Tuning plates? Need side box smoker help!

[timj219]

Originally Posted by tedrodgerscpa

Took the plunge today and picked up a Char-Griller 5050 (combo grill / smoker with a firebox on the side) for a cheap price. I have done a bit of research, and see "veteran smokers" referring to the need to add "tuning plates" to even out the heat in the smoker.

I've been using a CharGriller with side firebox for about ten years without any tuning plates and I get excellent results with plenty of smoke flavor and temps that are even enough across the cooking surface to make beautiful ribs, pulled pork, brisket, bbq chicken. If I was smoking every day and cranking out large volumes of food that needed to be absolutely uniform I could see myself making mods like this. But for back yard cooking it seems strictly optional IMO.
I'll admit though I'm intrigued. I think I'll see what I can rig up with some heavy duty aluminum foil for my next bbq. Strategically draped and perforated I can see it providing the baffle and plate function. And rolled in to a cylinder to extend the chimney down near the cooking surface, the foil might increase smoke concentration at food level.

[688sonarmen]

Depending on the season and temp outside I have found for my chargriller super pro I don't need them for the winter. For the summer I took out the thing that holds the hot charcoal and flipped it upside down and that worked fine. I'm lucky like most of the guys that mod'ed and have someone who is a sheet metal mechanic. I had 3 tuning plates made but only use one right by the outlet for the heat. Like posted before you can use some foil and be good to go. I really think that a lot of those mods are from very bored perfectionists But your grill can be a great smoker with just a few small adjustments. Get a better temp gauge, get some exhaust tubing for a dryer attach it to your exhaust pipe inside the grill down to the grate and if needed use the charcoal pan as a baffle plate.