Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

jimbli · Post by **jimbli** » March 26th, 2013, 10:36 am

I'm in the process of building my first smoker. The smoke chamber is 20" in diameter and 40" long. I got a good deal on some 1/2" plates that, when welded to some angle iron I already had were the perfect width for my baffle plate.

Has anyone here made a pit with a 1/2" thick reverse flow baffle plate? I feel like this thing will take a day and a half and an entire forest to heat up, but once it is up to temperature, this smoker will keep a very stable temperature. Can anyone here talk me out of using this stuff or reassure me that it won't be a problem?

TuscaloosaQ · Post by **TuscaloosaQ** » March 26th, 2013, 10:45 am

It is going to be very hard to heat the 1/2 inch plate up do not think you will like the results at all!!!!!!

alleyrat58 · Post by **alleyrat58** » March 26th, 2013, 10:58 am

You will get the same temp stability out of 1/4". Once the metal is hot, it'll stay that way for a while.

That said, with a 1/2" baffle plate it will take longer to heat up and the extra mass will take more fuel to heat up. It will also add a lot of weight to the smoker and make it that much heavier if you want to move it around. If it were me, I'd spend the dough and buy a piece of 1/4".

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » March 26th, 2013, 11:15 am

Don't do it!!! Use 1/4" plate !! Does that help talk you out of it?

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charlie2tight · Post by **charlie2tight** » March 26th, 2013, 12:41 pm

alleyrat58 wrote:You will get the same temp stability out of 1/4". Once the metal is hot, it'll stay that way for a while.

That said, with a 1/2" baffle plate it will take longer to heat up and the extra mass will take more fuel to heat up. It will also add a lot of weight to the smoker and make it that much heavier if you want to move it around. If it were me, I'd spend the dough and buy a piece of 1/4".

Billy Barger · Post by **Billy Barger** » March 27th, 2013, 10:17 pm

I used 1/2 inch in mine, but it was free so that worked very well for me

it takes 30 minutes to heat up to 250 and it stays there with two 1/4 splits of apple wood every 20 minutes. My pit is heavy but trailers very well its right at 1600 pounds.

jimbli · Post by **jimbli** » March 29th, 2013, 1:26 am

I went ahead and used the 1/2 inch plate. I lit a fire in the firebox to check out how it drafts and if the plate would cause a problem. I checked the temp after 40 minutes or so and it was at 300. I dont think its going to be a problem.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » March 29th, 2013, 6:25 am

Well that's cool! I mean that's hot!!

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Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

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Re: Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

Re: Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

Re: Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

Re: Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

Re: Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?

Re: Reverse flow baffle thickness, is half inch too thick?