R F Smoker Question

[gary s]

We have built several smokers My question is:  what should the distance be between the bottom cooking grate and the RF Plate? we have been building them with 4" to 5" space. is there a calculator for this also or is this just a standard distance. We are building a small RF smoker and need all the headroom we can get and are thinking of putting the bottom rack at about 3" above the RF plate.

Suggestions Please

 

[daveomak]

Gary, morning.... Are you using a calculator for all your dimensions ??  What are you building now ??  Build it with a taller Cook Chamber for increased "headroom"...    Dave

 

[gary s]

14" pipe already calculated all other dimensions. Pipe was given to us and my son wanted a small smoker for himself. We just finished a Vertical Reverse Flow Insulated that will cook 21 racks of ribs. So he just wanted to use what he had lying around and go small. Fire box and everything else is 1/4" plate pipe is 3/8" I will include a few picture of what we have so far. Anyway just wondering about the distance from RF plate to 1st rack If you take size of pipe and fire box into consideration in proportion to everything else 3" should work? (I hope) we

will see.

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
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• gary s
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• gary s
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• gary s
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[themule69]

14" pipe already calculated all other dimensions. Pipe was given to us and my son wanted a small smoker for himself. We just finished a Vertical Reverse Flow Insulated that will cook 21 racks of ribs. So he just wanted to use what he had lying around and go small. Fire box and everything else is 1/4" plate pipe is 3/8" I will include a few picture of what we have so far. Anyway just wondering about the distance from RF plate to 1st rack If you take size of pipe and fire box into consideration in proportion to everything else 3" should work? (I hope) we

will see.

IMG-20130106-00077.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

2013-01-07_13-34-38_486.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

IMG-20130107-00080.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

IMG-20130107-00081.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

IMG-20130107-00083.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

IMG-20130107-00084 (2).jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

IMG-20130110-00088.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

IMG-20130110-00089.jpg

• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

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• gary s
• Jan 11, 2013

i'm thinking that should work great. nice looking build so far. i like that you took the time to grind the welds. keep the pics coming as you go along.

happy smoken. david

 

[gary s]

Thanks   Supposed to rain again this weekend so we may not get to work on it.

 

[smokin-aces]

I would say if you use the RF plate for a water pan, 3" distance should be fine. It seems like the water would "tone down" the radiant heat of the RF plate and insulate it so to speak eliminating hot spots.