Baffle plate size ratio

[ehw2011]

Is there a optimum size ratio for the baffle plate to area of cooking chamber?

[Frank_Cox]

It depends on how you want your smoker to be tuned. If you want your smoker to perform more consistently at higher cooking temps, the Gap should be figured bigger. If you want it to perform more consistently at lower temps, say 225*F then you would want the gap to be tighter.
this being said if you do not know where fits your needs best then as I always say, make it adjustable...
I tune the pits I design to cook more evenly at lower temps.
a good rule of thumb to start with is:

• you want the gap to be bigger in square inches than the area of your smoke stack opening... 6" diam. round smoke stack opening= 28.26"sq. so your gap area would need to at least that big.
• you want your smaller in square inches than your firebox to cook chamber opening.....

hope this helps!

[ehw2011]

very helpful. Thanks Fraank