Pit Building Ratios

skybob · Posted: Jan 06 2007 Post subject:

I've got to say that I"m never ceasing to be amazed at what people make into smokers. I"d a never thunk that a Monte Carlo would make a good smoker. Seen a lot of them smoke, though. Very Happy

A thought on the air intakes that may be fitting: Most of these cars came with dual exhausts, right? Well get you some exhaust pipe and bend it to come up under the charcoal, spaced out of course. You could even put on the shiny chrome tips.

Richard · Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 9

Would the vent "exhaust" need to be directly under the center of the charcoal or does t mattter if it was vented from the side. The coals that are closet to the vent I assume in either case will be the hottest and burn out the quickest.
Does the formula for air vent in this thread alos apply to this style cooker?

skybob · Posted: Jan 06 2007 Post subject:

I'd try to bend them back in towards the center some. Probably try to get them about 1/3 in from each side and centered front and back. Big block engines normally had fairly large exhausts, so you could probably go with a large diameter pipe.

Rubit · Posted: Jan 06 2007 Post subject:

Great job Richard
_________________
Vertical Brick pit wood burner
Converted Lazy Q Charcoal
Tank smoker Charcoal
Tank smoker wood burner
Tank Charcoal grill

gizmofish · Posted: Jan 14 2007 Post subject:

I can't believe I'm going to add to this but...

You might add air intake flow control by using two butterfly dampers in the pipes ganged together with a couple of ball joints on a control arm with a handle just off center to operate both dampers with one control.

(and I thought the vertical smoker made from a filing cabinet was wild)

BackYardNik · BBQ Fan Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 156

OK, I've made a Google Spreadsheet for calculating the different parameters of a Smoker using these formulas. Check it out at:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p9WyirXjyFEfXQgsPzljTBw&hl=en
Just plug in your measurements and it does the rest. Enjoy.

Also, Google spreadsheets are the best.

Alien BBQ · Posted: Nov 05 2007 Post subject:

It makes you sign in>>>>>>>>>>>>.
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BackYardNik · BBQ Fan Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 156

Hmm, I wondered about that. I thought the "Make this sheet public" link would allow it to be used by anyone with no sign-in. Oh well, I might do something in JavaScript then.

BackYardNik · BBQ Fan Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 156

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p9WyirXjyFEfXQgsPzljTBw

That link MAY do it.

EDIT: You can view it, but to edit you have to sign in. Oh Well, I'll just build a web page that does the calculations for you.

Tom C · Posted: Nov 05 2007 Post subject:

Hi BackyardNik,

I have also been working on a spreadsheet and posted it this evening at google.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pGBhEDnHFe8q0_cHGZtr8Og&hl=en_US#

You do have to sign in to edit though. See what you think.
If anyone wants to take a look feel free. Google will require you to create a free account. If you do, please type only in the light blue or green cells to preserve the formulas. I used the values that Alien has posted with only a slight change to calculate the air inlet opening area. I used .0025 instead of .003.

It would be great to have the calculations in a simple reusable form on a web site that anyone could use.

BackYardNik · BBQ Fan Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 156

O, I have something up and running now:

http://home.nik-martin.com/smoker/Default.aspx

Help your self. I'll clean up the interface as soon as I become less lazy.

Tom C · Posted: Nov 05 2007 Post subject:

Hey,

That's cool! Clear and simple to use. Very Happy

I'm sure it will help people out.
May I ask what you used to create the form?

BackYardNik · BBQ Fan Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 156

Tom C · Posted: Nov 06 2007 Post subject:

Well that don't sound like two programs I could just pick up and run with Confused

but I'm sure your efforts will help people out with their calcs.

juscuz · Posted: Nov 24 2007 Post subject:

What is the best firebox to cooking chamber ratio?

My cooking chamber is 26x36

If I remember correctly the air tank I am going to use for the fire box is 14x26.

I was also going to use a section of 8" air tank to connect the firebox the the cooking chamber with a dampener in it.

EDIT: I just found that a 3:1 ratio is about right.

Firebox is 4,000 CI
Cooking chamber is 19,121 CI

Would be around 4.8:1

I may have to look for a bit bigger firebox.

g8trwood · Newbie Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 69

Would the ratios be the same for a vertical?

Big Dog BBQ · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 58 Location: Detroit, MI

I seen in a previous post that 3:1 is ratio. Can someone confirm this and explain how this ratio was determined?

Thanks
Doug
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Doug

"Causing Nightmares for Vegetarians Since 2K"

Alien BBQ · Posted: Jan 09 2008 Post subject:

3:1 is an observation that was common among the correct working smokers.
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Alien BBQ · Posted: Jan 09 2008 Post subject:

Firedude · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Southern New Mexico

Ok I dont think I have done the calculations right so can someone help me out here Confused

, I have a cooking chamber that is 20" Dia.x36" long, looking at a firebox that is ~20x20x20 here is what I came up with????

Firebox vol. 8000 cubic inches
Cooking chamber 11,314 cubic inches (if important)

Useing alien's formula this is what I came up with,

Air in let opening area 24
Exhaust Chiminey Vol. 400
Firebox into cooking chamber 64
Stack that is 27" tall

Are these mesurment in cubic inches? and with regards to smoke stack is that useing a 4" Dia pipe

Thanks for the help
Roy