RF plate temps?

[saleen9973]

Guys what kind of temps are you getting on your RF plates? By the firebox and by the opening? Today on my new build I was seeing 450 right at the firebox opening with a large fire and 268 at the end where the opening is. Is this normal? I put a pizza on the smoker today and in 20 minutes I burned the bottom of it by the firebox. This pit kicks off some serious radiant heat. I have more 1/4" plate should I put another layer on top of the plate that is there already, just lay it there don't weld it?

[forty_creek]

I'm new to my RF (one cook). However I had 225 on the BP gap end, 250 center and 250 closest to FB. I was aiming for 250.
Now when I seasoned it, I had temps up to 450 due to too large of a fire IMO. I really never want my RF over 300. Mine is a 500gal RF. I just added a spilt or two ever 60-90 mins.


Drankin, Smokin and Dreamin

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[saleen9973]

I built a large fire to season it today and I bet I put food on too soon. This was only the second fire in this pit. its a small pit measures 17x43, firebox is 12x22. tomorrow I will give more time to get a bed of coals and let it settle I think I was rushing it maybe?

[Big T]

It sounds like your fire was too big. You want a small, clean burning fire with thin blue smoke. I start out with a chimney of lit charcoal and a couple of small splits and once it's up to temp I add a couple more splits every 45-90 minutes depending on all the variables. It takes a few test runs to figure out all of the adjustments to get it dialed in.

[Big T]

I just saw the design of your smoker. I couldn't see the inside but you may have to add a deflector over the top of your throat to avoid a hot spot on your BP.

[saleen9973]

The two 3" pipes go right up to the cooking chamber and probably hit the plate. I could make a deflector plate in the firebox like you said, that way I am just getting heat not flames hitting the plate. What would happen if I add another piece of 1/4 inch steel where the two pipes come up from the firebox? Do yo think it would help with that hot spot?

[Rodcrafter]

Yes that is what Big T was saying a shadow plate we call it Not in the FB in the CC above the openings below the BP.

[saleen9973]

Well I did this today, its in the firebox. im cooking right now I still see 420 degrees where the heat comes up and about 280-290 at the plate opening into the cooking chamber. Can someone get a heat reading on their pit for me to see others?

[saleen9973]

I know my welds are probably the worst in the world but I couldn't see where I was welding so I just zapped it the best I could. It has stopped the flames from entering the cooking chamber.