Turning Plates

tasman · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

I just have to ask This... What is a Turning Plate and when and why would you need one? I have seen on here your guys taking about them but I have never seen one...?
Thanks
Tasman Question

Kevin Opp · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

I believe you are talking about a tuning plate? Certainly don't know much but I believe they are positioned between the firebox inlet and the cooking surface, and span the entire length of the smoker. They are used to create an even temperature throughout the entire smoker. The spacing of these plates has something to do with it. Not an expert. I am fixing to build my own smoker for the first time and have been reading nonstop about this crap...

Reggae Q · Posted: Mar 28 2008 Post subject:

Yes. Tuning Plates.

Anyone can correct me if I'm incorrect but here goes.

They are thick pieces of metal in measured sizes depending on your smoker. The first one is welded where the firebox comes in and the rest remain freestanding and can be moved left, right, butt together, etc...so heat can travel underneath/above and but basically disapate (???) the heat so you don't have a variance of say 50* from left to right. So, you will move them to where it gives you the most consistent heat as every cooker is different which could mean spaces in 1 & 2 with 3 butted, etc...So, you basically will play with them till you get the correct "tuning"

Someone here probably has some pics on hand

Bushbow · Posted: Mar 28 2008 Post subject:

Here are my tuning plates and yes they are all removable and help move the heat evenly throughout the cooker.

I leave the first one or two tight against the firebox side and then space them farther apart as they move to the exhaust end.

Bob Urban

wnkt · Posted: Mar 29 2008 Post subject:

in short...they are used to evenly distribute the heat and smoke inside the smoker....so there are no hot spots.
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SmokinQ · Posted: Mar 31 2008 Post subject:

On trailer mounted smokers that people take off to competitions or catering events do these plates have a tendency to move with the bouncing and jostling of the highway? Do you need to check them after moving and firing up or are they just to heavy to move?

Reggae Q · Posted: Mar 31 2008 Post subject:

Nate_bone · BBQ Fan Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 103

I've seen a few pictures from folks on the ring that have some means of keeping them in one spot, be it welding or a system of bolts or clamps. That's what I plan to do the next time I build an offset, use a home-made c-clamp sort of device.

mattycamp · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

Nate_bone · BBQ Fan Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 103

Makes it adjustable. Say, for instance, that I want to cook several things that require different temperatures, but need them to come out at the same time (and I only have the one smoker). Then I can take the plates out completely, or adjust them to create temperature "zones" so that all my food gets done correctly. Of course, this would mean really knowing your smoker extremely well, and having everything else rather consistent. The other thing I've seen is to have a setup that can be converted to reverse flow by scooting a few plates over and opening a second chimney at the firebox end.

mattycamp · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

Reggae Q · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

I think he's implying (I could be wrong) that they will adjust them to where they need to be and secure them before driving the the gig. Like I said, I could be wrong

mattycamp · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

zilla · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

zilla · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

Nate_bone · BBQ Fan Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 103

Sure, if you're at a competition, that's probably not the place to mess with it. But for those of us that don't compete, it's likely to be a part of the never-ending quest to create the best Q possible. And I just happen to like to tinker with stuff (which is kind of what got me hooked on all this anyway).

mattycamp · Posted: Apr 01 2008 Post subject:

swampcook · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 156 Location: LOUISIANA

So let me get this right.
The first ones are actually covering up (sitting on top of the burner hole) so the heat is forced to travel in towards the exhaust and then adjust the other plates to allow some of the heat to rise up between them. Which will allow the heat to be equally distributed? is that right. Of course the plates also give off heat themselves with the heat traveling under them. On my brinkman PMD, if I have a baffle and if I put a tuning plate over the baffle and them played with the others I would eventually get a more even temp. Is that correct?

The problem with my brinkman is the burner opening is quite high and the tuning plates would be pretty close to the grill level. I will have to ponder on this for awhile.
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Nate_bone · BBQ Fan Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Posts: 103

On my offset that I built, I used the baffle to lower the height needed for the tuning plates when they get installed. Since my baffle is pretty good sized, it brings the height needed for the tuning plates down by quite a bit. Of course, I don't know if I'll need to modify it to make it actually work with the tuning plates. Hopefully I'll find out this summer.

mattycamp · Posted: Apr 03 2008 Post subject: