Am i Screwed?

[blackalak]

So I realized kinda late that my firebox to CC is probably too small, and I'm not even sure where to start to modify my smoker without it looking like a hack job, so upset because I just finished welding the CC to the firebox today and its double-layered insulated firebox and now i have no idea if it will even work the reverse flow plate is 1/4 steel firebox is 1/8" and CC is 12g water expansion tank exhaust was going to be 4"x30"

CC is ~24x41 or 18538 cu in

FB is 6800 cu in

FB to CC opening is ~49 Sq in

 

[fullborebbq]

Not sure you will have an issue. With an insulated FB the heat will travel to the CC regardless to the size of the transfer port.

 

[mike243]

Looks great, I will bet it will work fine for most smoking and if any problems it would be a a very hot smoke 300+ and may not then, the longer stack will help the draft . I wouldn't change any thing , don't paint it till you run a test fire and piddle with it for several hours.

 

[daveomak]

Do you want to make it right ???

 

[hoity toit]

Standard Reverse Flow Smoker Calculator... by DaveOmak and others... Ready to use.. rev5.. 6/19/15.

Mike From Texas, thanks for the revue of our tutorial... Most folks have found the same...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[smokin peachey]

Did you install the RF plate yet? How much space between the top of the FB and the reverse flow plate?

 

[blackalak]

Do you want to make it right ???

Haha I do

 

[blackalak]

Did you install the RF plate yet? How much space between the top of the FB and the reverse flow plate?

I have not installed the RF plate yet I have 4-5” to the bottom of the RF plate from the opening top, then another 4” to the first cook grate, I’m guessing my only option currently is to cut off both “tops” of the firebox and make the FB to CC opening 2” taller as well as the whole firebox which will suck Bc I had some dimes laid on the top of the firebox

 

[smokin peachey]

What if you cut the top off and raised the opening 2” and sloped it down to the existing height at the FB door? Then it might look more like you had planned it. Also some upper air inlets might be needed but Dave will tell you about that.

 

[daveomak]

With a cut off disc and angle grinder, cut the FB loose.... Raise the cut out, in the CC, to get to the~79 sq. in. opening and fit up the FB to the new opening....

 

[blackalak]

With a cut off disc and angle grinder, cut the FB loose.... Raise the cut out, in the CC, to get to the~79 sq. in. opening and fit up the FB to the new opening....

Thats what i ended up doing, hole is now 88.691 sq in what a fuckstory that was ended up plasma cutting the whole top off both the inside and outside boxes welding 2.5” risers on to both inner and outer box adding more insulation and then re welding both tops back on then ran out of Argon before I finshed the last weld now my issue is my draft door is probably not big enough, but idc at this point lol if I need more air will just open the door to the FB my chimney is supposed to be about 30” I think being a 4” ID pipe, any advice on placement height? Top of the CC or mid CC?

 

[daveomak]

Draft door is fine.... It is sized to the cu. in. of the CC.... Everything is sized to the CC...

 

[blackalak]

updates fixed it all also got my RF plate in with a slight (1” downward slop to the drain pipe for cleaning, pan is also set up to be filled with water when I’m done welding the damn on the drain side

 

[daveomak]

Upper and lower air inlets to the FB are a pretty necessary item... Allows you to move the hot air from the FB to the CC WITHOUT adding any air to the fire...
20/80%.... upper and lower inlets...

 

[blackalak]

Upper and lower air inlets to the FB are a pretty necessary item... Allows you to move the hot air from the FB to the CC WITHOUT adding any air to the fire...
20/80%.... upper and lower inlets...

I may have to add that later, since i already have everything buttoned up, and almost finished,

 

[daveomak]

Gilly1
Newbie
So we got the project finished with Dave’s calculator this smoker uses 1 stick of wood an hour and holds perfect temps even though my son and I have never smoked meat before this thing runs flawless

 

[blackalak]

Gilly1
Newbie
So we got the project finished with Dave’s calculator this smoker uses 1 stick of wood an hour and holds perfect temps even though my son and I have never smoked meat before this thing runs flawless

View attachment 444200

only part of daves calculator im a litte confused on is the chimney portion, based on volume my 4" ID pipe should be ~32" in length but then it says something along the lines of it needs to be 36" over the top of the chamber?

 

[daveomak]

Yep... If the chimney fits the numbers at say... 20-30" .... just make it 36" above the CC.... Draft is created by differential pressures... Hot air is less dense.... The air pressure changes with every inch of elevation... Alien and Friends noted... 36" seems to be the optimum stack height for good air flow... Not too tall, not too short... Just right...

 

[blackalak]

Yep... If the chimney fits the numbers at say... 20-30" .... just make it 36" above the CC.... Draft is created by differential pressures... Hot air is less dense.... The air pressure changes with every inch of elevation... Alien and Friends noted... 36" seems to be the optimum stack height for good air flow... Not too tall, not too short... Just right...

Made the chimney 36” over the top of the CC today, (42” overall length) buttoned it all up and started a fire to burn all the crap off the inside And used 3 logs of pecan, shit got so hot the metal discolored, I am not running any water in the reverse flow plate, and just left my air door wide open, is this normal? I also would like to add the 3 logs have been burning steady In there for just over 2 hours now and still probably have another hour or two left of them keeping this think hot AF

 

[daveomak]

Read post #14....