc. and if you aren't pleased after many cooks with it, later go back and move your smoke stack and add your reverse flow plate

 

garretthall29

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 20, 2010

35

10

• Apr 29, 2010

• #3

Im not sure I was clear about the two grates. I mean that there will a second grate above the main one that will have the same clearance as the bottom one vs what you usually get with a circular cooking chamber where the top is usually quite a bit smaller in terms of clearance to the top

 

garretthall29

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 20, 2010

35

10

• Apr 29, 2010

• #4

if I go with the tradional method I want to be able to put tuning plates in it. how far above the opening from the fire box should it be and then how far above that should the bottom grate be? oh yeah...also how big should the opening be?

 

thunderdome

Master of the Pit

Nov 19, 2009

1,034

27

Casa Grande, AZ

• Apr 29, 2010

• #5

Let me know if this site helps any.

I know there are plenty of skilled builders here. Let's bump this up till you get a qualified answer.

http://webpages.charter.net/tomchism...alculators.htm

BBQ Engineer's post might help too

 

garretthall29

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Apr 20, 2010

35

10

• Apr 29, 2010

• #6

yeah that spread sheet helped a ton for all my openings dimensions. now if someone could tell me about how far above the opening do i put my tuning plate and then how far above that should i have my grates, that would pretty much answer all my questions for now if i do decide to go traditional.