For those who cook with Banderas ???

[DoubleC]

I just recently purchased a Bandera from Academy. I have done the fire brick modification but wanted to know if the baffle makes a big difference and if so does any one sell them premade ? I saw some pictures in the album section where some were for sale but do not know who to contact.

[BBQ Bandit]

Welcome to the Forum!

Thanks to the Brethren who got me started... and the Bandera 101 document.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showpost.php?p=639302&postcount=1

Went with a cheap route... took an aluminum platter, folded it over a couple times... about 6" wide and as deep (front to back) inside the smoking chamber. Laid it inside the smoking chamber on the waterbowl... nearest to the firebox. Place a slight bend into the aluminum section (depress with a fist) ... allow meat drippings back to the bowl. That side next to the firebox tends to be a "little warmer".

Thats the quick/easy way.

Suggest doing a bisket test, charcoal basket, and raising the firegrate within the firebox. The enclosed link is last year's mod.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showpost.php?p=622578&postcount=1

Congrats... you will be turning out better Q.

[Solidkick]

Without the baffle, most of the heat runs right up the side closest to the fire box and out the stack. You'll have a much better cooking experience by adding a baffle. A cookie sheet can be cut and bent to make the baffle. It doesn't have to be new, see if you can pick up a couple of used resturant size ones somewhere around town. Take the second one and cut to the size of a shelf/rack. Use a cereal bowl as a template, and on the back side, centered, cut a half moon out. You've now created a heat shield. This forces a good majority of the heat to re-circulate before escaping through the half moon cut out, conserving fuel, and also gives you a lower temperature holding area if you put product above the shield.
Or, you could sacrifice a rack and cover with foil and just tear out a fist size space on the back for the smoke to escape.

Have fun! I learned to cook on a Bandera.

[BBQ Grail]

It doesn't get much better or easier than Kick's answer....

[Brauma]

I had to restore my old Dera. And when I did, I removed the top two bolts that holds the firebox to the smoking chamber and installed two stainless threaded rods. Since yours is new this will be easy to do. Then I have two different sized plates that I can lay on the rods to act as tuning plates.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h123/Brauma54/BBQ/newmetalonmainchamber.jpg

You can see the large one here. Its 7 or 8"

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h123/Brauma54/BBQ/newplatebeforeseasoning.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h123/Brauma54/BBQ/ourfirstBBQgig10butts032808002Small.jpg

Crap, I thought I had a pic of the smaller one but dont see it. Its about 4.5" long and I like it better.

[DoubleC]

Thanks for the information. I will be sure to give it a try.