Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Step 9Cook shelf supports
This is a view of the end of the horizontal tank with the angle iron in-place to support the cooking shelves.
I placed the lower shelf supports just below the opening of the front door to give me just a bit more space between the cooking shelves.
Place a level at or just below the opening of the front door and mark the level point on the backside of the tank. Run a horizontal line across the front of the tank (inside)for the front support for the bottom shelf. Level to the back and draw a line across the back. These lines can now be used to tack angle iron rack supports.
Place the angle up so that the shelves will not be able to slide around once installed.
Now measure from this lower rack frame to the top center of the tank and build a second rack support system half way between the top of the tank and lower rack supports.
If you do drop the first shelf below the opening in the door, you should make this shelf (3/4 inch angle iron and expanded metal) in two pieces for easy removal. Measure the length of the support rails and make the total length of the two shelves 1 inch shorter.
Your rack supports should be complete now. One final step here, you need to put in two support rails now to support the plenum plate that will route the heat/smoke to the opposite end of the horizontal tank. This plenum is what makes this smoker a "reverse flow". Reverse flow smokers route the heat/smoke under the cook area and down to the far end before allowing the heat/smoke to be drafted back across the cooking surfaces and out the stack. This design is supposed to make for more even cooking temperatures in the cook chamber.
I placed the lower shelf supports just below the opening of the front door to give me just a bit more space between the cooking shelves.
Place a level at or just below the opening of the front door and mark the level point on the backside of the tank. Run a horizontal line across the front of the tank (inside)for the front support for the bottom shelf. Level to the back and draw a line across the back. These lines can now be used to tack angle iron rack supports.
Place the angle up so that the shelves will not be able to slide around once installed.
Now measure from this lower rack frame to the top center of the tank and build a second rack support system half way between the top of the tank and lower rack supports.
If you do drop the first shelf below the opening in the door, you should make this shelf (3/4 inch angle iron and expanded metal) in two pieces for easy removal. Measure the length of the support rails and make the total length of the two shelves 1 inch shorter.
Your rack supports should be complete now. One final step here, you need to put in two support rails now to support the plenum plate that will route the heat/smoke to the opposite end of the horizontal tank. This plenum is what makes this smoker a "reverse flow". Reverse flow smokers route the heat/smoke under the cook area and down to the far end before allowing the heat/smoke to be drafted back across the cooking surfaces and out the stack. This design is supposed to make for more even cooking temperatures in the cook chamber.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
2
comments
|
Add Comment
|
Aug 22, 2009. 3:29 PMstallardt
says:
The plenum plate is it a solid piece of steel plate to route the smoke to the far end?
1
Aug 24, 2009. 3:49 AMpurplewg (author)
says:
Well sort of. I used 3/16 inch plate but I cut into two pieces to make it easier to remove and clean both them and the bottom of the tank. Some folks will weld this in and make a grease trap and drain into this plate. Either way will work. I line the top of these plates with foil before I cook to aid in cleaning.
Aug 25, 2009. 5:18 AMtalonsblade
says:
you could probably put some of those aluminum pans in on top of the plenum plate. would catch most of the drippings and with the size of the doors you have they should be easy to remove.
1
Aug 25, 2009. 7:44 AMpurplewg (author)
says:
Yes, I have done that before also. That is a good idea. Removing the grill's is not much of a problem. The top slides out and the bottom two lift out.
 |
Add Comment
|
