Added pic My first reverse flow smoker build

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Not the best pic. I wish I would have gotten one right off the smoker. I was in a hurry we decided to go visit my girlfriend’s friend and husband before the friend has their baby in a few days. So we took dinner also. Bacon was perfectly cooked not over or under done and the meatloaf was very moist. Over all very good dinner. The baked potatoes with butter and garlic wrapped in foil and in the smoker was the side. They were perfect also. Messed with vents as advised in earlier posts. Temp was more under control and coal bed lasted way longer. I think I am getting on to it. Also the CC was way closer in temps too to bottom and side to side only had about a 30 degree difference top and bottom versus 60-70 before.
 

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Not the best pic. I wish I would have gotten one right off the smoker. I was in a hurry we decided to go visit my girlfriend’s friend and husband before the friend has their baby in a few days. So we took dinner also. Bacon was perfectly cooked not over or under done and the meatloaf was very moist. Over all very good dinner. The baked potatoes with butter and garlic wrapped in foil and in the smoker was the side. They were perfect also. Messed with vents as advised in earlier posts. Temp was more under control and coal bed lasted way longer. I think I am getting on to it. Also the CC was way closer in temps too to bottom and side to side only had about a 30 degree difference top and bottom versus 60-70 before.
Oh man yeah....giving me a chance to use that 🤤 emoji! Looks good.

Jim
 
First off Happy Father’s Day to whoever see this. I think I am getting the hang of the smoker. Spatchcock chicken and a ritz cracker take on jalapeño poppers. It all turned out awesome.
 

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Probably be my last post in this thread. Holy smoker is in its final resting place. It’s been a ton of work start to finish. I want to thank everyone involved with help and ideas on my questions. I will try to remember to post pics in the food section. My last few cooks where crazy with friends family and my daughters knee surgery. She doing well also. So sorry for that lacking updated on those cooks. I hope this can help someone in the future also. I will say this if I was to build one this size again. I need a bigger area to work and it needs to be on a trailer. lol I built this in a 24’x12’ shed with stuff in it also lol. The smoker is 8.5’ x 5’ wide so really not a ton of room to work in but I managed. The shed is finally all cleaned up from the grinding dust and metal shavings and bits all over.
 

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So after several cooks on the build I have noticed about a 70 to 75 degree difference between top cooking grate and grate bottom. So I am thinking maybe my exhaust plenum should have been a little taller to maybe allow some of that hot air at the top of CC out. Maybe I don’t need to worry about it idk but if I have meat up there it will cook way faster or possibly dry it out. It burns and runs very steady temps just to top is a bit hotter. I wouldn’t mind 15 to 20 degrees but 70 is a bit much I feel. This is my only real complaint. Anyway if I put a say 4” pipe going from to of CC into exhaust to let out the temp would it work. I could even add a damper in it to adjust as needed to dial it in. I added a drawing of the basic idea. Thanks for the help and let me know your thoughts.
 

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Hey Irvin - that's definitely thinking outside the box. I have no idea if it would work - never saw or heard of anything similar...but I'd be curious to see how it worked.

I know 70* is a pretty big temp differential, but most guys who run an offset experience at least some difference. Most adjust for the temp differentials by periodically rotating meats from top to bottom or side to side. That could be at least a short term solution to your temp differentials.

Red
 
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Hey Irvin - that's definitely thinking outside the box. I have no idea if it would work - never saw or heard of anything similar...but I'd be curious to see how it worked.

I know 70* is a pretty big temp differential, but most guys who run an offset experience at least some difference. Most adjust for the temp differentials by periodically rotating meats from top to bottom or side to side. That could be at least a short term solution to your temp differentials.

Red
I do agree the will be some difference for sure. I wouldn’t mind if it was half the difference I am seeing. Yes for now rotating the food is certainly my fix. I am curios as well. I just might try it for next spring and just deal with it for now. I don’t see any real big cooks needing that much space in my really near future. I could always save the cut outs and tack the pipe in and try it if it does noting then weld the cutouts back in. I need to test my welder and plasma cutter first to be sure all is good since there was the flood doesn’t looks like they were effected much but idk for sure.
 
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I even have 1/4” plate left I could make a tube and weld in it. Instead of the pipe that I don’t have lol
 
HHMMMMM... I like the concept ... Kinda like the top intake vents, It's to help move the heat in... Your idea, in theory, Should then help remove the heat up top... HHHMMMMMM ...

I say give it a try, If not succesful you can always put it back to original... If it works, you can patent it... LOL ...
 
HHMMMMM... I like the concept ... Kinda like the top intake vents, It's to help move the heat in... Your idea, in theory, Should then help remove the heat up top... HHHMMMMMM ...

I say give it a try, If not succesful you can always put it back to original... If it works, you can patent it... LOL ...
That is exactly how I was thinking it would work. I will try it stay tuned lol. A pipe would look better than it being square 1/4” plate. I will have to see what I find around. I might just do it sooner than later. Idk just have to see what time allows once I get my place done from flood damage or possibly before since I buy a little bit of stuff here and there. Hell yeah on the patent then I could possibly get some cash back. 🤣🤣🤣
 
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With that in mind, I’d say Go for it! There’s nothing that can’t be undone if it doesn’t work out.

I’m very interested in seeing how this works out! :emoji_thumbsup:

Red
My thoughts exactly. Give me some time I will update the outcome.
 
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