varying temps from side to side

[flyweed]

Hey guys, as you know I just bought a used offset (sidefirebox) smoker, the heat box is 19" x 19" by 24" tall

and the smoke/cooking chamber is an 80 gallon air compressor tank.

The firebox is on the right side, and my temps are reading 25F cooler than the temps on the left side which is further away from the firebox...and the side that the smoke stack is on.

Here is a photo of the inside:

the guy that built this did a great job..but not sure why he put the two extensions off the firebox into the smoking chamber...you can see them above.  I'd like to get a more even heat in the smoke chamber...any suggestions????

Thanks
Dan

 

[adiochiro3]

Plenty of suggestions for this common problem. The easiest and quickest fix is tuning plates. These are steel plates placed along under the grates that move the heat from the firebox side and distribute it more evenly in the cook chamber. Search "tuning plates" for pix and illustrations.

You can also install a baffle in the cook chamber right next to the firebox to direct heat along the cook chamber bottom for part of the way. This is usually set at a 45 degree angle, if I remember correctly.

Firebricks lining the bottom of the cook chamber also provide more even temps once heated.

I also build my fire as far away from the cook chamber as reasonably possible ( near the side door of the fire box).

A more involved modification is to make your unit a reverse flow, but that requires moving your chimney and adding solid plate almost all the way across the cook chamber under the grates.

 

[flyweed]

yes..I understand the principles of heat baffles, and tuning plates..however my problem isn't Higher temps nearest the firebox....my cooking surface has higher temps over near the smokestack side (opposite the firebox)...the side of the cooking chamber with the smokestack runs 25F hotter than the firebox side of the cooker.

Dan

 

[oldschoolbbq]

   Fly weed.try drill a few holes into the longer pipe,1/2".This will relese more heat(flows up) into the SFB end of the smoker.

I would 2 or 3 to begin with and checkout the temps.It looks as if he was trying to do this,but didn't allow for the gradual heat excape.

   Your smoke is probably going further in  and is not concentrating as much at the FB end.

I'm not cooking on one of those,but I looked at and thought abuot that Mod. on my NBRedRiver(16"X36").I opted for a full reverse flow.

Happy cooking and keep us informed

.

Stan      aka      oldschool

and don't forget to,

 

[flyweed]

Thanks OldSchool...I'll start out with 3 holes and see how that goes first..and then proceed from there.

 

[flyweed]

update.......Ok....I drilled (3) 1/2" holes in the right end of the pipes...and I am now getting a temp difference of 15F from the left and right...should I knock some more 1/2" holes into the right side?

Dan

 

[flyweed]

I drilled 3 more holes now..so I'll have to get it up to temp again today and see what she does.

Dan

 

[Fife]

Good Luck with the smoker