How do you slope the RF plate?

[bnew17]

I may be getting ahead of myself because i havent started my build yet,but im just trying to get everything planned out before i start. Ive got all the supplies i need to make the smoker. I will be using a 250 gal tank. I have seen where some people put their RF plate in level and tilt the trailer to allow for drainage. But i am wanting to have the RF plate at an angle so i can leave my smoker level. My question is how do you shape the RF plate to allow it to still fit flush against the sides of the tank while still falling away from the firebox side??? Im assuming you would take away part of the sides of the RF plate but was going to see what other people have done. Thanks

 

[bruno994]

I installed the angle and piping in the belly of the pit first with just a slight slope, maybe 1/8" from firebox end to opposite end, then took a level and marked on either sides of the tank.  I then put some cheaters, small pieces of angle to set my plate on while welding at about 1/8" above the level mark.  This gave me a slight slope towards the middle, but left me enough meat to weld up the seam between the firebox and plate.   I'm sure you have already researched all the other good RF builds on this site, but thats where I started at.  Picking and choosing different ideas from a number of builds.   

 

[raptor700]

I installed my RF plate level, so i could fill it with apple juice and water.

It works great, 

 

[krj]

I'm not really sure there even needs to be a slope in it at all is there? I mean the heat and smoke is going to head for the exhaust no matter the angle of the plate.

 

[boykjo]

I installed my RF plate level, so i could fill it with apple juice and water.

It works great, 

 

[bnew17]

Doesnt Lang slope theirs? The reason i asked about the sloped plate is because ive heard from some pit makers that having the PIT level keeps a more even draft , and that when you have to raise the pit to allow for drainage, its causes an uneven draft because of the toungue end of the pit is raised.

 

[chinasmoke]

I sloped mine but i don't think it was worth the headaches. The next one I build will be flat and no drain channel with only a drain pipe at the end. Here is how i did it. I left one side straight that attaches to the drain channel and i cut the other side that rest on the tank in an angle, you don't need much. Think of it as a triangle.

 

[oldschoolbbq]

bnwe17, I reversed my NB SFB with a reverse plate and it works great, I cut a cardboard template and fit it in leaving a 1in. to 3 foot declination from FB to The end of the chamber,leaving enough for the smoke and air to pass. This helped my waste to drain, every once in a while I blow out the ashes and little crud ocasionally. A drain hole below the end of the baffle will keep it drained. I took a kitchen funnel and used it to catch the drippings so they wouldn't fowl thebottof of the Smoker.

It's a booger to finger out , and when left removable like mine, there is a combination of angles needed to get it in and remove it, but it does a fine job.

If needed I'll take the plate out of mine and show you...

Let me know and we'll get 'er done.

Good luck and ...

 

[bruno994]

Doesnt Lang slope theirs? The reason i asked about the sloped plate is because ive heard from some pit makers that having the PIT level keeps a more even draft , and that when you have to raise the pit to allow for drainage, its causes an uneven draft because of the toungue end of the pit is raised.

I usually set mine up to be dead level, this seems to allow me the most even temps possible.  I have played with it as far as moving the nose up or down, but level, seems to draft just like the doctor ordered.  Unless you are cooking straight fat, you shouldn't need to drain during a cook anyway.  If you mount your plate level, just dip the nose down after the cook while still hot and drain the grease then. 

 

[tom walker]

Thanks for a great thread, fellas.
You've answered a lot of my questions before I even had to ask. I like that.

I'm still early in the early planning stages and a lot will depend on what I can find on the cheap but the plan is to use a flat RF reservoir plate with a bottom lip to hold a little more heat under there. Hopefully that should generate a little more steam to mix with the smoke. More steam should shorten cooking times.

At least that's the theory. If I'm off the mark, please let me know.

At my end of the span, life's too short to go screwing up too much, too often.

Thanks much,

Walker