??? about getting custom rib racks made.

[jgh1204]

My smoker is 22 inches wide, ID. It has 2 support bars that stick out from each side that serve as the stanchions(I had to look that one up).

From edge to edge of the stanchions, it is 20 7/8".

My questions.

How many of the slots for the ribs can I get in there and what should the spacing be.

How wide should the slot be where the bottom of the ribs rest.

How deep should the slot be?

I would like to have as many slots as possible without impeding air flow.

[jgh1204]

Ok, after putting pen to paper. Here is what I am thinking.
The overall length has to be 22" long, I am allowing 1" on each side.

I am going to have the bottoms of the U's be 2" wide, the top of the U will be 2.5" wide and between each U will be a 1"spacer. That allows for 6 U's.

So by going along the top, I get the following.
2 ends that go into the stanchions 1" Each for 2"
That leaves 20"
Then 6 U's x 2.5 = 15"
That leaves 5"
Then 5 1" spacers between the U's =5"

The depth of each U will be 5" so that it will hold spares easily. My smoker is 16" deep so I will be trimming some ends on some racks.

¯U¯U¯U¯U¯U¯U¯

The material will be 3/8" stainless. Now, can I get 6 spares that average 6 lbs each without cause that thing to flex more than 1" and pulling out of the holes. I was thinking about getting them to attach braces at the bottom of the side U's that stick out about 1/2" so as the thing flexed, those braces would be forced against the stanchions and stop the flex.

Am I being too simplistic or making it more complicated than it needs to be.

Another thought, would I need a cross brace between the 2 racks?

[Jorge]

Did you factor expansion into this?

Braces...I'd probably add a couple to a couple of the 'u' sections at the bottom, one brace on the top connectiong the two sides, and then the ends.

[jgh1204]

Nope, expansion as in how?

[Jorge]

heat. It would suck if the racks expanded at a greater rate than the smoker and the tolerance was too close.

[jgh1204]

Ok, I see. The existing shelf supports are 3/16 and that is what I am going with. I realize the 1st post said 3/8" but that was wrong.