Would this baffle work in the Bandera?

[The_Kapn]

Over in the woodpile, kcquer has a link to a guy who has built an outstanding Bandera clone.


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I've been watchin this guy from the Smoke Ring chronicle his home built smoker project for a few months now, he just put up new pictures over the weekend. No water pan but other than that looks like a 'dera on steroids to me. www.yellowjacketsystems.com/que/ if that doesn't get you there his name is Jim Ball and his is entry #1 on the Smoke Ring.

I am impressed to say the least!!!!!!

My thought is--would the smoke chamber baffle design work in the Bandera? (shameless design rip-off mod). This would put all the heat and smoke up from the center (and then spread outward) and from what I understand, this is the ultimate flow.

I am thinking of a 1/8" (instead of 1/4") steel plate with same for "pan holder" to keep from bending the Banderas axles with the weight.
Line the bottom with thin firebrick and maybe make the top plate a little bigger, just to better support the water pan.

Biggest challenge would be to seal the lower chamber area really tight to keep crap out of it because it would be difficult (if not impossible) to clean.
Baffle could be sealed against the sides of the Bandera with hi-temp sealant and just make it as close to the door as possible. Would need a lip on the front to keep juices inside.

I am sure that there would be other "challenges" and y'all will find them for me :lol:

I am also changing over to a heavy duty aluminum pan I have to replace the standard Bandera water pan. It is a bit wider and longer, but only 2" deep. About the same capacity, but re-claims a couple of inches of vertical cooking space.

I am "blessed" with a spare (replacement) smoke chamber sitting in the shop. Am using the defective one for now. So, lots of time to get all the "Mods" done before I change the chambers out. It is nice and clean, at least for now!

Good idea or what?
Thanks
TIM

Forgot to mention- I am "on the road" for next two weeks. Have one 6 month old grandson to meet in Fayetteville, AR and one "Preemie" (born at 24 weeks and only 12" and 1#-14 oz) grandson in Plano, TX. I will be using kiddos computers and not nearly as available. I will not be ignoring replies, just slowed by logistics!!! TIM

[Arlin_MacRae]

I saw that set of pictures and thought the same thing: "What a cool heat baffle!"
You'd have to give up some space to do it, of course, but who uses the bottom anyway? <grin>

Question: Does that high-temp silicone sealant give off any fumes? Maybe you could weld a lip around the inside of the box, line it with a high-temp cloth gasket and just set the new bottom on it. Then you could just lift it out to clean it. My alcohol-sodden thoughts...

[The_Kapn]

Arlin,

Good thoughts.
My experience with the hi-temp sealants is from my old automotive days.
Temps of 400 to 500 are not hard to deal with. As to toxicity, I guess that would "burn off". But, definately something to look at!!!!!

The "lip and gasket" trick is an idea. However, an impervious seal seems to be paramount to cleanliness in the lower area.

Also, trying to avoid welding. I don't have the capability any more and want to keep it "cut, drill, and fit" to the extent possible.

May pick up some welding and cutting stuff from my Dad on this trip, but not for sure.

Keep the questions and ideas coming!!!!

Thanks
TIM

[kcquer]

I always thought a cutter off of an agricultural disc would make a good "heat diffuser". You'd have to weld the center hole shut but the dome shape would shed drippings away from the heat hole. For a bandera maybe one from a lawn tractor sized unit would do the trick. I've spent many hours stirring dust with a disc but never measured one. Next time I'm at the local ag suppy store I'll have a look.

[BigAl]

Based on my computer design experiences, resulting heat flow and how to keep it cool at low cost, I built a simulated equipment cabinet with plexiglass skins, taped thin slices of unused toilet paper on the circuit boards and inserted cigar smoke at the inlet to "see" what happened to the air flow.

Based on those test result, I would say the baffel above is "better" than what we use in the Bandera but it is not optimal, why? because our test proved that heated air is just like water flow, it takes the path of least resistance.

What I learned and put into production was a simple box underneath the card file with "slots" that directed the air between the cards and moved the power supply modules to the top of the rack by the outlet vents. One small Otis evelator fan cooled the entire system. So what you say? The heat from the above pictured baffel will rise directely from the outer edge of the center circle, creating circular center hot spots.

:idea: Since heated air is presurerized, a better design is one that has the same number of square inches (matching the SQ inches of the output stack) of openings equally distributed accross the surface directly above the water pan. Presurized hot air would then be distributed equally up though the smoke chamber.

[Qczar]

Yeah, that design looks as if it would have a better chance of evenly distribute heat.

As I have mentioned earlier, it`s why I think I have stumbled on something when I had my water pan set at a higher level to allow me to construct my baffle longer into the smoker box and under the water pan. I don`t seem to have any heat problems and my door temp gauge is dead on with my dig prob set in the center of the smoker.

BUT, ............. still learnin`

..... Xczar

[brdbbq]

in Plano, TX.


Welcome to Plano

[willkat98]

I always thought a cutter off of an agricultural disc would make a good "heat diffuser". You'd have to weld the center hole shut but the dome shape would shed drippings away from the heat hole. For a bandera maybe one from a lawn tractor sized unit would do the trick. I've spent many hours stirring dust with a disc but never measured one. Next time I'm at the local ag suppy store I'll have a look.

They make a great Wok too.

Can't recall who, maybe Buzz, uses an ag disc as a wok.

[Arlin_MacRae]

Based on my computer design experiences, resulting heat flow and how to keep it cool at low cost, I built a simulated equipment cabinet with plexiglass skins, taped thin slices of unused toilet paper on the circuit boards...

Uhhh, I should hope so!!!


When I lived in TEXAS <grin> we made skillets out of old disks. We welded three short pieces of rebar to the bottom (convex side) to make a tripod and just stood it up in the mesquite fire and cook what EVER. Great camping stuff!

[kcquer]

When I lived in TEXAS <grin> we made skillets out of old disks. We welded three short pieces of rebar to the bottom (convex side) to make a tripod and just stood it up in the mesquite fire and cook what EVER. Great camping stuff!


Megawok mod!