Smoker Terminology

[Pete Mazz]

I thought putting together some simple drawings of different smoker designs would help new builders with the terminology used here on the site, as well as the Pit Calculator.

Take a look at the Site Slang Database as well.



Reverse Flow ( RF ) Smoker

The heat and smoke travel from the FB thru the throat area, under the BP, up thru the baffle plate gap, into and across the CC and out the chimney.




Offset Smoker

The heat and smoke travel from the FB thru the throat area, up thru the tuning plate gaps, into the CC and out the chimney. The tuning plates are adjustable to even out the temps across the CC.




Center Feed Smoker ( CF )

The heat and smoke travel from the FB thru the throat area, under the BP, up thru the baffle plate gaps, into and across the CC and out the chimney.




Vertical Smoker

The heat and smoke travel up thru the throat area into the CC and up thru the chimney. There is usually a water or drip pan above the throat that deflects the direct heat from the FB. The chimney does not have to be any certain length, more like just an exhaust. Typically insulated, they are very efficient.




Gravity Feed Smoker ( GF )

Fuel is added to the smoker thru an air tight door at the top of the chute. Gravity (hence the name), moves the fuel into the FB which acts as a furnace of sorts, and the heat and smoke move into the CC and up out of the chimney. Some folks use a controller with a blower but others have found that adjusting a simple ball valve is all it takes to maintain a steady temperature. Being airtight, the charcoal in the chute doesn't burn until it moves down into the FB as the used charcoal turns to ash. Typically insulated, they are very efficient and can be run for many hours without adding fuel.



More to come....

[Rodcrafter]

Great job Pete!!!!!! This stuff will be a sticky and should be along side the pit calc too. You're right many people don't understand the terms until they're almost done building their first smoker.


Making memories.

[WyomingLawDog]

Yes Pete, I was not sure on some of the terms and read many posts to figure it out. Will help new guys for sure!

[Pete Mazz]

Thanks guys!

Added a Vertical and Gravity Feed smoker to the mix.

[SAFETYHARBORREDNECK]

Great job Pete.thanks

[Frank_Cox]

Awesome job! Thanks for doing this!

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[forty_creek]

Strong Work Pete!


Drankin, Smokin and Dreamin

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[Bmtnbiker128]

Following.

[Big T]

Where's the old spam hammer when you need it ??????

[Gizmo]

Nice job Pete!

[Tom_Heath]

Awesome job. Pretty cool that my favorite is at the top of the listing of pics. The center feed.


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[Frank_Cox]

I just banned that guy

[forty_creek]

Which guy?


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[Frank_Cox]

The guy from Russia, that posted all Russian talk and made some kind of a bogus virus link

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[forty_creek]

I missed that! SMOKERBUILDERS so big Putin got em hacking in to the phenom!


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[Frank_Cox]

Hahaha!

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[Big T]

I was beginning to think that I was the only one who saw it.

[Rodcrafter]

I missed it! But I didn't miss the one today. Deleted


Making memories!

[Tom_Heath]

Was it a good one. ?


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[mp4]

There was no doubt what the point was, that's for sure...

[Doug Crann]

Thanks. Now when I use the calculators I will know what things are...not just take a SWAG at it...

[DMW]

excellent post for a noob like me. now i know that the kind of smoker i want to build is a center feed smoker.

thank you!

[tmunns]

Hi,
I or you could explain the shadow plate and the recommended use.
Thank you

[towtruck]

Hi,
I or you could explain the shadow plate and the recommended use.
Thank you

A shadow plate is a piece of metal installed where the fire box heat enters the cook chamber to disperse the heat better to avoid a hot spot at that location.

It is used where heat enters the chamber on center fired pits and those that have a hotter fire as it enters from the end of the chamber as well.

Think of a hair dryer blowing on your hand and how hot it would get. Now have someone hold a pie plate between the hair dryer and your hand....same principal it's just a diffuser (sp)

[MrsSmokerBuilder]

Thanks for the info Pete! I'm trying to learn this stuff too!