What Size holes/spacing in heat plate for stick burner ?

captain John · 11-27-2011, 11:43 AM

Hey Guys,I have a "stick burner" and going to make a heat plate to try and even out the heat in the horizontal side of my smoker. The ones I've seen for sale have several rows of holes each row with the same size holes , holes increasing in size further away from the fire box.
Is their a magic size hole to start / end with or spacing between rows and number of rows ?
My horizontal is 20" diameter and 40" long . Thanks in advance for your help, I have a chunk of stainless that I thought would work well for this project.

colonel00 · 11-27-2011, 11:53 AM

I don't know that there is a magic formula since all cookers run differently. It will all depend on the flow of your cooker and the temp difference now versus what you want in the end. Many people like having different temp zones for cooking different meats. Personally, instead of drilling holes, I would cut the sheet into tuning plates that can be adjusted. Start with a larger plate right outside the firebox that will act as a diffuser and remain there permanently. Then have plates of 4-6" widths or so that you can space out in the cooking chamber to achieve your desired temps. A quick search brought up this page which is a good illustration of what I mean.

http://www.bbquepits.com/images/ACCE...ING_PLATES.htm

DirtyDirty00 · 11-27-2011, 07:27 PM

I also have a convection plate on my xmas list. Horizon makes one. Not sure how big the holes r tho.

I also thought bout just getting steel strips and making tuning plates. Not sure how to get em to be able the screw n lock tho. Id just get strips n place em in the smoker.

kwag · 11-27-2011, 08:06 PM

This was how I did mine, I used 1/2" dia. holes on 3" Centers, the diffuser tapers to the short end. It seems to work pretty good so far, in my 48" long smoker it may have a temperature difference of around 2-5 degrees.

Phrasty · 11-28-2011, 01:52 AM

I made mine adjustable as well. Love it that way!

Cheers

Harbormaster · 11-28-2011, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel00

I would cut the sheet into tuning plates that can be adjusted. Start with a larger plate right outside the firebox that will act as a diffuser and remain there permanently. Then have plates of 4-6" widths or so that you can space out in the cooking chamber to achieve your desired temps.

^^^^ This is what I did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyDirty00

I also thought bout just getting steel strips and making tuning plates. Not sure how to get em to be able the screw n lock tho.

1/4" steel plates aren't going anywhere once placed in the bottom of your pit. No need for fasteners.

captndan · 11-28-2011, 08:48 AM

Would this apply to a reverse flow cooker?

11-27-2011, 11:43 AM	#1
captain John Found some matches. Join Date: 11-09-11 Location: savage	What Size holes/spacing in heat plate for stick burner ? Hey Guys,I have a "stick burner" and going to make a heat plate to try and even out the heat in the horizontal side of my smoker. The ones I've seen for sale have several rows of holes each row with the same size holes , holes increasing in size further away from the fire box. Is their a magic size hole to start / end with or spacing between rows and number of rows ? My horizontal is 20" diameter and 40" long . Thanks in advance for your help, I have a chunk of stainless that I thought would work well for this project.

11-27-2011, 11:53 AM	#2
colonel00 Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-03-10 Location: Shawnee, KS	I don't know that there is a magic formula since all cookers run differently. It will all depend on the flow of your cooker and the temp difference now versus what you want in the end. Many people like having different temp zones for cooking different meats. Personally, instead of drilling holes, I would cut the sheet into tuning plates that can be adjusted. Start with a larger plate right outside the firebox that will act as a diffuser and remain there permanently. Then have plates of 4-6" widths or so that you can space out in the cooking chamber to achieve your desired temps. A quick search brought up this page which is a good illustration of what I mean. http://www.bbquepits.com/images/ACCE...ING_PLATES.htm __________________ Brad [URL="https://www.instagram.com/bradsimmons00/"]Some of my photos on Instagram [/URL] [SIZE=1][I][COLOR=red]Proud owner of the PentaZero[/COLOR][/I][/SIZE] :whoo: [B][COLOR=red]WWWWFBBQADD[/COLOR][/B] [B]0 out of 1 members found this post helpful[/B] :thumb: “I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

11-27-2011, 07:27 PM	#3
DirtyDirty00 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-13-11 Location: Mamaroneck, NY	I also have a convection plate on my xmas list. Horizon makes one. Not sure how big the holes r tho. I also thought bout just getting steel strips and making tuning plates. Not sure how to get em to be able the screw n lock tho. Id just get strips n place em in the smoker. __________________ Smokers: 20x48 Pits by JJ Cinder block smoker Wishlist: 22.5" WSM

11-28-2011, 01:52 AM	#5
Phrasty Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-19-08 Location: Jamaica	I made mine adjustable as well. Love it that way! Cheers __________________ 1 - 100 lb. self-made cylinder grill/smoker 1 - 100 lb. self-made cylinder smoker 1 - 20 gal. self-made grill/smoker 1 - 25 gal. self-made vertical smoker 1 - 120 gal. self-made trailer stick-burner http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=88599

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11-27-2011, 08:06 PM	#4
kwag Found some matches. Join Date: 11-20-11 Location: Ft. Scott, KS	This was how I did mine, I used 1/2" dia. holes on 3" Centers, the diffuser tapers to the short end. It seems to work pretty good so far, in my 48" long smoker it may have a temperature difference of around 2-5 degrees.

11-28-2011, 08:48 AM	#7
captndan Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-29-11 Location: Greeneville TN	Would this apply to a reverse flow cooker?