I'm on Vacation...Franklin Clone build...

[KevinJ]

That's a nice looking build, well done.

 

[Clasko2]

That looks awesome! I'd love to build something similar.

 

[redchaserron]

That's the pit I want to build.

 

[BillN]

Your well on your way, looking great.

 

[RT]

Looking good.:thumb:

 

[SmokinBub]

Looking great so far. Wish I had skills like that.

 

[Clay-b-que]

Got "Franklinstein" 95% done today with my buddies help. I will post more pics once I figure out the hosting thing. It is ALL OVER THE BOARD! I have a digital thermometer in there now and have been checking every 10 minutes for the last 2 hours. There has been NO consistent readings the whole time. I have never operated a stick burner so I thought it would just get to temp and stay there like my UDS. Nope. Not at all. I think I will cut the pipe down a foot tomorrow and try again. The Feldons calculator says the pipe should be 16.14 inches and I have it at 57 inches right now. Seemed to be pulling pretty good when it was hot but every once in a while it puffs out the door. I think it is a draft issue. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[cats49er]

Hurry up and finish, it's 4th of July week. Fire that thing up. Looks nice.

 

[Westx]

Cut that stack down. The air exiting it will cool down a flow back into the pit.

 

[Clay-b-que]

Cut that stack down. The air exiting it will cool down a flow back into the pit.

How much ya think?

 

[Titch]

Nice looking build so far mate

 

[RT]

How much ya think?

Use the Feldon number, it has worked for me in the past.

 

[ClintHTX]

The best reccomendation you could have that I wish I had from the beginning was to just cook. Don't sweat it. It'll all turn it.

 

[Clay-b-que]

Hurry up and finish, it's 4th of July week. Fire that thing up. Looks nice.

I know I know. Never operated a stick burner before and am trying to figure it out with pine before I move onto oak and apple! I gotta figure out the draft issues too...I have a ton of people coming over Tuesday so I am on a time crunch here :doh:

 

[SmittyJonz]

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209208

A stick burner operates in a temp range. Target temp +/- 25*. Say target temp is 275* (after establishing some coals be it charcoal or wood coals) you add a split at 250* it'll slowly climb to 300/310* and then slowly fall back to 250* and you add another split......every 30-45 minutes-1hr depending on the size of the pit and size of the splits.

That exhaust is not so Big as to affect draft n temps - I don't think. I'd cut it off at 24" for looks.
What does firebox to cook chamber look like? Size of hole? Baffle? Deflector plate?

 

[Clay-b-que]

Firebox is 22" is diameter and 24" long. Cook chamber is 19.75 in diameter and 62" long. The firebox is offset from the middle a bit towards the back. The hole is sort of half moon. It is 15" wide and 4 or 5 inches tall. It is more of an elipse shape. No baffle or deflector plate.

How much charcoal do people use as a base? I only used 1 charcoal starter chimney full.

 

[pjtexas1]

1 chimney of charcoal should be good to get it started with 2 or 3 splits. Then once it settles down to your desired temp and exhaust is clear you can add food. Then add a stick every 30-45 minutes.

 

[Clay-b-que]

1 chimney of charcoal should be good to get it started with 2 or 3 splits. Then once it settles down to your desired temp and exhaust is clear you can add food. Then add a stick every 30-45 minutes.

Yup! That's what I have read about and have seen here and there. When you say "stick" how big of a split is that? I tried the above today and felt like I was adding an eighth of a log every 20 minutes or so. Again, I am burning pine to practice. I am going to try again tomorrow. Monday I am going to buy some post oak if I can find it. Maybe some apple too. This stick burner thing is way more difficult than I expected....

 

[Clay-b-que]

Should I cut a deflector plate? I had the probes in potatoes and they generally were about 40-50 degrees different at 3 feet apart. But when adding a split, the side closest to the firebox would spike at around 100 degrees higher than the other side.

 

[SmittyJonz]

Forget the pine and burn some Oak. Splits are generally 16-18" long and about the diameter of 1.5 coke cans.......