Smoke inlet placement

[Sol]

I was thinking about my Bandera firebox and wondering if I should just trash it and build one. If I go that route I can put the smoke inlet wherever I want. Is the side inlet best? I was thinking about lowering it and putting a pipe coming into the bottom, right under the water pan. Maybe some of you more experience guys can tell me where the best input is for well distributed heat.

[butts a fire]

I think that would probably give you more even Heat it the inlet was dead center under the water pan then having the side fire box on the Dera. I could see you losing a little convection but I think it would be an even trade it would probably run much more effeciently and would go through more water also.

[Sol]

I was thinking about a solid box with just an end door, with a slide out fire grate.