Smoke Stack Length and Butterfly Valve

[trickworm]

hello all! I have used the BBQ calculator for all my dimensions and sizing. now i am ready to install smoke stacks.
Three questions:
1) For esthetics, I want 2 smoke stacks side by side. Does this mean I can take the total recommended BBQ calculator smoke stack and divide by two? Meaning two 2'-stacks instead of one 4'-stack?

2) Anyone have pics of a homemade butterfly valve for a cleaner look instead of the exterior flapper over the top?

3) Can a butterfly valve be located closer to the tank instead of at the top of the stack with the same performance?

Thanks you, this forum has really helped me!installing a smoke stack on my smoker that is about 18" long and then I plan on slipping a chrome exhaust pipe over

[dcman (The Czar)]

Okay I'll take a stab at it and see who my real friends are by the amount of making fun of I get.....I think you could use to different stacks that way you proposed.....I can't see why not... ....I also think you could use a ball valve instead of the top flapper plate.... ....but don't take my sole word for it....lets see what the funny farm has to add...

[Frank_Cox]

Not bad DC, as far as the stacks go I see no problems. on the damper, i would reference something like kam or rlmax did on their builds.

[Blazer]

I like the top slide damper also although i run them open during a cook. They cover good when not in use, keeps the rain out and the bird poop.

[Rick]

As Bill Cosby would say; "Wait til them kids in those Chevy's see these PIPES! Dual chrome exhaust tips - LOVE IT!

So - inside the firebox build a small box that just covers the two side-by-side outlets for your stacks and put your baffle in there - just adjust it when you have the door open. After running Edgar for about 4 cooks now, I've learned you don't "fiddle" with the stack much anyway once you're onto how to run it.... or you might put on an exterior control somehow ...

Another way is to build half of a vent iris into the stack and the other half into the chrome stack and just rotate the chrome stack to get the opening you want - completely invisible ... unless you're using angle cut stacks ... then it might look a little weird - but straight, rolled or flaired end would be fine.

Chrome stacks should be removed after the cook, wrapped in satin cloth and kept in your safety deposit box anyway - so just put a couple tin cans over the remaining stack pipe to keep the snow and the birds out. This might not be helpful but it sure was fun thinking it up!

[trickworm]

I love the half and half vent idea. Never saw that one coming, but after seeing pics of Edgar, I can see the inspiration! I have my stack outlets cut and no room for an interior slider with outboard controls, so the half iris and butterfly are still on the table.

All the great ideas and prevention of bird poop entry keep me smiling; there must be well trained birds throughout the US.

[Rick]

... or you could find an old 4-cylinder exhaust manifold and put it on backwards - adjustable baffle inside the exhaust pipe end - then bolted to the smoker - and 4 chrome stacks bolted to the cylinder ends...? - prolly want to calc. the total cu. in. of that whole thing first to see how long the stacks should be - just thinkin outloud...

[trickworm]

EK, already got $ in the pipe and chrome exhaust pipes are in the garage. I need to figure out how to post some pics and show you the chrome bling-bling!

[Rick]

Love to see it!

[maccas66]

I like the idea of the twin stacks!, but I think you`ll need them to be larger than 2", unless 4" was over kill to start with!, I know with drainage it takes 3 X 4" pipes to equal 1 X 6" pipe, should be the same with flues.