Reverse Flow w/ Remote Firebox and Grill

[Big T]

I hope you have better luck lifting your grill than I did lifting my car with a scissor jack

[Puff]

Interesting comment Big T because I too have had problems with those. My pickup has 17" wheels and NORMAL side walls so the jack is 3/4 extended before it even get close to the frame. THen is becomes squirrley at best.

bbroper, do the think the heat and angles will play a roll in the operation when its really cookin'. I like that setup. In Fact, I may just borrow the idea when I add the Rodcrafter grill to my trailered smoker

[bbroper]

It is a 1 1/2 ton Jack, so I hope I wont have trouble lifting the charcoal basket up and down a few inches.

Puff, I am not sure about the heat. I am making the basket removable so I can get to the screw and grease it if it starts to seize. I am hoping to be far enough along on the grill side to test in the next couple of weeks, so I will keep you posted.

[bbroper]

Seems like it has been forever since I had time to work on the smoker... But got a little time this weekend and was able to put the seal on the doors and doors set in place. Also added the smoke stack. I wanted 1 stack for both the grill and smoker, so I took a 4X4 square tubing and split it in half added a divider and put it back together.

The stack looks like it is hitting the roof, but it is about 1 inch below it.

[Rodcrafter]

Cool

[Rev.Mike]

[bbroper]

Ok... so need some opinions...

Since the firebox is going to be remote I have made a tapered connections as Gizmo recommended. It is 10 X 6 at CC and 10 X 8 at the firebox. I am in the process of attaching it to the CC and wanted to know if I should trim it where it enters the CC. See pic below for reference.

CC opening

Here is a pic of the back side where it will be connected to the firebox.

Firebox side

Here is a pic of how the fire box will attach. It will be placed where I have the square clamped.

Firebox side

Don't look at my welds... I am a beginner and still learning, so I have a lot of grinding still to do.

[Big T]

I would cut it flush because of my OCD but I don't think it matters from a performance standpoint. jm2cw

[Rodcrafter]

Since I haven't seen a baffle plate with a dam on it to keep grease from running into your FB, I would say leave it up a little to serve as as a dam.

[bbroper]

I haven't put the BP in yet, but it will have a dam on it. I am hoping that I can get the BP done this weekend.

[Puff]

You haven't tested the scissor Jack yet have you... ? I think that's a good idea.

As for the trimming, I think you are so minimally protruded, your fine. I might think that if it really extended upwards, you might be directing the heat to far up .but ...you're not.

Just thought of this....don't permanently afix the BP completly, if you need to add a deflector ( or director plate ) to that rectangular output, you'll have access

[bbroper]

Puff, sorry no I have not tested it yet, my eye strayed to the unfinished firebox. It is supposed to be 60 on Sunday, so maybe I will finish the grate tomorrow night and give it a try on Sunday. I promise to let you know how it worked.

Good idea on placing the BP in un-welded and trying first... but I have to admit my OCD is kicking like Big T and I want to cut it off.

[Puff]

I have not read about this remote firebox until your build. It seems TO ME as though it might be possible DEPENDING on the flow of heat, that you might have a hot spot if it does not dissapte under the BP and spread across the cook chamber. My thought is only speculation though. Most of my thinking is done in pictures in my head. I see the flow of heat like a torch concentrated in one area above the port.

If that has any validity, then possibly a small piece of steel directing the heat my be in order...? That's the only reason I brought that up.

On my 275, I have a BP that is removable and only because I did not know what I could expect under the BP once the smoker is fired up. Several hundred lbs of pork later, it still is not welded. Makes it nice and easy to clean...

[bbroper]

Good point... I was thinking about not installing a drain pipe on the BP, but if it is not permanently affixed then it can be removed to be cleaned and allow access to the CC since I won't have it from the firebox.

[bbroper]

Puff, I tested the scissor jack this weekend, and I am happy to announce it work great. The heat did not affect the ability of the Jack to lift the charcoal basket up and down.

I also got the fire box attached, and made the wood basket for the firebox. I pleased with the way it turned out.

Firebox

Another pic of the firebox.

Open Firebox

Here is a pick of the wood basket.

Wood basket

Started to work on the BP, but ran out of time. Hopefully next weekend I will get the BP in and do an inaugural burn.

[Big T]

You might want to lower the side of the fire basket closest to the door, it keeps you from having to pull the basket out to add wood.jm2cw

[bbroper]

Big T I wondered how hard it was going to be to pull it so I could add wood. Never thought about making it lower. Thanks I will modify it next weekend.

[bbroper]

I was able to get the firebox latches welded on last night. So firebox is complete. Moving to CC to install BP next and then a test fire.

[Rodcrafter]

[Puff]

Ah ha....you could dig a hole at the Fire box door and step down into it...at eye level you may have better leverage!

Actually, this really looks great. Looking forward to the fire and temp results...

[bbroper]

Thanks... I am looking forward to that as well. Hopefully next weekend. Need my thermo to ship from HQ.

[bbroper]

I got the counter weight's on the doors, along with the handles. I did a test burn, and think I am not getting enough draft. The smoke doesn't clear up. but if I open the door just a crack it clears right up so, I am thinking I need more draft. I am going to do a couple more test before I make any major mods.

Here is a pic of the almost final project.

[Rodcrafter]

You may need to leave the FB door open until the wood gets burning clean. But even then it may not draft just right until the CC is at operating temp. Cold steel doesn't draft quite right.

jm2cw

[bbroper]

Ok... so after a couple more fires, I have got it dialed in on the size of fire I need to get it up to temp and stay there. I need to upload some new pics, as I have the thermometer installed and only have about a 2 degree difference between each end of the CC on the smoker side.

My wife says it looks like an airplane taking off... I don't see it, but it inspired me to find a name. Below is a list of Nicknames for aircraft. Vote on your favorite.

Nickname / Airplane
Meatbox / Gloster Meteor
Old Smokey/ McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
Porker / Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
Skyhog / Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Slow But Deadly / Douglas SBD Dauntless

[Pennywise]

You had me at Skyhog. It's the one that screamed "SMOKER".