Attaching firebox to cook chamber question

[Tinker]

First build of his type so my question is when attaching the fire box to the cook chamber does it matter if you cut the tank out or the firebox out where they fit together in other words fire box sticks into cook chamber or cook chamber sticks into fire box does it make any difference thanks for any and all input

[Big T]

I think most guys on here notch the tank and let the FB slide into the tank. I have seen some of them that notch the FB to fit the end of the tank. I think the main thing you have to watch out for is creating a spot where the hot air coming from your FB doesn't get trapped from going to your CC. I have seen a few builds on here where that happened and they had to cut the FB off and redesign them. there are a lot of builds on here with good pics that are round CC with square FB's so you should be able to get a good idea of how to do it.

[bluecatfish]

Good advice from Big T.

[Tinker]

Notching the tank it will be seems that will be the easiest thing to do and sounds like the best as we'll how often dose that happen thanks for the response

[Smokeone]

Yep notch the tank.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

[Smurf]

Is there any advantage to making the notch deeper into the cc? Most of the ones that I have seen on here look like they set in about 3" or so.

[Tinker]

Next question would be if you use a coal box in your fire box and have an ash pan under dose the fire box need to be larger in size I have a 40 gal cc and calculated the fire box to be 14w x 14h x 16l

[Smokeone]

Smurf- I don't think there is any advantage.
Tinker, did u run the numbers through the pit calc? If so your numbers are right. The ash pan and basket don't change the required size. Basically that is just total volume needed, you won't be filling that entire space with fuel, more like a third or so will be fuel, the rest is for air.

Here's a link to the calculator, http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=113.

[Tinker]

Yes sir I ran the calculator just trying to over think things I guess just would like to get it as close to right as possible so hopefully there will not be much tweaking after the fact just cookin

[Tinker]

Next question is there any reason why the fire box door can't be on the front of the fire box instead of on the end still going to draft from the end just want the door to load the wood on the front

[Miketheforester]

I don't see a reason that wouldn't be fine, function wise.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

It's all personal preference. Either design will work

[Tinker]

Thanks for everyone's input have took time to figure out posting pictures but I can assure you it is happening and sorry about what some may think is silly questions

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[Smokeone]

Glad we can help. No silly questions here.

[Tinker]

We'll for my next question smoke stack length what is optimal I understand that it is in relation to the diameter I have one size that would be around 14" and another that would be 36" I was thinking somewhere in between like 26" what do y'all think is optimal in height and I'll try to match diameter to get the right volume

[Big T]

If you run your numbers through the pit calculator it will give you the preferred lengths. You can change your diameters to see what each length will be. I like for my stack to be tall enough that it's not blowing smoke in my face but not so tall that it won't go in an 8' roll up door.

[Miketheforester]

I like Big T's 8 ft advice.

[Tinker]

Wish I knew how to post pics but I was able to find the 2.75 dia pipe I was looking for that put the height right at 80" other wise the 2.375 dia would have been 90" which I was thinking was just a tad to tall would be neat to try different dia lengths to see what might change if anything

[Big T]

There's a forum on the main page that explains how to post a picture. I'm not criticizing you but I would try to find a larger diameter pipe for your stack, 80 or 90 inches is going to be very tall on top of your build. I know that the larger the diameter is the shorter the length will be. You can probably find a piece on craigslist pretty cheap.

[Tinker]

I'm sorry I didn't explain it right the 80" inches to the top of the pipe from the ground the actual length of the pipe was around 26"

[Tinker]

How many inches should I leave between the baffle plate and the grill rack
Is 2" a good place to be or is that to close

[Big T]

I think the range is 2'' to 5'' so It's really up to you. Mine is about 3 1/2'' from the BP.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I always shoot for 4"

[Smokeone]