"Al Reid" wrote in message
news:FmNPe.51$DV.27@trndny07...

Thanks Al, I appreciate the photos. I've already extended my chimney, but
not the other two mods. Did you use the same flashing material for the
baffle, or is it heavier gauge. It looks like pretty stiff stuff. Thanks
again.

I used the same stuff. I really don't know what gauge or thickness since
it was just something I found laying around in the shed (left by the
previous owner). It was certainly thin enough to roll for the chimney
mod.


Sounds good to me. I appreciate you sharing the pics. If the rain ever
stops, looks like I've got some work to do!

"Jon Judson" wrote in message
news:Om%Pe.129$Aw1.64@trndny02...
Joe Pak wrote:

"I understand the thinking behind the baffle and the bricks, but what does
lowering the chimney to grate level do?"

In my opinion, nothing good. Unless you like creosote, bitterness, and
oversmoked food.

I used to have my chimney down to grate level on my smoker, but pulled the
extension off. I think improving the draft through the pit helps improve
the end result with food flavor. In my beginning days, I smoked the heck
out of everything, thinking that it made for good BBQ. Now, I've
discovered that good BBQ means a proper balance of smoke flavor to
meat/spice flavor. You'll find in many championships, the number one or
two complaint judges have with BBQ is "oversmoked flavor." Pulling the
chimney down to grate level does two things: Holds the smoke in the
chamber longer at a lower level, and helps hold heat. If you're bricking
up your pit bottom, the heat retention problem is solved.

Just my two cents... (worth four cents in this housing market)


The only thing I can add is that I did a test before and after and found
that the temperature along the length of the grate was more constant with
the mod that without it. I don't have any exact figures, but the
temperature at the chimney end was about 20 deg higher with the mod than
without it. But, I also did the test before making any of the mods. Also,
I leace the chimney damper wide open while smoking and control the temp
using only the firebox damper. I like my results but YMMV.

--
Al Reid