Just registered! Firebox calc seems small

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 6th, 2014, 10:33 am

Ahh I see. Thanks for taking the time to explain.
I'm gonna go 116% on the firebox. I have a question about the exhaust. It's gonna b located on the far end, 20" diameter. Cooking chamber will have a big bottom rack and a small top rack. Should exhaust outlet be center of the pipe cap, where it would be between both racks or more towards the top rack? Does it make a difference or is if just personal preference?

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 6th, 2014, 11:08 am

You want your exhaust stack to be set as high as you can get it. In other words it should enter the tank just enough to weld it in place.

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 6th, 2014, 11:28 am

With that being said, would it be better to weld on top of the tank as close to the side as I can rather than welding it on the side?

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 6th, 2014, 1:19 pm

I'm referring to the exhaust stack

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 6th, 2014, 3:22 pm

It really depends on how much room you have between the edge of your CC door and the end of the tank.

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 13th, 2014, 12:21 pm

I have a question regarding the firebox intakes. The calculator says I need two 3.5" round intakes. My question is if I cut them out and space them two inches apart, can I make one cover that will open and close both? Maybe like two seperate plates connected by round bar?

And when I'm cooking should they both be open fully? My current smoker has a large intake and I usually barely open it. I didn't build it but it wasn't built off of a calculator.

SoloQue · Post by **SoloQue** » January 13th, 2014, 12:56 pm

Forever draggin wrote:when I'm cooking should they both be open fully?

You will need to adjust the intakes to "force your will" on the fire inside, I adjust mine equally (unless you are getting strong wind from a specific side then that one gets closed faster). Start with all intakes wide open, when you reach your target temp ease the intakes shut abit, after 10 minutes if temp is still climbing ease back some more. Eventually your airflow will decreased enough to allow for a bed of coals that puts off enough heat to maintain the temp you want to cook at. Now just feed a few splits every 30 - 45 minutes or at whatever schedule you learn works best for your rig. jm2cw

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 13th, 2014, 1:40 pm

That's pretty much what I do now, thanks

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 13th, 2014, 1:41 pm

How do I figure out the throat size? I need 51.52

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 13th, 2014, 4:00 pm

I guess what I'm asking is, another calculator says this

So if I just follow a half moon 20" diameter pipe would that b the width r the height? I'm confused

Post by **Big T** » January 13th, 2014, 9:01 pm

This means that if you have a circle that is 11.45 inches in diameter and you cut it in half you would have your recommended throat opening. If you want to use the full diameter of your pipe you'll have to figure out how tall to make your opening. I know this might sound crazy but you can cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangle that is 51.5 square inches and cut it down as close as possible to fit the radius of your pipe. If it ends up being an inch or 2 bigger than 51.5 you'll be ok.

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 13th, 2014, 11:02 pm

What do most people usually do? I'm very poor at math so I'm not real sure the best way to tackle this.

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 13th, 2014, 11:03 pm

I would like to get it as short as I can because that would equal to a lower shelf right?

Post by **Big T** » January 13th, 2014, 11:32 pm

I'm no math teacher either but I think if you come up 4-3/4'' from the bottom and make a straight line across the pipe that you'll be pretty close to 51.5 square inches. I made the top of my bottom rack at the center point of my cooker because that's the widest part of your pipe.

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 14th, 2014, 12:19 am

Yea but mine isn't a reverse flow.

Post by **Pete Mazz** » January 14th, 2014, 7:13 am

http://www.handymath.com/cgi-bin/arc18.cgi?submit=Entry

Just enter your radius and height and hit calculate button. Adjust height to get to your desired area. Make sure to have all measurements set to sq inches.

If I enter 10" radius and 4.75" height, the area is 57.125"

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 14th, 2014, 8:56 pm

Glad to see someone else besides me uses HandyMath.

Post by **Pete Mazz** » January 15th, 2014, 7:47 am

Clover Ridge Smokers wrote:Glad to see someone else besides me uses HandyMath.

HandyMath rocks!!!

OK, I'll turn in my man card for today....

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 15th, 2014, 7:51 am

Like I told my parents back when I was in high school. I'll never need geometry in real life so who cares what my grade is in that class. Thank you HandyMath!!

Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 15th, 2014, 10:41 am

Ok fellas, here is what I have so far. Don't u boys worry I been taking lots of pics and promise to make a build thread.

This is my firebox. Now I know I need to put flatbar on the outside of the door to cover the cut. Do I need flat bar on the inside of the door?

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 15th, 2014, 5:49 pm

I would all the way around the insides of the door

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Forever draggin · Post by **Forever draggin** » January 15th, 2014, 6:14 pm

Inside and outside? Is this a better seal?

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 15th, 2014, 7:35 pm

Outside would be for looks
Inside for better seal

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Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 15th, 2014, 7:39 pm

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 16th, 2014, 9:53 am

I guess it would be opinion, but I will say it anyway. I don't believe it matters if the seal is on the outside or the inside as long as the seal works.

jm2cw

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