I measured a unit a friend has. My first seasoned burn I got the temp up to 500 with no problem. I only used 3 split pieces about 20 inches long from my fireplace wood pile. Plus that was with open exhaust pipes. I didn't close it any. I also still need to weld the frame on the doors which will help keep the heat and smoke in the cooking chamber. When I did the season burn, I got some smoke and heat released from around the doors, but not as much as I had expected, the air flow went to the smoke stack. I'm still going to add the frame around the doors with 1 x 1/8 flat stock. The trays slide in and out with a 4 inch piece of 2x2 angle iron welded on the tray shelf so they will not flip out while pulled out to flip the meat. eman, the opening doesn't look very big in the pic, but it is 11 x 8. Most of the opening is under the tank. I also have a some plate welded above the hole inside to channel the flame along the bottom and keep the flame from burning the meat in the first tray. I hope to finish up on the welding soon and can start adding the cosmetics to it. Then prep and paint.
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