Another firebox question. Ash pan?

[irvin78787884]

Anyone have any opinions on putting a slide out ash pan or tray in the fire box. Worth the effort? Think it will cause efficiency issues? Added air issues? Just toying with the idea as an aide in cleaning it out after cooks. I will have the room under my fire door for it and the box isn’t constructed yet either so adding it isn’t an issue there. I was thinking of using a seal around it to help with any air drafts.

 

[civilsmoker]

Anyone have any opinions on putting a slide out ash pan or tray in the fire box. Worth the effort? Think it will cause efficiency issues? Added air issues? Just toying with the idea as an aide in cleaning it out after cooks. I will have the room under my fire door for it and the box isn’t constructed yet either so adding it isn’t an issue there. I was thinking of using a seal around it to help with any air drafts.

1000% yes.

Here is a pic of mine in the copper pot.

It is also shown on Page 4 of the Copper Pot build.
https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t...h-vertical-cabinet-aka-the-copper-pot.268790/

 

[irvin78787884]

1000% yes.

Here is a pic of mine in the copper pot.
View attachment 689238

Thanks for the input. Certainly think it’s a plus to have one.

 

[irvin78787884]

Didn’t think of this earlier. If make the pan say 3” high does my FB need to be 3” taller to accommodate for the ash pan?

 

[JckDanls 07]

No..... fire grate should only be about 3" off the floor... So a pan with 3" ( a lil less) sides should slide under no problem... It doen's take up any of the FB Sq inches

 

[irvin78787884]

No..... fire grate should only be about 3" off the floor... So a pan with 3" ( a lil less) sides should slide under no problem... It doen's take up any of the FB Sq inches

ok sounds great thanks

 

[civilsmoker]

yup what JckDanls 07 said. 3 inches is a tall for the ash pan..... I would think 2 would be plenty...

 

[irvin78787884]

yup what JckDanls 07 said. 3 inches is a tall for the ash pan..... I would think 2 would be plenty...

I was kinda just throwing 3” out there as a number. That is what I will do 2” ash pan since he said to put fire grate around 3” from bottom. Thanks also for the input.

 

[civilsmoker]

I was kinda just throwing 3” out there as a number. That is what I will do 2” ash pan since he said to put fire grate around 3” from bottom. Thanks also tho for the input.

If you look at the copper pot pic I posted above...... 2 with an inch gap will work well (experience speaks). As an FYI, if you put the pan on the bottom like above, be sure to tack a thin tab (or weld bead) on each corner of the tray, ie to lift it up to allow for moisture to dry and such. I added it to mine later because moisture was getting trapped under it.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Damn good idea right there Civil ...

 

[irvin78787884]

If you look at the coper pot pic I posted above...... 2 with an inch gap will work well (experience speaks). As an FYI, if you put the pan on the bottom like above, be sure to tack a thin tab (or weld bead) on each corner of the tray, ie to lift it up to allow for moisture to dry and such. I added it to mine later because moisture was getting trapped under it.

Will do and I will go back and look closer at it build. Thanks for the tip very good idea for sure.

 

[civilsmoker]

Also just the theory behind the solid sides of the fire tray…..Ie this adds an air insulated gap around the base of the FB and directs the heat back into the coal bed….. Shirley smokers did a vid about it a while ago when they were doing theirs this way. The gap under the ash tray also acts similar. Ie it’s a breaker from the outside skin….. all of it added together makes for a better coal burning experience……

I will note that the v-shape is done for the same reason on keeping a coal rich burning area….. I think both are functional in what they are trying to do…..

 

[irvin78787884]

Also just the theory behind the solid sides of the fire tray…..Ie this adds an air insulated gap around the base of the FB and directs the heat back into the coal bed….. Shirley smokers did a vid about it a while ago when they were doing theirs this way. The gap under the ash tray also acts similar. Ie it’s a breaker from the outside skin….. all of it added together makes for a better coal burning experience……

I will note that the v-shape is done for the same reason on keeping a coal rich burning area….. I think both are functional in what they are trying to do…..

Makes sense to me. I will also look into the V shape. I could angle my grates would just need to figure that out. Thanks i am working on my CC and got a bummer situation. lol check out my build post.