So I have a Texas Original smoker from Bucees....super badass, thick steel, heavy duty, has all the fire plates and all that.....problem is...I struggle keeping the fire rolling well....fire box door can be wide open, exhaust wide open, good bed of coals and a log or two burning and it just doesn’t seem to do all that well. Now, I can crack the main door open just a hair and the temps rip out of control and the fire starts raging....so here is my thought....it has a 2 3/8” piece of pipe for exhaust...I AE a lot of pits with 4”-6” pipe. I’m wondering if I increase the diameter of the exhaust if it would help it breath better and the of course if it’s too much I’d have a damper to slow it down....makes sense to me, but am I wrong as far as the pipe just isn’t big enough?
Opinions....??
Exhaust Diameter
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Exhaust Diameter
Clay Grantham
Marble Falls, TX
Texas Original offset stick burner....real BBQ
Marble Falls, TX
Texas Original offset stick burner....real BBQ
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
There are some smart pit guys here; someone will answer, not me
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
Maybe it needs to be longer. Plug your dimensions into the Feldon calculator to see what it recommends: http://feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html
Yoder Loaded Wichita 2016
Big Green Egg 2014
Big Green Egg 2014
- Red Farr
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
...I use 6" pipe with my vertical...and 2 reducers depending on the time of year...a 5 inch and 4 inch....in the summer 6 inch dead of winter 4 inch...in winter the 4 draws same as 6 in summer..easier fire mgmt...the exhaust pipe is insulated .
Red
Red
...Blue Skies and Green Lights...
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
Kevin can probably give you the best advice.
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
Super big help
Slam keys!!! Thanks!
Slam keys!!! Thanks!
Clay Grantham
Marble Falls, TX
Texas Original offset stick burner....real BBQ
Marble Falls, TX
Texas Original offset stick burner....real BBQ
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
Motoclay wrote:So I have a Texas Original smoker from Bucees....super badass, thick steel, heavy duty, has all the fire plates and all that.....problem is...I struggle keeping the fire rolling well....fire box door can be wide open, exhaust wide open, good bed of coals and a log or two burning and it just doesn’t seem to do all that well. Now, I can crack the main door open just a hair and the temps rip out of control and the fire starts raging....so here is my thought....it has a 2 3/8” piece of pipe for exhaust...I AE a lot of pits with 4”-6” pipe. I’m wondering if I increase the diameter of the exhaust if it would help it breath better and the of course if it’s too much I’d have a damper to slow it down....makes sense to me, but am I wrong as far as the pipe just isn’t big enough?
Opinions....??
You are on the correct path by increasing your exhaust diameter. Increasing the length of an already too small diameter will only increase the problem. What is the dimensions of the cooking chamber and firebox?
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
20x40 cook chamber and 20x20 firebox
It’s basically the Yoder Whichita.....
All 1/4” thick, super heavy duty....I rebuilt the fire grate in the fire box using 3/8 rebar to get it up off the bottom so the air can draft through from the bottom....
The reason I lean towards making it bigger, when I crack the big lid and prop it open with a small stick, fire rips and temps sore....
It’s basically the Yoder Whichita.....
All 1/4” thick, super heavy duty....I rebuilt the fire grate in the fire box using 3/8 rebar to get it up off the bottom so the air can draft through from the bottom....
The reason I lean towards making it bigger, when I crack the big lid and prop it open with a small stick, fire rips and temps sore....
Clay Grantham
Marble Falls, TX
Texas Original offset stick burner....real BBQ
Marble Falls, TX
Texas Original offset stick burner....real BBQ
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
Red Farr wrote:...I use 6" pipe with my vertical...and 2 reducers depending on the time of year...a 5 inch and 4 inch....in the summer 6 inch dead of winter 4 inch...in winter the 4 draws same as 6 in summer..easier fire mgmt...the exhaust pipe is insulated .
Red
Do you have photos of your insulated exhaust? How is it insulated?
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
I would use a 4" ID exhaust 24" tall.
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
I've noticed that Franklin's pits don't use a fire grate at all..the fire rests on the bed of coals.
When I experimented with grate vs coal bed my fires were more controllable without the grate.
Harder to get up to temp but I can run with the door wide open and control heat with the amount of new fuel once the coal/ash bed is built up.
When I experimented with grate vs coal bed my fires were more controllable without the grate.
Harder to get up to temp but I can run with the door wide open and control heat with the amount of new fuel once the coal/ash bed is built up.
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
I have a lyfe tyme 20x40 w/20x20 firebox. Exhaust is 4.5”x 23”, pulls pretty well. Installed a piece of 18g sheet metal between firebox and cooking chamber to slow the fire/draw. Opening is football shaped and approx 5” at widest point. Removed grate at bottom of firebox and maintain solid coal bed for small 6-8” oak splits. Preheat splits on top of firebox or to side of fire in firebox. I run with both the exhaust and firebox door wide open. Easier to maintain/steady temp with just uniform splits and coal bed. Less is more.
Lyfe Tyme 20x40
22” Weber kettle (green)
22” Weber kettle (green)
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Re: Exhaust Diameter
Hello Clay, Not sure if we have spoken before about these smokers or not. I also have a 20x36 Texas Original offset for amost 2 yrs now. I know all about the small exhaust pipe. All of my meat was tasting too smokey IMO, and I couldn't maintain 250-270 F without a rip roaring fire. I saw others with similar size pits that could. After much research and YT viewing, I decided I would replace the small exhaust pipe on my pit. My uncle retired a professional welder with his on fab shop etc etc and still had all the equipment so he found a piece of 6 in stainless steel pipe and elbow for me. I loaded it up on my trailer took it to him, and he cut the small pipe off and welded on the new pipe. My pit immediately began cooking at those temps mentioned above. Only 1 or 2 very small splits now every 40-45 minutes to maintain 250-270. I"m talking small (size in the bags from academy sports). Now my pit cooks and maintains just fine. That is your problem IMO. They need to increase the pipe size on these (other than this) well made pits. shipping weight ?? not sure why. I'm very confident in mine now. Was ready to get rid of it before this. Watch this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUaNMOjLdu0&t=4s
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