Fire up the smoker the first time let it get up to temperature and let it burn off any oils. I welded on some legs to make a frame and some casters to the frame so the whole thing will roll. Heat baffle size in reverse flow smoker Q-talk. Improper combustion will cause a heavy white smoke which will leave a bitter taste on the food that we are smoking. The parts for this build are from a combination from recycled and new metal. As illustrated the reverse flow smoker uses a long baffle to move air all the way through the food chamber before being turned around, or reversed. This gap must be sized properly for the plate to work correctly, which brings us to talking about some fluid dynamics kind of stuff. Thick, white, belowing smoke is an indicator of incomplete combustion. I having some temperature issues with a reverse flow smoker I just purchased from a local pit builder. Does the baffle plate need to be exactly at the top of the firebox to cook chamber opening or is it ok if it's a little higher? An opening was cut into the tank and the piece of metal was saved and used for the door. What kind of materials am I set up to work with the best? This will help you know how big and what size cook chamber to look for. I solved this by making the firebox removable by bolting on the firebox to the body of the smoker. It can be square or round. When designing your smoker you should consider how big you want it to be and how transportable it needs to be. Aaron is bringing his handmade pit design to your backyard. Air will act the same way when it encounters an obstruction in it’s path. Here's a closer look at the Heat Management System, aka Baffle Plate or Tuning Plate, that I installed in my Oklahoma Joe's Highland Offset Smoker. I used 1/4" mild steel plate for the firebox and baffle plate and had the steel shop cut it to size for me with their brake. Welcome to SmokerBuilder Manufacturing! Reverse flow smokers can handle the smoke and heat flow using a baffle or plate. Hopefully this calculator will help you with the calculations. The gap at the end of the plate is one of the ways we control that air movement. We would like to have you join our community. I'm using a 400 gal. Today we will be discussing the Baffle Plate and the Baffle plate Gap. If we design the baffle plate properly we will also be able to achieve proper combustion. This plate directs the smoke to flow from the firebox and then turn around once it reaches the other end. Lets think about a creek for a moment. The Baffle Plate catches drippings from the meat and can even be partially filled with water or fruit juices which can be used to flavor the meat and provide some humidity in the cook chamber. The SmokerBuilder® Pit Calculator will help you design and build your smoker according SmokerBuilder's proven design calculations. If you try to burn just wood, you will need to let it burn down to coals first then add more wood for the smoke. About: http://www.youtube.com/c/AndrewWorkshop, http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html, Cooking Chamber (Old Air Tanks, Water Tanks, Expansion Tanks, Make your own etc..), Expanded Metal for Fire Basket and Cooking Grate, Mini-Grinder (with Grinding and Cutting Discs), Safety Equipment (Welding Shield, Gloves, Safety Glasses, Face Shield). Wish I could find a tank that sized. Takes practice but it is worth it! If we have a container with pressurized air in it and we open it, all the air that is in the container will escape until the space in the container and the space outside the container is equalized in pressure. this drain uses a standard Full Port Ball Valve for holding the water and drippings in during cooking and draining them when either done or if the plate gets too full. The Baffle Plate serves two purposes, first to act as a heat sink to absorb heat and allow for radiant heat to cook the meat and second to restrict the Draft in the smoker to assist with complete combustion. Air can be blown, or pumped, and moves from one space to another. You want to use thick steel is it will keep the temperature stable and easy to maintain. or just too excited about the final project to care??? Then old computer cases make good fire boxes, rip the guts out and any plastic trim. Stop Buying this Trash, you don't need too. Putting the door in can be eased a bit if you cut the side whee the hinges go completely and useing 1/4 inch black pipe , cut the pipe almost through and weld it to the one side where you want hinges, keeping the cut side of the pipe down...after its welded you can finish the other three sides of the door, and slip a bolt through the pipe, cut the last bit of bolt through and your hinges are perfectly aligned. If we want the plate to absorb the heat evenly we need to control the way that the air, containing the products of combustion, is moving under it. I used some pure cotton as a gasket since a smoker doesn't get very hot but you can use felt or silicone. This smoker is a beast, not sure what the total weight is but it is heavy, so it should retain heat well. Wash the smoker inside and out, you want to get rid of any left over flux from welding and paint the smoker with some high heat paint. Vertical Reverse Flow Smoker Configuration Homemade Smokers Smoked-Meat Forums > Homemade Smokers ... and the bottom of the foil pan did not make direct contact with the bottom baffle plate. Knowing the answers to these questions will make your build more enjoyable and less troublesome. I'm looking forward to some responses and thank you! Mar 16, 2018 - Explore Richard Pruitt's board "Reverse Flow Smokers" on Pinterest. Needs regular oiling and TLC. You ready for this? On this page I will be posting a series of articles teaching you How to Build a Reverse Flow Smoker. This allows the meat to be bathed in the smoke and keeps direct heat off the meaty goodness. The only way the air and the water could occupy the space in the bucket would be to seal the container and force them both into the same space, thus increasing the pressure inside the bucket. Skin Friction is the resistance across a surface whether we are talking about the bottom of our baffle plate or the inside surface of the tank or anything inside the tank that was installed or left in there. We can also install some steel rod or some steel pipe on the inside of the tank along the bottom of the tank running the same direction as the air is moving and we can straighten out the air patterns and push some of the air up against the bottom of the plate. The Baffle Plate is installed about an inch above the top of the mating hole and sloping away from the fire box with a slight pitch. I kept it simple by making a square box and welded on some sturdy hinges for the door. Hinges were welded on the cooking chamber door and then bolted to the cooking chamber. This hole must be sized properly. This design is called reverse flow. It can be made of several kinds of materials such as mild steel or stainless steel. Reverse Flow Baffle Plate: Our reverse flow smokers use a baffle plate in the cooking chamber to give the air mass in the cook chamber a 180 degree convection pattern and combine that with super even radiant heat from the baffle plate resulting in the most even cook chamber temperatures you can achieve! Weber Kettle Mods; Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM) Mods; PK Grill ; Smoker Parts. I would like to first of all invite you to be a member of our site. It prevents your food from an immense amount of direct heat. The Fire Box includes an air inlet control that allows for control of the amount of air (called combustion air) for the purpose of controling the fire. Literally no concerns at all? What is an Reverse Flow Offset Smoker you ask, it basically has the firebox off to the side of cooking chamber with a steel baffle plate that keeps the direct heat off of the meat. Still with me? A Reverse Flow Smoker is a smoker which utilizes a “Baffle Plate” that is welded in solid in the “Cook Chamber” to control the flow of smoke and heat. The Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker is very similar to the standard Longhorn model, with the one big difference being that this version is a reverse flow model. A reverse flow model has an additional metal plate installed that serves the purpose of protecting the food from too much heat. I could send photos of the tanks with cost and shipping to you if you like. The parts for this build are from a combination from recycled and new metal. Did you make this project? The latching mechanism was just some scrap metal welded in place on the side of the box and a bar bolted to the door with some washers and the handle from a chipping hammer welded into place. This air inlet control, or Damper, is opened or closed to limit the amount of combustion air entering the fire box causing the fire to be smaller or larger which in turn affects the temperature of the cook chamber. All-in-all the Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker is the best value for a budget and cooks well. Here I did some short ribs, they came out awesome! Well in order for the water to occupy the space inside the bucket, first the air must come out. There are any number of ways to design and build a BBQ Smoker. It will move around the obstruction and  on the opposite side of the obstruction the water will form an eddie and swirl around a little bit. I've been thinking I should build one of these, and this is a really clear how-to.I really like the super tall chimney : ), Question The older geysers are that size. Reverse Offset Smokers. A walk through the scrap yard is like a treasure hunt, Ive found some great materials and even found all the materials I needed for some of my builds! It is the plate steel that is in the body of the smoker, it keeps the direct heat away from the food, acts as a heat sink and provides radiant heat. If you reference the above drawing from part-2 you will notice there is a plate running from the fire box across the cook chamber and stopping short of the opposite end of the cook chamber. Think about the path the water in the creek takes when it encounters an obstruction. Since air has mass it moves similar to water. I love this ible! If so, Why? I will cover the ratio’s in another segment. Am I being overly concerned? Thermometers were installed and a fire basket was built using expanded mesh. It is very hard to avoid this. You will need a welder for this build, wire feed or stick, if you have a welder you probably already know how to weld. Ensure that your smoker is sized appropriately and save time and money on your build. Our Custom Tuning Plates for Oklahoma Joe simply rock! This is the Baffle Plate. Google how a baffle works in the context for a smoker to get a better idea and the video also covers this. All of our smoker cooker models are built with the reverse flow design and we believe that all of our cookers have ALWAYS cooked better because of this reverse flow design. This additional plate both protects the meat from the highest temperatures and directs smoke underneath and back over the meat for the perfect smoky flavor. Since the plate is absorbing the heat from the products of combustion, it radiates upward to cook the food that is being smoked. When smoking meat this is very important for food safety. As mentioned in the intro, the firebox is made from 1/4" plate steel, so it's heavy but will evenly distribute heat and keep stable temperature. Other things that can be used are Propane Tanks, fuel tanks, old air compressor tanks, billboard sign posts, or even expansion tanks. The chimney is made from a 4" ventilation pipe. You can use what ever you want, be creative, just keep in mind that you just need a place for the meat to rest so smoke and meat can move over it. Now you are asking “what does this have to do with a smoker?”  Lets talk about air pressure then. An old hooded gas BBQ makes a good smoker, just need to seal up back and underneath. I am determined to attempt it. Optional smokestack locations let you switch between reverse flow smoking and traditional offset smoking, while four removable baffles ensure even heat and smoke throughout the cooking chamber. It is important to consider the uses you want the smoker for. This was accomplished by welding a plate on the body of the smoker and then matching the firebox to the plate. In simple terms, the baffle will absorb heat, lower the cooking temperature, and then it diffuses it back to all parts of the chamber. Also I don't have any pics of the cooking grates except some pics with some food cooking that you can see at the last step. I sized the firebox by using the following website to size my firebox http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html. The plate inside a reverse flow smoker acks like a heat shield and cuts down on hot spots inside your smoker. All smokers have hot spots in them but reverse flow smokers tend to have less hot spots then other types of smokers. Saved by David A. Casarez TX REALTOR. LOL. How to Build a Reverse Flow Smoker Part-3. One of the technological features of baffle plates is called “reverse flow.” In short, the baffle plate diffuses heat evenly to allow for precise smoking. What materials do I have the best access to? You can see how this was done in the video and pics. A family heirloom. The handle for the door of the firebox is from a chipping hammer, simple, cheap and effective. The cook chamber can have a single grill in it or multiple shelves. all for free. 5) The ultimate solution is to fabricate a heavy steel duct like the ones built into the large commercial offset smokers and move the chimney to the side by the firebox. Will I need to transport this smoker often. Yes, some reverse flow smokers have a removable baffle flue that will allow you to reach much higher temperatures suitable for grilling or searing. Old hot water heaters of 40 gallon size is what you need. the plate will radiate heat for more evenly reducing hot spots in the cook chamber. A Fire Box is needed on a Reverse Flow Smoker for the purpose of having an inderect heat source for slow cooking and smoking meat and other food. 5 years ago. What the reverse flow design does is: The heat drafts from the firebox into the cooking cylinder and draws down under a baffled-flue to the end, then it reverses flow (thus the nick name reverse-flow) and drafts back over … I made sure to oversize it a bit so I wouldn't have a problem maintaining the temperature during a cook. The original handmade backyard smoker from Franklin Barbecue Pits in natural steel patina. I'll be uploading my smoker this coming summer. If you still are not a member please sign up! ... 48"LONG BY 24" DIAMETER REVERSE FLOW SQUARE FIRE BOX RIGHT. Thank you for Checking out SmokerBuilder.com! Also some aluminum was used to make brackets to mount a wooden handle on the door of the cook chamber. SmokerBuilder MFG manufactures and sells DIY parts and kits for Reverse Flow Smokers, Offset Smokers, UDS Smokers, BBQ Grills, Do It Yourself Smoker kits, Barrel Smoker Parts, Santa Maria Grills, Gravity Feed Smokers, and Pellet Smokers. Less than 4 hours is the magic number. Thanks for reading!!! It’s free to join our community and take advantage of all the information that’s available to you. So the heat and smoke needs a place to go so. I have used old water tanks from concrete trucks, air tanks and I’ve had flat sheets of steel rolled up to make my cook chambers. Select from Stainless or steel, both are awesome and will last a lifetime! The smokers you buy at Walmart or the hardware store will typically be of thin steel.and you will have a hard time maintaining the temperature, although they do work if you only smoke a few times a year. Part-3 will start with the Baffle Plate Gap. I'm actually in process of building a 100 gallon air tank into a reverse flow on a trailer. They have all the shelves built in. features include: *Square Firebox *Cook chamber racks *Reverse flow baffle plate *Baffle plate drain *Log Rack *Ash Pan *1- Cook Chamber Door *Fully dimensioned *12 pages long *Phone support Check out our hinges and other parts for your build on this site and also BBQSmokerSupply.com! 1 year ago Speak to you local plumber. Base Price: $2,950 3.1k. It works out well ( in my mind) that I put the rf baffle an inch and a half above the opening and the cooking grate 4 inches above that. Completely prevents burnt food near the fire box, balances temps left to right and allows for much easier control of your Oklahoma Joe's Highland (and Amarillo Model from Academy) Pair with our stainless water pan if desired. Sawdust and wood shavings from the workshop for the smoke. DoublePan™ Gravity Feed Smoker DIY Kit Now available!!! These smoker design plans feature: Round cooking chamber with 2 shelves. In this Instructable I'm going to show you the basic steps for making a smoker. Well if we do some Good Ol’ Boy Engineering, we can compensate for some of these things. Only for the first burn, get it hot, real hot. That 10 gauge should be .1345" thick and 1/8" is .125" thick so if you think 1/8" thick steel will burn through, you're building way to big of a fire. How big are the crowds I will be serving most of the time? It can have a single door or several doors. In the bottom of the Reverse Flow Smoker we are building, we want the products of combustion to move from the fire box to the cook chamber and then out of the cook chamber and out the stack. Reverse flow smoker baffle plate. 9 months ago. Specifically a Reverse Flow Offset Smoker. The Fire Box is built using 1/4 inch plate for thickness and durability. Proper sizing of the parts of the smoker is the most important way to prevent incomplete combustion. We are going to start applying this to the smoker now. A flange was fabricated and chimney attached. OK here it goes (I’m going to try to make this simple). The air we breath is filling the space around us and since it is at equilibrium, we call it 0 psi, or atmospheric pressure. Share it with us! The fire basket is where the hot coals will sit. First lets cover some basic definitions: Baffle Plate– a plate of solid steel usually one quarter of an inch or greater in thickness which not only controls the flow of smoke and heat through the cook chamber but also … A Reverse Flow Smoker is a smoker which utilizes a “Baffle Plate” that is welded in solid in the “Cook Chamber” to control the flow of smoke and heat. The Fire Box is attached to the cook chamber as in the drawing attached and a mating hole is cut between them. Click here to see this featured build in progress! This allows the meat to be bathed in the smoke and keeps direct heat off the meaty goodness. They give off toxic zinc fumes when heated. For instance, I have found a way to make my baffle plates adjustable. Small tanks shaped how I want are like unicorn horns around my area. If the hole is too big the smoker will have too much draft causing uneven cooking temps, not big enough and the smoker will run cold. This helps even out temperature differences since the radiant heat from the baffle and food chamber walls heat up the air more evenly. Basically, it’s an adaptation of a traditional offset smoker. Regular flow offset smokers draw the heat and smoke from the firebox over the meat once, on its way out of the chimney. How though, do you get all the oils and chemicales out of the metal, before using? Becoming a member allows you to post and ask questions in our forums. Hello again and welcome to part-3 of our series on How to Build a Reverse Flow Smoker. on Step 3. One of the builds I will be featuring on this site is a trailer smoker build. junk yards, metal recycling places or garbage dump will have tanks. Am I a rare example of being concerned with this issue or am I just unfamiliar with the few dangers there are? It takes them seconds to do it so if you don't get it cut to size be prepared to be really good cutting with a mini-grinder. The smoke coming from the firebox is directed by an additional baffle plate to the opposite side of the smoker and then drawn back across the cooking grill on its way to the chimney. The vent control is nothing more than some sheet metal. The Cook Chamber is where the meat or other food is cooked. give me your unicorn list if you like (size, shape of tanks), tag me here for emailing. Since air has mass it is a fluid, not a liquid, a fluid. Yeah I have some 10 and 30 gallon water tanks, and a few air tanks sitting behind the shop. My smoker was running really hot! Made from high-temperature, heavy-gauge steel and equipped with a large charcoal basket, this reverse flow offset smoker … It is the plate steel that is in the body of the smoker , it repels the immediate warmth from the nourishment, goes about as a warmth sink and gives brilliant warmth. and I am not one who trusts it to be burned away with high heat) or metal composites/combinations when using heat to cook our own FOOD! Made in Austin Texas, Franklin pits are a meld of artistry, science, and the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. We need to talk a little about some aerodynamics. This Baffle Plate is welded in solid except for the Gap end of the plate. If you have a bucket sitting on the floor which appears to be empty and you want to fill it with water, what must happen? Because the firebox is so heavy it is really hard to move around or store should the need arise. The materials used keep a very nice looking unit looking professional and clean. Tuner Plates, Baffle Plates, Heat DiffuserPlates, or Heat Plates, whatever there called there a ripoff. Then you can start smoking! Complete combustion is very important. Having a trailer smoker is very handy for these occasions. ... *Baffle plate *Slide out Log Rack *Ash Pan *Square Smoke Stack *2 Baffle Plate drains *Integrated Shadow Plate *Unique Throat design *Greaseable Bullet Hinge Detail We Can Now Build Your Smoker For You! I was looking for a hot water heater several years back and was able to come up with them quite easily. Copyright © 2010-2018 SmokerBuilder Manufacturing LLC Reverse Flow Smokers can become very heavy as you build them. FIREBOX RIGHT SIDE, W/ WARMING CAB, AND CART. This allows for what is referred to as the “the indirect heat method” of cooking. For meat and poultry to remain in the safe zone while smoking, the temperature of the meat needs to move from below 40*F to above 140*F as quickly as possible. Barbecue smoker parts, kits, and supplies! The fire box is sized approximately 30% the size of the cook chamber. This additional metal plate makes it have an up and down cooking chamber. At the end of the Baffle Plate there is a drain which is welded into the bottom of the plate. All Rights Reserved, How To Find a Barrel For a UDS Drum Smoker. This design cooks from the bottom up. When assembling the smoker I modified the stock assembly to make a more efficient smoker that keeps its heat and drafts properly--even on a windy day. Knowing how you plan to use the smoker before you start your build can save you a lot of work. A Reverse Flow Smoker utilizes a Baffle Plate which runs across the bottom of the cook chamber with a gap at the end of the plate farthest away from the fire box. We just want to smoke meat, right? Great job. This plan can be built using any Tank that is 20" inches diameter by 50" long. Unfortunately I don't have any good pics of the baffle plate but you can kinda see it in this picture. Some tips use charcoal as your fuel and wood as your smoke. So we just deal with that. The gap is sized to allow the correct amount of air move through it and then on to the cook chamber. Adhesives; Baffle Plates (Heat Deflector Tuning) Controllers: BBQ Smoker Temp Blower Fans Stokers Fans Adaptors Guru Qmaster Perfect Draft Reverse flow offset smokers use a baffle system that draws the heat and smoke under the cooking chamber before it is pulled back over the meat again on its way out of a chimney mounted on the same side as the firebox. Reversed offset smokers are also like regular offset smokers with just a slight difference. So the smoke and heat leaves the firebox, goes under the baffle plate come redirects back towards the firebox but since the baffle plate is there it exits via the chimney. It will leave a sooty, bitter, too smokey taste on the meat. Science has even made us aware of the chemical reaction from using aluminum cooking pots/pans with certain foods and heat or other facts about leeching toxins into our food and I understand this is not aluminum but aluminum isn't the only concern. Question But it is straight forward to weld in some angle iron so the cooking grate can sit on and cut a piece of expanded mesh to use as a cooking surface. Another thing that effects the way air moves is called Skin Friction. Enjoy enhanced performance and versatility with the Oklahoma Joe's® Highland Reverse Flow Offset Smoker. What is an Reverse Flow Offset Smoker you ask, it basically has the firebox off to the side of cooking chamber with a steel baffle plate that keeps the direct heat off of the meat. During this build I used a forklift for moving and lifting the smoker. Any part of the surface area under the plate that does not have air moving over it will become a cold spot on the plate. In the next post we will be talking more about the cook chamber and the smoke stack. I speak from science teaching us to be concerned with leeching and chemical reactions but, also from ignorance not negativeness or cockiness. Part-2 will begin with the Fire Box. Water tanks that came off some old concrete trucks. Invariably, the reverse flow smoker is not much different from the offset traditional flow smoker. looks like its perfect for a single rack of ribs. The benefit of using an additional baffle to reverse the smoke flow is that it … Some Builds use tanks, pipe, flat steel, or rolled steel. Some examples of these models include Longhorn Reverse Flow models, Lang BBQ Smokers, and Highland Reverse Offset Smoker. At the end of the Baffle Plate is a gap. The general rule of thumb for a horizontal smoker is that the firebox should be 1/3 the size (volume) of the cooking chamber. Due to this plate, temperature, and smoke travel under the menu initially and then over the meal with a steady motion. In smoker reverse flow, a baffle plate is placed at the bottom of the main chamber with an opening at the end. OK  so the air in the bucket would be compressed, since a liquid can not be compressed, and this would increase the pressure in the sealed bucket. tank found at my local metal recycling, cost me only $40.00. I have viewed many smoker ibles and I am shocked that I have yet to see someone, ANYONE, mention being concerned with the toxic paints, different alloys(comments below DID mention galvanized though(finally someone!) The reverse flow smoker has an additional mental plate in the design. It's beautiful and looks FUN! One of the major differences is in the design and their functionality. Part-1 What is a Reverse Flow Smoker? Be sure you DO NOT use galvanized tanks for this. This is my first real pit but being that it's made from 1/4" steel and has 1/4" baffle plate I was expecting the temps to be fairly close from one side to the other. I have a lot of friends who request me to cook for various functions. A great source for these items is the local scrap yard. See more ideas about bbq pit smoker, bbq pit, bbq smokers. The black oily layer seals the steel after that. Reverse Flow Smoker Plans Center Feed Reverse Flow 40" by 40" by 192" Long Rectangle CC- Center Feed Reverse Flow. One sign of complete combustion is the smoke leaving the smoke stack will be thin and blue in color. The purpose of this plate is to direct the flow of the products of combustion to the opposite end of the cook chamber and in the process to absorb heat from them. I have old water tanks and air compressor tanks but, hesitant to use them. Perfectly tuned reverse flow baffle plate Baffle plate grease drain with ball valve Round smoke stack Square firebox Side mounted air inlets Log rack in firebox Awesome warming … It must be sized properly to promote complete combustion and also to allow for enough BTU’s for cooking properly. I have it about 90% done and have spent $56 so far. In my build I used an old expansion tank from a boiler. Thanks for reading! Now on to more about How to Build a Reverse Flow Smoker. Reverse flow smokers are a subset of offset smokers with an additional metal plate. So lets think about this using water for example. Here is a video overview of the build, I will add instructions on the following steps. If not this project can be a fun way to learn, although it is outside the scope of this Instructable. All of these things will cause the air to either come in contact or avoid the surface under the baffle plate. Smoker grills such as offset barrel smokers, horizontal smokers, or pipe smokers, gives you Baffle Plate and Cooking Grate of Reverse flow smoker design Tragically, I don't have any great pics of the puzzle plate however you can kinda observe it in this photo. Highland Reverse Flow; Longhorn Reverse Flow; Bronco Drum Smoker; Traeger Pellet Grill Parts; Weber Smokey Mountain WSM & Kettle. Reply On the side I drilled holes for air intake and welded on a bolt so a vent control could be added. Also some aluminum stock was screwed around the opening so the "door" has a place to sit and so a gasket could be added so no smoke escapes. Build A Smoker Diy Smoker Bbq Pit Smoker Bbq Grill Homemade Smoker Plans Custom Bbq Smokers Custom Bbq Pits Pit Bbq Smoke Barbecue. 24" BY 46" SQ. The biggest expense will be the steel to build the firebox as you want to use thick steel. The Baffle Plate is what puts the “reverse flow” into the reverse flow smoker. It extends most of the length of the cooking chamber and is welded in place.