Tuning plates explained...... Dave
Notice also the Baffle Plate tilts or slopes gently downward from the right towards the left as you can see from the shadow of the cooking grid above it.
Now I will try to explain how this all works.
As the heat/smoke flows into the cooking/smoking chamber, the downward sloping Baffle Plate directs the flow gently downwards and under the Tuning Plates as it flows from right to left towards the exhaust flue.
The Tuning Plates are adjustable and are positioned such that there is an open space between TP-1 and
TP-2. The width of the open spaces between TP-2 and TP-3, TP-3 and TP-4, TP-4 and TP-5, as well as
TP-5 and TP-6, are increased in width progressively as we proceed from right to left.
By making the spaces between the Tuning Plates wider, the amount of heat passing between the plates
will increase and make that area of the cooking/smoking chamber hotter.
By making the spaces between the Tuning Plates narrower, the amount of heat passing between
the plates will decrease and make that area of the cooking/smoking chamber cooler.
Through a trial and error process of adjusting the width of the spaces between the Tuning Plates, it is
possible to 'Tune' the cooking/smoking chamber to have an even temperature across the length of the
smoker from the firebox to the exhaust flue.
It must be noted however, that each individual smoker/cooker will have its own unique personality
and therefore will require its T.P.'s to be adjusted to its own individual characteristics...
Because of this, the adjustments outlined above are intended as a
starting point only!...
For best performance the TP's should have a thickness of 1/4 to 1/2 inch (0.6 cm to 1.3 cm), with most
builders opting for a thickness range of 1/4 to 3/8 inch (0.6 cm to 0.9 cm), and should be made of iron
or steel in order to have the thermal mass necessary to moderate temperature fluctuations in the chamber.
Aluminum is not a suitable material for use in TP's since it lacks the thermal mass that is necessary.
Additionally, there is no set number of TP's to use in a smoker, nor is there a particular width of TP that must be used.
This is something you will have to decide based on the length of the chamber that you will be working with.
A greater length would require more TP's, a lesser length would require fewer TP's.
I created the graphics to reflect exactly what was shown in your photo, and this is the reason only 6 TP's are shown in them.
