Tuning Plates

[bbqrhino]

New to The Smoke Ring. (Great site). I'm building a offset smoker from a 250gal tank. I have run angle iron down both sides for my tuning plates with a deflector, they are 11in below the cooking grates. Question, are they going to be to low? Thank for any advice.

[k.a.m.]

Welcome to the ring bbqrhino, looking forward to seeing some pics of your cooks and following your cooker build.
While I prefer 6" below the grates for tuning plates 11" should work fine because the heat/smoke is moving up and across. I am curious as to your set up and how you managed such a low set up unless your deflector is at a drastic angle downward. I am building a cooker now with a similar set up out of a 250gall tank and with a slight angle on the deflector came up with 6". If your angle is to steep it could effect your draw forcing the heat/smoke to move down and up.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[bbqrhino]

The fire box is 30x24x20. I mounted the fire box 4in below center (30in dia tank) and the angle iron for the tuning plates are 6in below the top of the fire box. I used 1x1 tubing for the frame for my cooking grates, that puts it 1in above center.(11in) My deflector plate is maybe on a 30deg. angle. My smoke stack is 6in dia. x 32 tall. I have only burned paper in it to check the draw, seams to be flowing well. I guess I want know until I add the thermometers. Its at sand blast now.

[bbqrhino]

Question. Does 304ss hold heat like carbon steel? Came across 2 pieces of 1/4x6 12ft long 304ss I'm thinking of making my tuning plates out of. Just wondering if anyone has used SS for tuning plates and if they hold heat? Thanks

[bbqrhino]

LINK

Dads retirement present.

[Blazer]

myself i would use carbon steel. You can make it in sections to adjust temps. Get some beam clamps from a plumbing store to clamp your plates down.

[Blazer]

get some 2 inch sch 10 stainless as tall as a bud lite can and weld it to those plates. beer but chicken cooker. got a 12x24 myself. 6 chicken.

[k.a.m.]

bbqrhino, if the ss were free or as cheap as carbon I would use it otherwise I would use carbon steel. Heat retention would not be my worry as tuning plates do not really need to retain heat just divert it to other places. The problem you may have on the firebox side is plate movement or warping you can do something like Blazer suggested and clamp them down however I prefer my plates to be loose trying to loosen the clamp and move plates in a running cooker is a pita. I hope this helps.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[bbqrhino]

Thanks for the ideas and advice. I think I will use one of them for tuning plates and the other for chickens, then get a couple carbon steel plates for the firebox side. Thanks again.