**Hunsaker Smokers Vortex Firebasket in my Drums**

swamprb · 03-11-2015, 10:41 AM

I had seen a member playing around with the Vortex Firebasket from Hunsaker Smokers in a Performer and 22" WSM, and decided to give them a try in my BPS Drum, 55 & 85 Gallon Big Drum Smoker clones.

Here is the link that describes how it works:

http://www.hunsakersmokers.com/produ...ex-fire-basket

My first cook was in my BPS REDRUM, 6lb chicken cut "Leaping Frog" style and used only a Weber chimney full if KBB and let it rip.

DUBBAGA · 03-11-2015, 10:45 AM

Beautiful (and even) coloring. Might need to look into one

swamprb · 03-11-2015, 11:03 AM

Next day myself and Sno/King Meat Cartel member and Phil Wingo stand-in Rub Runner fire up the BPS and Big Drum Smoker clone for a little chicken and babyback action!

I shook out the ashes from the previous nights yardbird cook and added a few new briqs and fired it off in the BDS for thighs.

No burning!

Babybacks on the BPS

Love the Drums, diggin' the Vortex basket!

swamprb · 03-11-2015, 11:18 AM

I haven't had a cook like this with the expanded metal basket I've been using on the 85. 26" cook grate, I cut out 4 "Leaping Frog" whole birds and let it rip with the Vortex firebasket. It took 8 minutes to get to temp! KBB with Pecan Mojobricks!

Rib-O-Lator Bob approves this message!

puffin' away!

All I can say is that I am very pleased with the results I've gotten so far with the Hunsaker Smokers Vortex Firebasket in my Drums.

I'll be honest, I've not been a heat deflector user and was at first skeptical, but this thing really gets the job done and I still get that "fat drippin' on the coals flavor" of cooking direct that I really enjoy.

More to come - this has changed the way I drum!

Ol'Joe · 03-11-2015, 11:24 AM

Looks like another interesting tool for the arsenal, do the vanes rotate?

THoey1963 · 03-11-2015, 12:39 PM

I am guessing that the heat rising causes the vortex to rotate which causes it to cook like a convection oven?

Either way, great looking chicken.

swamprb · 03-11-2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol'Joe

Looks like another interesting tool for the arsenal, do the vanes rotate?

No, the vanes do not rotate.

Smokeat · 03-12-2015, 09:18 AM

Having a hard time imagining enough airflow to produce a "vortex" at low temps in a WSM/drum type cooker. Looks cool though.

swamprb · 03-12-2015, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THoey1963

I am guessing that the heat rising causes the vortex to rotate which causes it to cook like a convection oven?

Either way, great looking chicken.

No the Vortex vanes do not rotate.

Here is the description of how it works from the Hunsaker Smokers website:

Fits in a metal 55 gallon barrel. The vortex fire basket helps reduce hot spots which is needed to ensure consistent results.

Question: How does the vortex basket work?

Answer: Air is forced upwards from the center air intake (controlled by the foot operated air intake lever) into the hot charcoal. The hot air is then forced through the vortex plate at the correct angles causing the air inside the smoker to spin. The spinning air helps maintain a consistent temperature throughout the smoker. The vortex plate also acts as a heat deflector which helps reduce burned meat.

MAB52 · 03-12-2015, 10:11 PM

Hey Brian, that looks really cool. Thanks for sharing.

Bushman5 · 03-12-2015, 11:59 PM

mmmmm.....this gives me ideas.....at work in the shop is a 22" round disc of 1/8" mild steel.......

thanks for sharing the photos.....I just started my UDS build. Getting all excited :)

swamprb · 03-14-2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokeat

Having a hard time imagining enough airflow to produce a "vortex" at low temps in a WSM/drum type cooker. Looks cool though.

OK- Lets say we get past the "vortex effect" and look at it as a fire basket with a fancy heat deflector?

Then we put it in a WSM without a waterpan?

Next on my agenda!

TheMidnightSmoker · 02-10-2016, 02:23 PM

Almost a year old post but I am hoping Swamprb see this. My concern is that the small width of the vortex would not direct the heat to the outside parameters of the cooking grate on the bigger 85 gallon drum but instead focus most of the heat to the center. I have a Jumbo BDS (85 gallons) and the existing charcoal basket is much wider then the vortex. Do you mind sharing your experience in this matter?

ray1000 · 09-21-2018, 10:43 AM

i wassure hopen TheMidnightSmoker question above on will work in bigger smoker was answered thanks

dshaffes · 09-24-2018, 10:23 PM

I have the Hunsaker Vortex plate that sits on the fire ring of my WSM ...AMAZING ADDITION. No more water pans, and it creates even temps throughout the entire smoker. I've been hanging ribs with great results. In fact, I've been using in comps and getting Top 10 consistently.

03-11-2015, 10:41 AM	#1
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA	Hunsaker Smokers Vortex Firebasket in my Drums I had seen a member playing around with the Vortex Firebasket from Hunsaker Smokers in a Performer and 22" WSM, and decided to give them a try in my BPS Drum, 55 & 85 Gallon Big Drum Smoker clones. Here is the link that describes how it works: http://www.hunsakersmokers.com/produ...ex-fire-basket My first cook was in my BPS REDRUM, 6lb chicken cut "Leaping Frog" style and used only a Weber chimney full if KBB and let it rip. __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/Pellet Pro WSM/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Cookshack 008/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

03-11-2015, 10:45 AM	#2
DUBBAGA is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-31-11 Location: Beaumont, CA	Beautiful (and even) coloring. Might need to look into one __________________ [I][COLOR=Red][B]Green Card Q[/B][/COLOR][/I] - Pitmaster (term used loosely) KCBS MCBJ & CTC Humphrey's Long Weekender, UDS, Red Box Smoker, SJS/Tamale Pot Smoker, Weber Performer, Weber 18.5 OTS, Alton Brown Flower Pot Smoker (died), Blue Ember Gasser (died} Member of the Hall of Zero's (Noobians v. Veterans Throwdown)

03-11-2015, 11:03 AM	#3
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA	Vortex Firebasket cooks #2 BPS vs BDS Next day myself and Sno/King Meat Cartel member and Phil Wingo stand-in Rub Runner fire up the BPS and Big Drum Smoker clone for a little chicken and babyback action! I shook out the ashes from the previous nights yardbird cook and added a few new briqs and fired it off in the BDS for thighs. No burning! Babybacks on the BPS Love the Drums, diggin' the Vortex basket! __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/Pellet Pro WSM/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Cookshack 008/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

03-11-2015, 11:18 AM	#4
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA	85 Gallon Big Drum Smoker clone with the Hunsaker Vortex basket I haven't had a cook like this with the expanded metal basket I've been using on the 85. 26" cook grate, I cut out 4 "Leaping Frog" whole birds and let it rip with the Vortex firebasket. It took 8 minutes to get to temp! KBB with Pecan Mojobricks! Rib-O-Lator Bob approves this message! puffin' away! All I can say is that I am very pleased with the results I've gotten so far with the Hunsaker Smokers Vortex Firebasket in my Drums. I'll be honest, I've not been a heat deflector user and was at first skeptical, but this thing really gets the job done and I still get that "fat drippin' on the coals flavor" of cooking direct that I really enjoy. More to come - this has changed the way I drum! __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/Pellet Pro WSM/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Cookshack 008/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

03-11-2015, 11:24 AM	#5
Ol'Joe is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-31-14 Location: Wisner, Louisiana	Looks like another interesting tool for the arsenal, do the vanes rotate? __________________ Joe

03-11-2015, 12:39 PM	#6
THoey1963 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-08-14 Location: San Antonio, TX Name/Nickname : Terry	I am guessing that the heat rising causes the vortex to rotate which causes it to cook like a convection oven? Either way, great looking chicken. __________________ There are thousands of ways to BBQ. The right way is the one that you enjoy doing, and that produces food that you, your family, and your friends enjoy to eat. So, keep experimenting. :) Lone Star Grillz Insulated Cabinet Smoker / Weber Summit Charcoal Grilling (WSCG) Station / CyberQ / Slow N Sear with Drip N Griddle WSCG Review [URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245542"][COLOR=Blue][B]HERE[/B][/COLOR][/URL]. WSM Mods [URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201917"][COLOR=Blue][B]HERE[/B][/COLOR][/URL]. My Brisket Guide [URL="http://bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238834"][COLOR=Blue][B]HERE[/B][/COLOR][/URL].

03-12-2015, 09:18 AM	#8
Smokeat is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-01-09 Location: IE California	Having a hard time imagining enough airflow to produce a "vortex" at low temps in a WSM/drum type cooker. Looks cool though.

03-12-2015, 10:11 PM	#10
MAB52 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-04-08 Location: Sweet Home, OR	Hey Brian, that looks really cool. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Mike, Traeger "Lil Tex" Pellet Smoker Uniflame Charcoal Grill Weber 22.5"

03-12-2015, 11:59 PM	#11
Bushman5 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-08-15 Location: Vancouver BC	mmmmm.....this gives me ideas.....at work in the shop is a 22" round disc of 1/8" mild steel....... thanks for sharing the photos.....I just started my UDS build. Getting all excited :) __________________ Just a little UDS for camping.

02-10-2016, 02:23 PM	#13
TheMidnightSmoker On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-07-10 Location: Antelope, CA	Almost a year old post but I am hoping Swamprb see this. My concern is that the small width of the vortex would not direct the heat to the outside parameters of the cooking grate on the bigger 85 gallon drum but instead focus most of the heat to the center. I have a Jumbo BDS (85 gallons) and the existing charcoal basket is much wider then the vortex. Do you mind sharing your experience in this matter? __________________ The Midnight Smoker BBQ

09-21-2018, 10:43 AM	#14
ray1000 Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match. Join Date: 06-20-18 Location: williston fl Name/Nickname : ray	i wassure hopen TheMidnightSmoker question above on will work in bigger smoker was answered thanks

09-24-2018, 10:23 PM	#15
dshaffes Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-17-17 Location: Wayne, NJ	I have the Hunsaker Vortex plate that sits on the fire ring of my WSM ...AMAZING ADDITION. No more water pans, and it creates even temps throughout the entire smoker. I've been hanging ribs with great results. In fact, I've been using in comps and getting Top 10 consistently.