This is what is great about this site. Everybody coming up with real viable alternatives. Thanks you guys.
If I understand you Bubonehead, you're talking about tapering the heat shield only and there I think you're right on to what I'm trying to do, Right?
Jarjarchef with the grease traps are you talking about the RF plate? I have dampers between the firebox and smoke chamber that are actuated from one end of the smoker. The control rod runs along the bottom to the outside of the smoke chamber, so that would get in the way of a drain. Of course the second drain could be offset.
JckDanls 07 I like the idea of one drain, ease of use, one bucket, etc. and a center drain would be more symmetrical which is what a center fire RF is, I like symmetry, but the firebox is in the way for a centered drain. I believe the RF plate will line up almost even to the top of firebox. I think this means the RF plate will do more work than on a traditional RF smoker. Making control more critical.
Ok I finally read everything through a couple of times and I see your all on a general thread here. And it make sense that heat runs uphill. And Dave is always talking about frictional loss in the air flow. So it's a bit more work, but as I'm trying to make a center fired RF any design that give more control is well worth it.
Dave