OSD
is Blowin Smoke!
I had the day to play around, so I thought I would see if a heat shield would help even out the temps in my barrel. First I calibrated the temp gauge that is mounted in the side of the drum and checked the probes too.
Probe #1 -- 211*
Probe #2 -- 211*
Probe #3 -- 213*
Temp gauge dialed in at 212*
Next I filled the small basket about 1/2 way and got a fire going and then put a grate on the bolts that I had mounted 10" above the charcoal basket. I set 2 probes in their holders on the cooking rack and brought the drum up to temp. I was surprised at the amount of temp difference from the side to the center. I brought it up to 200* on the outside gauge and the center probe read 263*. I held that temp for one hour then took another reading and it was 200* gauge and 254* center. So after awhile it settled in a little.
Now here's where no expense was spared for this experiment. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a 16" metal pizza pan. Cost $1.88 plus tax.:biggrin: It's thin metal but..........
I drilled 9 - 3/16" holes in it for drip holes.
I placed this on the bottom rack and put the probes back in place on the top rack. The temp spiked a little from having the top off, so I had to let it settle down for a while and level back off.
After running steady for about 30 min. it read 205* gauge - 217* center
So I raised the temp to 215* gauge - 232* center held that for 30 min.
Raised the temp again, 235* gauge - 251* center held that for 30 min.
Then I dropped it back to 215* gauge and just let it coast for about 2 hours. Surprisingly it only varied up or down about 3*-4* the whole time.
So, I'm guessing this may work. That pan was really thin. I'm wondering if a thicker piece of metal would also work better for evening out the heat?
Probe #1 -- 211*
Probe #2 -- 211*
Probe #3 -- 213*
Temp gauge dialed in at 212*
Next I filled the small basket about 1/2 way and got a fire going and then put a grate on the bolts that I had mounted 10" above the charcoal basket. I set 2 probes in their holders on the cooking rack and brought the drum up to temp. I was surprised at the amount of temp difference from the side to the center. I brought it up to 200* on the outside gauge and the center probe read 263*. I held that temp for one hour then took another reading and it was 200* gauge and 254* center. So after awhile it settled in a little.
Now here's where no expense was spared for this experiment. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a 16" metal pizza pan. Cost $1.88 plus tax.:biggrin: It's thin metal but..........
I drilled 9 - 3/16" holes in it for drip holes.
I placed this on the bottom rack and put the probes back in place on the top rack. The temp spiked a little from having the top off, so I had to let it settle down for a while and level back off.
After running steady for about 30 min. it read 205* gauge - 217* center
So I raised the temp to 215* gauge - 232* center held that for 30 min.
Raised the temp again, 235* gauge - 251* center held that for 30 min.
Then I dropped it back to 215* gauge and just let it coast for about 2 hours. Surprisingly it only varied up or down about 3*-4* the whole time.
So, I'm guessing this may work. That pan was really thin. I'm wondering if a thicker piece of metal would also work better for evening out the heat?