Need advice on Rev. Flow smoker build

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

smokin' joe smoker

Newbie
Original poster
May 14, 2008
5
10
Livonia, MI
I'm about to embark on my first smoker build, and after exhaustive research, have decided with the reverse flow style.  I've never used or built a smoker before, but have read that these are the best/easiest to maintain and control heat.  I have two pipes that are 2' diameter, just over 1/4" thick steel.  One is 4' long, the other is 4.5' long.  My plan is to build two of them and hopefully one of them will be good enough to sell to finance the other one.  So, I have a couple of questions:

1) How much room do I need to leave under the reverse flow plate?  I want to make this as low as possible to allow for more room up top for racks of meat, but obviously don't want to make it so low it won't work.  Is 1/3 of the way up a good idea?

2) How thick should this plate be?  I'm guessing pretty thick since it will be absorbing and holding heat.

3) Does the plate have to be "tilted up" so smoke is allowed to roll toward the end thats up a little bit?

4) I have read that some smokers have hot spots - some so bad that the user can't cook on certain parts of the smoker.  What causes these hot spots and how can I avoid them?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get going on these projects.  I appreciate all the help, and will post pics as soon as I get started. Thanks!!
 
1) How much room do I need to leave under the reverse flow plate?  I want to make this as low as possible to allow for more room up top for racks of meat, but obviously don't want to make it so low it won't work.  Is 1/3 of the way up a good idea?      You will need to have your RF plate above the top of your opening from the fire box. So the size of that hole determines where the plate needs to be.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

2) How thick should this plate be?  I'm guessing pretty thick since it will be absorbing and holding heat.  I would go no less than 1/4"

3) Does the plate have to be "tilted up" so smoke is allowed to roll toward the end thats up a little bit? Actually you want the plate tilted slightly downward so that you can rinse the plate off and wash everything out the drain pipe in the smoker. You did remember that you need a drain?

4) I have read that some smokers have hot spots - some so bad that the user can't cook on certain parts of the smoker.  What causes these hot spots and how can I avoid them?

 If the RF is built properly ,it will be a few degrees hotter on the fire box end but should not have "hot spots".
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Hot Threads

Clicky