Baffle plate/fat catcher in vertical warmer box/cook chamber

[Kiwi Dan]

Hi guys, I am into my reverse flow offset smoker and have some questions regarding the cook chamber I am putting above the FB. I have 2 x 6 inch flues between the FB and warming box. I want to be able to use it as a warming chamber and as a vertical smoker. Was thinking I would install a baffle plate “pan” that is approximately 1 and a half inches short of touching the WB sides to diffuse the heat and smoke and catch most of the fat when hot smoking. Also thought I would install this 2 inches above the FB top( insulated FB) The box is approximately 500mm deep x 700 wide x 950 high. Standard grates apart seem to be 6-7 inches? Sound good? Also was wondering how tall flies on top should be? Aiming on 6 inches x 2.
Also has anyone had an opening from CC of main smoker come into WB? Was going to run a 8 inch pipe directly through that I can control with a sliding grate. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated

 

[JLeonard]

No help from here...But I'll bump it.
And thats gonna be beast.

Jim

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Hi guys, I am into my reverse flow offset smoker and have some questions regarding the cook chamber I am putting above the FB. I have 2 x 6 inch flues between the FB and warming box. I want to be able to use it as a warming chamber and as a vertical smoker. Was thinking I would install a baffle plate “pan” that is approximately 1 and a half inches short of touching the WB sides to diffuse the heat and smoke and catch most of the fat when hot smoking. Also thought I would install this 2 inches above the FB top( insulated FB) The box is approximately 500mm deep x 700 wide x 950 high. Standard grates apart seem to be 6-7 inches? Sound good? Also was wondering how tall flies on top should be? Aiming on 6 inches x 2.
Also has anyone had an opening from CC of main smoker come into WB? Was going to run a 8 inch pipe directly through that I can control with a sliding grate. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated

 

[Kiwi Dan]

No help from here...But I'll bump it.
And thats gonna be beast.

Jim

Thanks Jim, loving the fabrication and working it out

 

[Newglide]

I agree with JLeonard , no help from me but it is gonna be a beast!
There are people who know alot more about that here than I will ever know,
Keep poasting pics of the progress, looks awesome so far

 

[Kiwi Dan]

I agree with JLeonard , no help from me but it is gonna be a beast!
There are people who know alot more about that here than I will ever know,
Keep poasting pics of the progress, looks awesome so far

Thanks mate, will keep the pics coming as I build it. Have a cook for 100 or so people in a month so keeping it cranking in the evenings and weekends

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Progress today. Boxed out and welded frame, insulated( probably not necessary but used up some scrap) and welded on the front of the fire box. Tomorrow need to grind back and then fill any pin holes then start on the door

 

[JckDanls 07]

My problem (thoughts) would be that a slide gate will eventually become gummed up with fat/oil/grease ...

Really like the idea/gate you have to close off the CC... Kinda thinking a wide enough flat bar welded onto it... so when you open CC it will close the WB off. Make it adjustable to controll heat going into WB... ??

 

[JckDanls 07]

Looking at it some more... I would position it so when the WB is closed... The gate for the CC becomes a deflecter to help direct the heat going into the CC... Maybe a 20-30 degree angle ??

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Looking at it some more... I would position it so when the WB is closed... The gate for the CC becomes a deflecter to help direct the heat going into the CC... Maybe a 20-30 degree angle ??

I like that idea, need to come up with some sort of adjustable latch to hold the handle at either full open or on an angle as you suggest. Thanks

 

[Kiwi Dan]

My problem (thoughts) would be that a slide gate will eventually become gummed up with fat/oil/grease ...

Really like the idea/gate you have to close off the CC... Kinda thinking a wide enough flat bar welded onto it... so when you open CC it will close the WB off. Make it adjustable to controll heat going into WB... ??

I have welded up some angle and have some flat bar that slides back and fourth so can be adjusted for how open/closed it is. Are you meaning concerned about slide gate between cook chamber and WB next to flue or directly above FB?

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Welded on front of box, grinding, welding and more grinding, sanding:) steel for door had a 1/8 bow up so clamped to bench, tack welded then welded on the sides which acted as a strong back/lintel . Welded the back of the door on and it held straight when I cut the door off the table. Next job is too cut and re weld the baffle plate, install into the CC then weld the FB on. Have a long weekend this week so hope to smash a bit out

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Welded on front of box, grinding, welding and more grinding, sanding:) steel for door had a 1/8 bow up so clamped to bench, tack welded then welded on the sides which acted as a strong back/lintel . Welded the back of the door on and it held straight when I cut the door off the table. Next job is too cut and re weld the baffle plate, install into the CC before welding the FB on

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Weekend so far has been pretty big, adjusted and welded on the FB hinges, discovered baffle plate had pretty horrible smelling paint so spent couple hours to sand it off pre installing it into the CC. Tacked on the FB to the CC then spent along time figuring out angles of flue. 10 cuts later got it in. Tacked some steel and made some goal posts so I could square the flue sideways of them then recut the flue another few times before getting it welded on. Then fully welded the FB onto the CC. Marked out and cut the doors!! Looking like a smoker now. Welded the inside of all the patches and now my gas has just ran out. 2 more days of this long weekend so should make a bit more of a dent. First smoke is booked in a fortnight’s time so will keep pumping it

 

[JLeonard]

Looking good!

Jim

 

[Newglide]

Making good progress. That thing is gonna hold a lot of meat.

 

[Kiwi Dan]

Decided not to cut baffle plate in half and re weld so fat falls to centre, just tapered the baffle plate by 10mm which gave it a slight fall from one end to the other. Spent several more hours grinding rust and cleaning oil/grease out before welding in baffle plate and fat outlet. Made my dam at the end from a piece of pipe so the smoke has a rounded edge to curl around( realise it will probably do not much but like the look of it anyway) welded my sliding rack slides in. I live on a farm and intend smoking a few whole lambs and pigs which to future proof myself so I can fit them in lengthways I made the middle rack slides removable. Took an extra 3 hours or so but happy with the result. Means I can have one large animal in the bottom or 2 animals next to each other. Tomorrow hopefully get the doors on and bottom racks built