Best metal for a diffuser

[roy richardson]

I need to make a couple of diffusers for my Big Baby and I was looking for some suggestions on what type of metal to use for the diffuser.

 

[addertooth]

Copper or Aluminum for heat transfer, Iron for durability.  Pyrolytic graphite for the ultimate in heat transfer and anisotropic thermal characteristics.  Heat conductivity superior to copper, Inert, and insulating properties in the Z axis.   

 

[roy richardson]

Stainless steel if it is available?

 

[wngsprnt50]

Ive just used regular steel or as lowes calls it "weldable" lol

Holds up well, cheap if it does need to be replaced.

 

[dtj16]

Adder- you sound like you either a). work for a ballistics company. Or B) design and build space shuttles. J/k. All that was above my and probably most peoples heads

 

[addertooth]

dtj16,

You may be quite right.  However, a little exotic material use allows old applications to do things never dreamed of before.  I fear some of my other posts are just as indecipherable.  Note to self, never mention the second law of thermodynamics, as it applies to smoking.  Someone will chase me with a burning fire log, and pound my head until I stop using hundred dollar words.

My daddy always told me "Son, never use a big word, when a diminutive one will suffice". 

 

[dtj16]

Hahaha- and what is that law? I like complex things and learning. What do you do? 3 month old smoker here, been grilling cooking for @ 10 yrs but this is a whole new world for me. Thx

 

[dtj16]

Oh yeah- and you prob need a govt budget and a security clearance to obtain those materials right?

 

[addertooth]

It is pricy, but available without special government contacts. Digi-key  will sell a 5 inch by 7 inch piece, which is about 4/1000th thick for 84 bucks.  It is about 1/3 the weight of aluminum for a given volume, survives insane heat (similar to a diamond), blocks heat through the thinnest dimension, but conducts heat end-to-end 3 times better than copper and as a plus, it levitates above a magnet.  Wrapped around a gun, makes it invisible to metal detectors, a very exotic material.  Larger sheets are available from the manufacturers, but the price scales up with the size. 

 

[oldschoolbbq]

I think I understand what you are speaking of and give a shot of my baffles (or diffusers) . Made of 1/4" plate (once grease starts dripping on them , you won't need to worry about rusting , just scrape them now and then and go on . . .

These are in my Horizontal portion and are adjustable . I have a 3/16" Stainless I used in my small Smoker to reverse flow it and it works like a charm , too.

My Tejas 2040CC with extra therms 002.JPG

• oldschoolbbq
• Oct 22, 2012

Have fun and . . .