Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do it..?

PetesMeat · Post by **PetesMeat** » November 1st, 2013, 6:08 pm

Hi Everyone,

Thinking of turning my half built RF smoker into a gravity fed charcoal type with a firebox at one end. Everyone who builds these insulates them, so im wondering how much difference it really makes? I want to make the smoker efficient, so the insulation will help, but how much?

Also what kind of insulation do you use? Ive found kiln matting insulation here in the UK for a reasonable price, will that work ok, its about 3/4inch thick.

I cant think of another way to sandwich the insulation other than to use a steel box section separator, but obviously this will conduct heat to the outer skin. Is there another way to insulate without using a steel layer separator that will not conduct the heat?

The plan is to weld 1/2x1/2in steel all round the permiter of the smoker, stick the matting in (will find a thinner matting so it dosn't get squashed) and then somehow fix another skin over the top. Will the top skin expand and buckle, should I work expansion joints into the design?

Thanks for any help,

Pete.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 2nd, 2013, 8:52 am

Take a look at "Eli" thread and you'll see a modular box method of building insulated walls. fwiw

PetesMeat · Post by **PetesMeat** » November 4th, 2013, 12:18 pm

Your using three inch insulation there rick, I don't really have space for that... Could I get away with one inch? Surely there's a thickness where it just dosnt make any difference caus it's too thin...?

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 4th, 2013, 1:00 pm

No that was 2 inch thick sidewalls but I trimmed down 3.5 inch insulation to get it to fit.

I've done 1/2 inch insulation successfully on Edgar but that was ceramic (pricey)
I think smokertom did 1.5 inch on his last gravity fed cooker with good results
I would think 1 inch would work fine….

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 24th, 2013, 9:40 am

on a gravity feed smoker insulation is worth it for sure! it will aid in the stabilizing the cooker temp in a shorter time. on gravity feeds you are not moving the same volume of air that you are in a stick burner. another benefit is the burn area on a gravity feed is like a mini forge. very very hot, so insulation helps avoid people getting burned. I use a product called Roxul. I use the RHT-80

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 24th, 2013, 10:36 am

Did you guys hear that?

For a second there it sounded like Frank was on here….

Naaaaaa …. can't be!

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 24th, 2013, 10:46 am

hahaha, right Gizmo!!!
I am cooking instead of welding today so I am gonna get caught up!!! I think I might even hang out in the chat room for a few hours today!

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 24th, 2013, 12:10 pm

Wha?

Excuse me while I go lay down ….

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » November 24th, 2013, 2:56 pm

Who's this Frank guy that decided to chime in? Does he know anything about building cookers?

ha ha

Post by **Rodcrafter** » November 24th, 2013, 7:31 pm

Boy Frank, I guess you have been missed.

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 24th, 2013, 11:05 pm

Haha good to be back fellers!

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » November 27th, 2013, 1:17 pm

Frank was here and I missed it. Wait, if he is gonna get caught up, he should be here until Christmas or so.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » December 1st, 2014, 2:47 pm

Good here. Just about as busy as Frank tho! We are all gonna have to have a slow down and smoke day!

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » December 3rd, 2014, 6:43 pm

It's not possible for anybody to be as busy as Frank… Is it?

SmokerBuilder.com

Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do it..?

Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do it..?

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i

Re: Insulation, how big is the differnce and how do you do i