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kayrondad
Newbie
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 81
Location: Oakley, CA
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 Posted: Sep 09 2008 Post subject: Tuning Plates and Diffuser Pipes |
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I am trying to understand and get easy answers to the use, purpose and placement of tuning plates.
Can anyone explain the tuning plate process, placement and correct use?
Can anyone explain the diffuser pipe and how it is used and where?
I am still building my Festiva Smoker and have come to an even heat issue even though i am using a stainless steel "plenum" box and a large wood fireplace insert.
I am also not sure at which end to place my exhaust stack.
One last thing, does anyone still have the link to the calulator that I saw here to determine the required size of exhaust, cook chamber, fire box?
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If pigs were not meant to eat then women were not meant to bear children. |
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Bushbow
BBQ Fan
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 110
Location: Fowlerville, MI
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| Posted: Sep 11 2008 Post subject: |
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Tuning plates are positioned and spaced above the inlet from the fire box and below the food grate to keep heat moving along and even. They are usually used with a pit that has the exhaust oposite the fire box.
The other option is reverse flow where you completely close off the heat area below the food grate except for a gap at the oposite end from the fire box and exhaust from the fire box end. This takes the heat all the way across the cooker and back to exhaust.
I use tuning plates and have them stacked tight on the firbox end until about 1/3rd and then I gap about 1/2" every 6" till the exhaust end. This keeps my heat pretty even. I imagine every cooker will be a little different so using a few thermometers and a little trial and error is in order to get yours just how you want it.
Bob Urban |
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Sep 12 2008 Post subject: |
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Opening from fire box (wood stove):
Making templates for baffle and plates:
Tuning plates and baffle installed:
Cooking grate about 4” to 5” above plates:
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“Franken Smoker”
“The Bride of Franken Smoker” |
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Alien BBQ
BBQ All Star
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 5426
Location: Roswell, New Mexico
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mrcustomsteel
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 1997
Location: Bilings, still a Texan, MT
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| Posted: Sep 13 2008 Post subject: |
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Here are some diffuser pipe pics
Alien's ratios are good. I'm a big fan of the diffuser pipe but I think the tuning plates probably give you more flexibility.
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D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com |
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Allpapa
Joined: 01 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Oct 05 2008 Post subject: |
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 Gibts hier jemanden der mir das auf Deutsch übersetzen oder erklären könnte.  |
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mrcustomsteel
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 1997
Location: Bilings, still a Texan, MT
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Allpapa
Joined: 01 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Oct 05 2008 Post subject: |
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| mrcustomsteel wrote: | "Braust!"  |
Original: "Prost"  In Bavarian Slang "Broschd" 
How do the temperatures change with open or close the two flaps?
I want to still improve the temperature control in my Smoker.
Greetings from Bavaria. |
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mrcustomsteel
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 1997
Location: Bilings, still a Texan, MT
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| Posted: Oct 05 2008 Post subject: |
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Greetings. I'm still paying for that Bavarian beer I drank yesterday.
With both closed the vertical section will run about 30 cooler than the horizontal. With both open the vertical runs about 30 hotter. It runs pretty even if I have the bottom damper open and the big one just cracked. You can adjust the temps left to right in the horizontal section by tweaking it too.
So basically it gives me more sh!t to play with between beers.
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D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com |
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Allpapa
Joined: 01 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Oct 05 2008 Post subject: |
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Thanks. 
View into my Pit.
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mrcustomsteel
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 1997
Location: Bilings, still a Texan, MT
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| Posted: Oct 07 2008 Post subject: |
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Nice. Does it perform to your expectations or are you looking to change something?
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D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com |
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Allpapa
Joined: 01 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Oct 08 2008 Post subject: |
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If all plates are inserted are alike the temperature in the transverse pipe and in the tower. 120°C everywhere. I think perfectly.
Without plates the tower has 40°C less.
I hope the translation of BabelFish am OK ONE? |
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mrcustomsteel
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 1997
Location: Bilings, still a Texan, MT
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| Posted: Oct 10 2008 Post subject: |
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I do like the curved tuning plates.
BabelFish has it's limitations but it gets you pretty close. All the words are there but not always in the right order or tense.
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D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com |
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Soarer
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Oct 12 2008 Post subject: |
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What is the best system for a Offset Smoker - Reverse Flow / Stanard or Tunable.
Would you use water ?? All the time or some times.
Hieght of shelves ??
Dampers on fire box and chimeny ?? are both nessecary
One or two doors on the offset to keep heat in
Thanks
Soarer |
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Soarer
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Oct 12 2008 Post subject: |
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What do you mean by cubed turning plates
Soarer |
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mattycamp
BBQ Pro
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 630
Location: Little Rock
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| Posted: Oct 12 2008 Post subject: |
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| Soarer wrote: | | What is the best system for a Offset Smoker - Reverse Flow / Stanard or Tunable. |
Depends on your preference. Both have limitations and upside. I prefer standard, tuned offsets.
| Quote: | | Would you use water ?? All the time or some times. |
Again, sorry, but it depends. If you have a solidly built offset, a humid outdoor environment, and you can avoid peeking frequently, you can get by without a water pan. Some people like them with beer/juice for added flavor rather than moisture
| Quote: | | Hieght of shelves ?? |
You mean above the bottom of the pit or above the line of the fire box?
| Quote: | | Dampers on fire box and chimeny ?? are both nessecary |
If you mean the ability to open/close both (rather than, say, a damper between the box and the cooking chamber), yes, both are necessary.
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Matt
24x96 Lone Star Custom by Bates |
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Soarer
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Oct 12 2008 Post subject: |
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It was supposed to be curved turning vane
Soarer |
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Allpapa
Joined: 01 Mar 2008
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Oct 12 2008 Post subject: |
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| Soarer wrote: | It was supposed to be curved turning vane
Soarer |
The plates at my Smoker are them a remaining piece of a pipe were curved there. Functioned well.
In Germany iron is very expensive.  |
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