position of fire grate in box

[CaptFrank]

I am doing mods to my fire box and I need to know how to position the fire grate in relation to the bottom of the opening to the smoke chamber in my Bandera. The bottom of the opening is 6.5" from the bottom of the fire box. I am having a 2"H ash tray made which leaves 4.5" to the opening. Do I need to leave more than 1" for the grate above the ash tray or would 2" be better? If I take the grate too high will I lessent the heat and smoke too the smoke chamber?

[willkat98]

I put the grate on the lowest shelf setting. Just cut the expanded steel to the 15x?? the entire length of the box. I use an extra cooking grate under the steel for support.

I also have my ash pan sitting on 5 of those small ceramic bricquettes (about half inch high, shaped like charcoal) to get proper air flow under the ash pan to prohibit rusting.

I don't have specific inches detail, but thats how mine is set up.

[brdbbq]

Nice Avatar. :roll:

[willkat98]

Nice Avatar. :roll:

Thought you'd like it.

[BBQchef33]

i think capnfrank has a brinkman, not a bandera. I would just keep the grate a couple inches below the opening to the chamber and ensure you got 2-3 inchs below it for ash and air.

[willkat98]

oops

I forgot that in Cattle Call

[kcquer]

I am doing mods to my fire box and I need to know how to position the fire grate in relation to the bottom of the opening to the smoke chamber in my Bandera. The bottom of the opening is 6.5" from the bottom of the fire box. I am having a 2"H ash tray made which leaves 4.5" to the opening. Do I need to leave more than 1" for the grate above the ash tray or would 2" be better? If I take the grate too high will I lessent the heat and smoke too the smoke chamber?

Frank, debated all the same questions back in Feb. Here's my $.02, don't worry about the smoke chamber end, it will be fine. What you want to accomplish is to have as much ash/air space as possible under your grate while still being able to tend the fire through the firebox door. Acessing the fire via the firebox lid everytime will cause a lot of heat loss. Doesn't hurt to lift the lid every now and again, but to maintain a steady pit temp, I think its better to go through the door when possible.

[rbsnwngs]

Now see i didnt know you should load through the fire box door. wow you can learn some things on this site.

[kcquer]

Will, that's just my opinion. This fall when the weather is cooler (not so big a problem for the Florida Brothers) and the breeze is blowing good, some days you're gonna battle for every last BTU, going through the door rather than the lid is just little thing that helps.