Boss wants a smoker

[short one]

The manager at the elevator I work at wants a smoker with a center mount internal firebox like my Buela. The barrel we went and picked up tonight is larger then the one I built Buela out of, I'll get some measurements tomorrow and post them. The question I have for you folks is, how can we get rid of the hot spot over the firebox? I have thought about putting a heavy plate a couple of inches above the firebox, to act as a tuning plate or making a waterpan a few inches wider than the firebox and letting the water defuse the heat, but think this would make a large amount of steam. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Steve
P.S. He wants it to be operational by a week from Thursday, Sept.20th.

 

[chris_harper]

i would make a deflector plate just above the opening. make it a pretty good size.

 

[coleysmokinbbq]

That's a boss for ya!...They ALWAYS want it done 2 weeks before the
blueprints are started!!...

BTW Steve....It was a pleasure chatting with you and Joe the other night!!...

Been thinking on the setup you described during our chat, and I think maybe
you're on to something there with the plate above the f.b. to tame that hot spot...

On the off chance the plate made it a little too cool there, I was thinking
you could perforate the plate with a few small holes to tune it, say maybe
3/8 in. holes, a VERY few at a time until it was right on the mark...

The way Beula operates could sorta be called a 'Double Reverse Flow'
system, I suppose...Gives me something to think about!...

If I come up with something solid, I'll shoot ya a sketch if you'd like...

I'll keep the old gears grinding on it...


Until later...

 

[peculiarmike]

The manager at the elevator I work at wants a smoker with a center mount internal firebox like my Buela. The barrel we went and picked up tonight is larger then the one I built Buela out of, I'll get some measurements tomorrow and post them. The question I have for you folks is, how can we get rid of the hot spot over the firebox? I have thought about putting a heavy plate a couple of inches above the firebox, to act as a tuning plate or making a waterpan a few inches wider than the firebox and letting the water defuse the heat, but think this would make a large amount of steam. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Steve
P.S. He wants it to be operational by a week from Thursday, Sept.20th.[/quote]

No problem! Just whip out that magic wand, er, welder, and fab one up!
Beula is about right, 300 gal. A larger Beula would be a big ol' smokin' machine!
I think you may be on the mark with the "tuning plate" over the firebox. Don't know if you would need a water pan. The suggestion to drill a few holes at a time in the plate until it is right sounds reasonable also. I really like Beula's design.
'Ol Beula sure turns out some fine cherry smoked Q! Like I said a while back, I can still remember the fine smell of cherry smoke from Beula when we pulled into The Gathering back in June!

 

[short one]

I measured the tank today and it measures 46" X 72". Using the formula posted a while back on this forum, it figures to be about 517 gal, will call it 500.

Chris- can't really see how a deflector plate over the opening would help, as the firebox has 2-6" tubes running from the firebox to within 6" of each end. The heat I am having trouble with is radiant heat coming from the top of the firebox, but thanks for replying.

Coley and Mike- talked to another person who built a smoker patterned from Buela's design, he used Buela and liked her so he built his own. He said he put a plate over the firebox about 3 to 4 inches and it tamed his heat problem somewhat. Now I am wondering how much bigger to make it than the firebox and will the heat roll around the end of the plate and make a hot spot at each end of the plate. If so I guess I can remove the plate and start over. Never thought of drilling holes to tune the plate. Thanks for the replys.

 

[pigcicles]

Steve you might consider a double wall on the firebox to help, a box in a box. But I too think that the tuning plate may be the way to go. You know Beula... do what your gut tells ya on this one.

BTW.. are you building this on company time for the boss or are you getting a little something extra for your troubles???

 

[short one]

Pig, the best answer I can give you right now is somewhat and I'm not sure.

Am thinking about making the top of the firebox heavyer than the sides to try to slow down some of the radiant heat from the top.

 

[ibsmokin]

Would insulation on the firebox work

 

[chris_harper]

ah, i thought you meant in the smoker, above the opening from the firebox to the oven part. ok, i get you now. i would make a plate, out of ½" steel plate, that went from end to end and front to back of the smoker oven part. weld it up to it, with some spacers, making a space between said plate and the oven. i would make it so that it is about 6" above the firebox, maybe 2" from the oven part. just sitting here thinking for ya. hope this helps you some.

 

[clyde]

A large shallow stainless steel steamtable pan would work. Water can't get any hotter than 212* unless it's under pressure, so the hottest the top of the firebox could get with the water pan is 212*. You can buy them at your local restaurant supply for around $10

 

[coleysmokinbbq]

Good idea Clyde!...

...Here's a pic of several sizes and shapes of those

'Steam Table' pans and trays...

Ya know Steve...The shallow ones could be a workable solution in Beula!...

It didn't even occur to me the other night in our chat...Wish it had've...

Hopefully, there'll be a little more room to work with under the cooking
rack on the 'Boss's' cooker!...


Until later...

 

[short one]

Thanks for the help guys, I think I'll get a couple throw-a-ways and try it to see what kind of results I get before I put out the money for the stainless ones. Still wondering what affect the steam will have, the top of the firebox gets pretty hot.

 

[clyde]

It shouldn't have any negative effects. Probably stabilize you cooking tmeps a little by increasing humidity, but should vent out the stack readily. I've used them for the same purpose in similar situations and It worked great. By keeping the temp of the metal on the top of your firebox a little lower, it should make it last longer.