tuning plate options..

nopantsdan · 03-28-2013, 10:23 AM

not sure if this is right place to post this - delete if needed.

i have a large side box smoker, that takes a lot of fuel/large fire to get up to temperature. this obviously creates a very very hot spot in the smoker box, adjacent to the firebox. i have read a lot about tuning plates, but really do not have the tools or availability to custom steel plates.

my smoker already has a deflector off the fire box that somewhat deflects heat, that is 1/4" steel. i was at lowes the other day and was walking around and saw some patio pavers that looked like a perfect fit in my smoker. i dropped them into my smoker and they do fit great. looking forward to trying it out and seeing if I can even these temps out some with a little bit of tweaking.

before i proceed, i just wanted to ask if this was an OK idea? I am more concerned about food safety and any chemicals that may come off the pavers as the heat up... any ideas?

from the fire box looking into the smoker.

looking into the smoker side.

ButtBurner · 03-28-2013, 10:40 AM

I made plates out of 1/4" steel, they work great.

I have heard for people using ceramic tile, I dont know if those bricks are ok or not

One thing is you will need to close off the opening between the firebox and the first (right side) brick. All the heat will just shoot right up that gap

Bludawg · 03-28-2013, 10:47 AM

I don't think it would work to well and without knowing the make up of the dye used in the pavers I wouldn't use them in my smoker. Not a good substitute for steel. After awhile they will crumble and the one closest to the fire box will explode if it gets hot enough.

DownHomeQue · 03-28-2013, 11:25 AM

+1

i would check into the makeup of those bricks if possible.. or switch them out for fire brick tiles... which you could get at a brick store..

DownHomeQue · 03-28-2013, 11:25 AM

Damn good idea though..

BayoustateBBQ · 03-28-2013, 11:32 AM

I would not use those, for one they are too thick and 2 you run the risk of air pockets in them expanding and exploding. If you only have access to lowes, go to their raw material section that has flat steel, angle, round etc. They do not sell 1/4" flat but they sell 3/16" x 3" wide flat steel. Lowes will be overly expensive on they're raw material JYI but you can make some good tuning plates with these and a simple jigsaw to cut them to size if you don't have a bandsaw. Length will depend on the diameter of your smoker.Mine is a 20" smoker so I cut my plates at 18" which left them about 2" below my grills.

nopantsdan · 03-28-2013, 11:36 AM

awesome, thanks for the responses. glad i asked.

cold rolled sheet steel that you can pick up at lowes or home depot - would that be acceptable? i don't have a welder or way to cut - but I am sure i can set something up for my needs.

edit, wow great information and ideas guys! thanks a ton!

garzanium · 03-28-2013, 11:37 AM

What Bayou said.
My local steel supplies store sales 1/4 flat metal in up to 4 inches in width. You can cut to lenght as desired-I use an angle grinder- depending on how high or low you want them to sit and just lay them in the pit.

Andrew · 03-28-2013, 11:45 AM

most bricks are colored not from dyes but mineral contents.

i use some as a damper in my firebox and have not noticed any hazards.

but i would go with steel anyways in the smoke chamber.

the inlet from my firebox is almost right under the grate, i used a couple of foil pans flattened out and angled down to level out the temps, reduced the difference from 50~ degrees to 15-20.

jonboy · 03-28-2013, 12:21 PM

Those might work. Not sure of their temperature threshold.
Firebricks are quite a bit smaller than those tiles.
If you want some metal, you could probably get some drops cut to size for a few bucks at a local welding shop. Promise them to return with some Q.
Why not try them and see?
I would wrap them in alum foil so they are easier to clean after the cook.
Pushing them closer to firebox is good idea.

jon

Just BS · 03-28-2013, 12:53 PM

Another vote for steel.

The pavers from Mexico are known to contain lead.I dont know how that translates to using in a smoker, but I'd pass just to be on the safe side.

rexbbq · 03-28-2013, 01:35 PM

I agree, great idea! But definitely switch them out for firebricks. They are about $0.50 each at a masonry store.

ButtBurner · 03-28-2013, 02:11 PM

heres my plates, they work quite well

Just BS · 03-28-2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButtBurner

heres my plates, they work quite well

Aren't the plates usually below the grates?

Doesn't look like much smoke gets to the food...

ButtBurner · 03-28-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just BS

Aren't the plates usually below the grates?

Doesn't look like much smoke gets to the food...

ummmm

I took the grates off for the pics....

03-28-2013, 10:23 AM	#1
nopantsdan Got Wood. Join Date: 03-26-13 Location: denver, co	tuning plate options.. not sure if this is right place to post this - delete if needed. i have a large side box smoker, that takes a lot of fuel/large fire to get up to temperature. this obviously creates a very very hot spot in the smoker box, adjacent to the firebox. i have read a lot about tuning plates, but really do not have the tools or availability to custom steel plates. my smoker already has a deflector off the fire box that somewhat deflects heat, that is 1/4" steel. i was at lowes the other day and was walking around and saw some patio pavers that looked like a perfect fit in my smoker. i dropped them into my smoker and they do fit great. looking forward to trying it out and seeing if I can even these temps out some with a little bit of tweaking. before i proceed, i just wanted to ask if this was an OK idea? I am more concerned about food safety and any chemicals that may come off the pavers as the heat up... any ideas? from the fire box looking into the smoker. looking into the smoker side.

03-28-2013, 10:47 AM	#3
Bludawg somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-04-09 Location: Jonesboro,Tx	I don't think it would work to well and without knowing the make up of the dye used in the pavers I wouldn't use them in my smoker. Not a good substitute for steel. After awhile they will crumble and the one closest to the fire box will explode if it gets hot enough. __________________ I'm a Proxy Vegetarian> Cows eat grass & I eat cows.
	1 members found this post helpful.

03-28-2013, 11:25 AM	#4
DownHomeQue is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-11-12 Location: Jonesboro. AR Name/Nickname : DHQ	+1 i would check into the makeup of those bricks if possible.. or switch them out for fire brick tiles... which you could get at a brick store.. __________________ [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243527[/URL] 150 Gallon Build (2017) [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148660[/URL] 250 Gallon Offset Build (2012) [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211078[/URL] 600 Gallon Offset Build (2016)

03-28-2013, 11:25 AM	#5
DownHomeQue is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-11-12 Location: Jonesboro. AR Name/Nickname : DHQ	Damn good idea though.. __________________ [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243527[/URL] 150 Gallon Build (2017) [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148660[/URL] 250 Gallon Offset Build (2012) [URL]http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211078[/URL] 600 Gallon Offset Build (2016)

03-28-2013, 11:32 AM	#6
BayoustateBBQ On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-25-13 Location: Loseianna (LA)	I would not use those, for one they are too thick and 2 you run the risk of air pockets in them expanding and exploding. If you only have access to lowes, go to their raw material section that has flat steel, angle, round etc. They do not sell 1/4" flat but they sell 3/16" x 3" wide flat steel. Lowes will be overly expensive on they're raw material JYI but you can make some good tuning plates with these and a simple jigsaw to cut them to size if you don't have a bandsaw. Length will depend on the diameter of your smoker.Mine is a 20" smoker so I cut my plates at 18" which left them about 2" below my grills. __________________ [SIZE=3][B][COLOR=DarkRed][I]"[FONT=Trebuchet MS][COLOR=Black]R[/COLOR][/FONT][/I][/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=DarkRed][I][COLOR=Black][FONT=Trebuchet MS]eal men like their Pork[/FONT] [/COLOR]Pulled"[/I][/COLOR][/B] [/SIZE]:peace: [SIZE=2][SIZE=2][URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153581"]How to smoke a 14 lb tender brisket in 4 hours![/URL][/SIZE] [/SIZE]
	1 members found this post helpful.

03-28-2013, 10:40 AM	#2
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	I made plates out of 1/4" steel, they work great. I have heard for people using ceramic tile, I dont know if those bricks are ok or not One thing is you will need to close off the opening between the firebox and the first (right side) brick. All the heat will just shoot right up that gap

03-28-2013, 11:36 AM	#7
nopantsdan Got Wood. Join Date: 03-26-13 Location: denver, co	awesome, thanks for the responses. glad i asked. cold rolled sheet steel that you can pick up at lowes or home depot - would that be acceptable? i don't have a welder or way to cut - but I am sure i can set something up for my needs. edit, wow great information and ideas guys! thanks a ton!

03-28-2013, 11:37 AM	#8
garzanium Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-13-13 Location: Central Tx	What Bayou said. My local steel supplies store sales 1/4 flat metal in up to 4 inches in width. You can cut to lenght as desired-I use an angle grinder- depending on how high or low you want them to sit and just lay them in the pit. __________________ Backwoods Fatboy-profile for cart build link,Weber OTG,Weber Smokey Joe, Maverick 732,Tan Thermapen

03-28-2013, 11:45 AM	#9
Andrew On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-20-13 Location: South of Dallas	most bricks are colored not from dyes but mineral contents. i use some as a damper in my firebox and have not noticed any hazards. but i would go with steel anyways in the smoke chamber. the inlet from my firebox is almost right under the grate, i used a couple of foil pans flattened out and angled down to level out the temps, reduced the difference from 50~ degrees to 15-20.

03-28-2013, 12:21 PM	#10
jonboy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-14-07 Location: Mount Washington, Kentucky	Those might work. Not sure of their temperature threshold. Firebricks are quite a bit smaller than those tiles. If you want some metal, you could probably get some drops cut to size for a few bucks at a local welding shop. Promise them to return with some Q. Why not try them and see? I would wrap them in alum foil so they are easier to clean after the cook. Pushing them closer to firebox is good idea. jon

03-28-2013, 12:53 PM	#11
Just BS is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-10-12 Location: Lost in the woods, somewhere in the PNW	Another vote for steel. The pavers from Mexico are known to contain lead.I dont know how that translates to using in a smoker, but I'd pass just to be on the safe side.

03-28-2013, 01:35 PM	#12
rexbbq Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-03-12 Location: Mechanicsville, VA	I agree, great idea! But definitely switch them out for firebricks. They are about $0.50 each at a masonry store. __________________ Rex Rex's Red Hot BBQ [url]http://www.savoryreviews.com[/url] KCBS & MABA Member [B]Black Thermapen[/B] and Backup [B]Blue Thermapen[/B]! BBQ Guru Shotgun Smoker, Traeger Lil Tex, Traeger Texas, Weber Performer, Weber OTS (X3), Weber Spirit (gasser)

03-28-2013, 02:11 PM	#13
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	heres my plates, they work quite well Last edited by ButtBurner; 07-23-2015 at 07:22 AM..