^^^ Yeah, go with what he said ^^^Smokeone wrote:If TQ says it, then I would do it. He is spot on!
I too would lower my rack. Someday you may want a smidgen more room. ;)
TQ, Thanks for your help. It’s not often you find a professional willing to share his trade secrets. I ordered my steel Friday and should pick it up today or tomorrow. I was surprised at the cost I may should of checked Bham. I have a couple more questions for you if you don’t mind and then I will leave you alone for a while. What do you think the gap should be from the end of the baffle plate to the cooking chamber and do you slope your baffle plate and if so in what direction? Thanks again.TuscaloosaQ wrote:If it were me I would prolly move the rack down 2" generally I let the top of my firebox be the continuation of the baffle plate. but id do not think it really matters that much if the inside top is a couple inches above the smiley face. I sometimes cut the end bell off on my firebox end and sometime I just make the notch on the head for the firebox. I ran your numbers with the head cut off and I come up with...157.46 with a cut 8.5" high the horizontal length being 27.037 inches. You can bigger if you want but I stick to the calculations. The numbers I just said are a little oversized 8.25 actually puts you dead on. As long as your firebox is at least equal to the pit Calc you will be fine I oversize about 5 to 10% .Hope this helps I have built many of them and have builds going on now!!!! They perform excellent!!!!!!