Welcome, Guest

Shop Amazon.com and support the WKC | WKC T-Shirts

Author Topic: More air = higher temp... more vents?  (Read 2769 times)

mfridman

  • Smokey Joe
  • Posts: 38
More air = higher temp... more vents?
« on: August 15, 2017, 01:02:42 PM »
Suppose you want to raise the "wide open" temperature of your kettle.
If you crack open the lid, the coals burn more vigorously.
Is this because you are drawing more oxygen into the fire through the new opening? Or is this because you are increasing the volume of exhaust?
Or both?

What I am getting at, suppose I want to increase airflow, but still keep my lid closed.
Do I add holes and damper to the bowl?
Do I add holes and damper to the lid?
Do I add both to the bowl and lid?

How much additional hole area is needed?

Troy

  • Statesman
  • Posts: 9479
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2017, 01:16:51 PM »
I believe adding a 2nd vent to the lid would have the effect you are looking for.
The charcoal summit has the same bottom vents (correct me if I'm wrong), but has a 'wide open' option for the top vent.

Adding a 2nd daisy wheel to the lid would be a sweet mod.
It's been done before, but it's not very common.

HoosierKettle

  • WKC Ambassador
  • Posts: 7354
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2017, 01:20:23 PM »

I believe adding a 2nd vent to the lid would have the effect you are looking for.
The charcoal summit has the same bottom vents (correct me if I'm wrong), but has a 'wide open' option for the top vent.

Adding a 2nd daisy wheel to the lid would be a sweet mod.
It's been done before, but it's not very common.

I've been wanting to add a second vent to a couple grills for awhile but can't bring myself to do it lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

Troy

  • Statesman
  • Posts: 9479
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2017, 01:32:09 PM »

I believe adding a 2nd vent to the lid would have the effect you are looking for.
The charcoal summit has the same bottom vents (correct me if I'm wrong), but has a 'wide open' option for the top vent.

Adding a 2nd daisy wheel to the lid would be a sweet mod.
It's been done before, but it's not very common.

I've been wanting to add a second vent to a couple grills for awhile but can't bring myself to do it lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

Same here!
I'd LOVE to make my vintage 26 cook like a modern 26...

Ted B

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 1482
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2017, 01:37:16 PM »
I added a second vent to my pizza beater. Not sure it's a huge difference but it helps. It's a three wheeler so air is more constricted than with one touch system.

mfridman

  • Smokey Joe
  • Posts: 38
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2017, 02:00:31 PM »
I added a second vent to my pizza beater. Not sure it's a huge difference but it helps. It's a three wheeler so air is more constricted than with one touch system.

So, to be clear, you added a second top vent?

pbe gummi bear

  • WKC Mod
  • Posts: 9059
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2017, 03:32:33 PM »
I've added extra vents to kettles. The top exhaust vents is the limiting factor for getting a 22 OT screaming hot. Find a beater lid and start drilling
"Have you hugged your Weber today?"
Check out WKC on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Weber-Kettle-Club/521728011229791

Rub

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 1738
    • Swamp Boys BBQ
Re: More air = higher temp... more vents?
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2017, 05:05:29 PM »
With smokers there is somewhat of a balance between intake and exhaust. If the area of the exhaust isn't at least equal to or greater than the area of intake you run the chance of oversmoking or bitter flavors. Like pbe mentioned I'd start with going bigger on top. Can't hardly go wrong with too much exhaust, but you can have problems with too much intake.
In the market for unicorns to complete my collection: Ambassador, Plainsman, Meat Cut, Custom, Blue 18 MBH, Green 18 MBH