tuning plates - options.

[nopantsdan]

I have a pretty good size side box smoker, that takes a lot of heat/fuel to get the smoking chamber up to temperature.  This tends to create a very very hotspot immediately adjacent to the fire box.  I have tried to read a lot about tuning plates, but don't necessarily have access to many raw materials to create steel plates.  I went to lowes and looked at patio stones.  They look like they are made from concrete and formed.  Thought I would buy a few at $2 a piece and see if they fit.  They fit quite well in the smoker.  Question is, before I start cooking on it, would these be harmful in anyway as they get heated up?

First picture, from the fire box, looking into the smoking chamber...

20130326_154549_zps3caae811.jpeg

• nopantsdan
• Mar 27, 2013

Looking into the cooking chamber...

20130326_132213_zpse38bee60.jpeg

• nopantsdan
• Mar 27, 2013

 

[smokein man]

concrete want take the heat. this is the problem that i'm have with mine i was going to try to build a metal tray and fill with sand and put a lid on it or fire brick but will still need support to hold them

 

[bama bbq]

I think the concrete might explode.

 

[chickenman09]

concrete will blow into pieces!    there are air bubbles in formed concrete, these expand and blow up at you. it would be better to try some other heat sink idea for your cooker

 

[cliffcarter]

Water in the concrete will expand and probably crack, rather than explode, the concrete. In addition, the concrete will absorb a lot of the heat from the fire box and will limit cooking temps and cause you to use more fuel. Most people will use a cookie sheet as a baffle at the fire box outlet. I personally use the hot spot to my advantage and cook wings and sausage there. Chicken or turkey get placed in the middle third and ribs on the third farthest away from the fire. Cooks like a charm. YMMV.

 

[daveomak]

Dan, morning.... Sounds like the problem is air flow through the smoker...  Take a picture of the firebox and air inlets...  A good mod to the firebox is to add an additional air inlet above the fire grate... That allows for additional air to move the heat through the cook chamber to heat it without adding air to the fire, which would increase the heat in the firebox...  It is fairly simple to do, and folks that have done that mod, comment on how much faster the CC heats up... How much easier it is to control the CC temp... and how much less wood they use during a cook..... 

All this depends on the exhaust and whether or not it is large enough and was designed properly when the smoker was built.....

Dave

 

[kokaneedave]

 

[nopantsdan]

Dan, morning.... Sounds like the problem is air flow through the smoker...  Take a picture of the firebox and air inlets...  A good mod to the firebox is to add an additional air inlet above the fire grate... That allows for additional air to move the heat through the cook chamber to heat it without adding air to the fire, which would increase the heat in the firebox...  It is fairly simple to do, and folks that have done that mod, comment on how much faster the CC heats up... How much easier it is to control the CC temp... and how much less wood they use during a cook..... 

All this depends on the exhaust and whether or not it is large enough and was designed properly when the smoker was built.....

Dave

some pics to take a look at.  makes sense.  not sure if it applies to my smoker.

20130329_153053_zps382550da.jpeg

• nopantsdan
• Mar 29, 2013

20130329_153159_zps7db1168f.jpeg

• nopantsdan
• Mar 29, 2013

20120904_112607_zps40ee1e0e.jpeg

• nopantsdan
• Mar 29, 2013

 

[daveomak]

Here is a mod skifreak did..... makes the 2 vents independent for adjustment....   fire..... air flow....   He is really happy with it......  you could put an adjuster on each for giggles...  Dave

Dual Air inlets Ski Freak.jpeg

• daveomak
• Mar 29, 2013