Which Flame Tamer?

[Ken S]

I've already added a curved heat deflector for my PB1600PSE, now wondering which flame tamer to get. I see that "Smokes Like A Boss" has the original two window design, plus a three window and a four window model available. Anybody have thoughts on which one's better? As a newbie here I'll apologize in advance if this topic has already been beat to death. And no, I haven't checked my actual temps yet. All I can say for sure is that my baby back ribs cooked evenly on the left side and right side. So my goal is mostly to soften out a presumed hot spot right above the burn pot.

Thanks in advance!

Ken

 

[Ortiggs]

I got the original flame tamer. I actually asked the guy at Smokes Like A Boss if there was much of a difference and he said there wasn't. I'm betting if you had them side by side you couldn't tell the difference in temps but I'm not sure. I have an Austin Onyx XL Pit Boss. The flame tamer evens out the temps, mainly over the hot pot. I'm not a pro but my advice to you, if you're a 'newbie' is to don't sweat the details too much and enjoy the smoke!

 

[Ball Family Crafts]

I purchased mine from Amazon. It was maybe half the price but pretty beefy piece of steel. I have the PB1600CS. With a few mods on the height and voila!

 

[jgerg1118]

I purchased mine from Amazon. It was maybe half the price but pretty beefy piece of steel. I have the PB1600CS. With a few mods on the height and voila!

can you share the link or a pic of what you got?

 

[sparkyv]

Post in thread 'Flame Tamer'

Dec 4, 2024

I'm not sure that my DIY flame tamer has made a difference...

• sparkyv

• 

 

[bobissmokin]

I have the same Onyx series Austin XL. I chose the 4 window flame tamer. Eliminated hot spot at sear grate. Worked for me.

4 Window Flame Tamer (Patent Pending)

Which mod is right for me? Click here. Includes 1 stainless steel flame tamer with slots. This will get rid of the hot spot over the fire pot and help even out temperatures across the grates. You can place with the opening either front to back or side to side, whichever works best for your Boss...

smokeslikeaboss.com

 

[Ken S]

Thank you guys for bumping this thread, I completely forgot to post my results. I tried a 3 window on my PB1600PSE, and it actually seemed to make heat distribution worse. Pics below show a biscuit test with and without. As you can see my smoker has decent side to side, and a slightly cooler back side without any flame tamer, which is why I decided to try a three window. After the 3 window failed my wife advised me to stop fixing things that aren't broke. I had to agree because 1) I'm not having hot spot issues with my cooks and 2) she's always right anyway. Keep in mind though, my 1600PSE is a different animal with venting all along the back instead of through a chimney on the end. I'm not hating on Flame Tamers at all, it seems like quite a few people do get good results with different models.

P.S. Those smoked biscuits are some mighty fine eating!

 

[sparkyv]

You don't know what you don't know...so that's why we "fix" things. Now, thanks to fine eating biscuits, you know!
Carry on...

to stop fixing things that aren't broke.