First smoker build reverse flow any suggestions????

[kam59]

You need to watch that because of the weight you will be applying to your hinges. If someone or you open the door hard you could rip it loose slamming it against the hinge. Just things to think about ahead of time. You could weld a small saddle to the cooker for the weight to nest in then you are only touching in a small area.

 

[crazychris353]

That's a good idea...

I have been thing about the r/f plates should I seal weld them in or make them removable?

 

[kam59]

That's a good idea...

I have been thing about the r/f plates should I seal weld them in or make them removable?

Your choice on that one. My Hybrid cooker is a series of plates that I can lock together to make my reverse flow and it works fine. I have welded dedicated reverse flow plates in and that works as well.

Here is a pic of my plates the 1/4" x 1" flat bar is placed half way on the plates edge to seal any gap.

I do run in my tuning plate mode more often than reverse flow.

100_4512.JPG

• kam59
• Jul 10, 2017

 

[crazychris353]

How does turning plates work and what's the reason why

 

[kam59]

Your exhaust is placed on the opposite side of the firebox. You have a series of plates that are gapped to create what ever temps you would like in your cooker. I can go from 5 to 10 degs. Left right to cooking 325 on the firebox side and 250 on the left side just by shifting my plates. I actually have three exhausts on my big cooker to go from tuning plates, reverse flow or using my warmer in combination with one of them.

 

[crazychris353]

Ok I'm waiting to get material to build cooking grates.

I've been trying to design firebox
I've got a couple questions..

What makes a good fire box grate?

How high should grate sit in fire box?

Is a round hole better than a square
hole for air vent?

 

[kam59]

I prefer vertical horizontal slides on my firebox. I place my basket about 3" off the bottom. My intakes are tall enough to feed the bottom and middle of my basket.
My basket.

IMG_4957.JPG

• kam59
• Jul 12, 2017

My intakes.

IMG_5709.JPG

• kam59
• Jul 12, 2017

 

[crazychris353]

Does your basket warp at all and how thick is the material?

 

[kam59]

The frame is 1" x 1" x 1/8" angle. The sides are #9 x 3/4" flat expanded metal. The first bottom layer is 1.5" raised expanded metal with a top of #9 x 3/4" flat expanded.
No warpage at all I build all my baskets this way. The vee cradle is 1/2" hot roll and removable.

 

[crazychris353]

I am struggling to design the fire box door since it's round it's kinda got me whipped when I get off work I will share the picture I have been drawing I feel like the grate is going to be at least 6" on the bottom

 

[crazychris353]

1499891570787-1988503189.jpg

• crazychris353
• Jul 12, 2017

Ok grate is 6in from bottom
Bottom vent is 12x4in top vent is 3x8

 

[kam59]

Will you be feeding only from the end or will you have a top load?

 

[crazychris353]

Only from the end because I was going to put 24x48 warmer directly over fire box from a warmer/cooker

 

[daveomak]

Chris.... Afternoon ..  Have you looked at this build tutorial ??   Dave

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/a/reverse-flow-smoker-how-to-calculate-build-tutorial

 

[crazychris353]

I have the only thing I didn't do was add the warmer in the calculations

 

[kam59]

You could do your intakes on the side of the firebox like this.

IMG_5924.JPG

• kam59
• Jul 12, 2017

 

[crazychris353]

Would u still put vent in door

 

[kam59]

No Sir no need in it. We put intakes on both sides of this firebox. I helped design this one it is a good friends in Missouri.

 

[kam59]

I don't utilize upper intakes in my cookers.

 

[crazychris353]

I havent cut my firebox yet do u think I should go bigger to compensate for warmer box I would like to cook in it if needed