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Post by mach12 on Sept 8, 2014 14:59:11 GMT -5
I'm trying to find a heat diffuser to use with my Chambers that will also work in the t-well. Over the years I've used heat diffusers a lot, especially when I want a real slow simmer or to avoid scorching things that scorch easily. The ranges are always capable but I can be such a space-case when I'm cooking a large meal that I get distracted with the taters while the gravy scorches and stuff like that. Heat diffusers are my dinners salvation. I have a couple of different cast iron diffusers but they're square or octagonal and don't sit in the t-well they way I'd like them to. My round one is a steel one, not cast, that Camp Chef sells (they call it a Flame Tamer) and it's inexpensive - less than $12.00 on their website, sometimes even less expensive in sporting goods stores. The problem is that they're 10" diameter, which is the internal diameter of the t-well. They look like they'll squiggle down in there but there needs to be enough clearance that the heat can circulate, plus the diffuser will expand when heated and with that tight of a fit will, at best, damage the t-well enamel.
I'm considering just taking a flame tamer to a machine shop and have them turn it down to fit, maybe 9 1/2" or 9 3/4". I'll have to look at what will fit best on the t-well grate, maybe even make a cardboard template. Before I do that, and being a Chambers newbie, does anyone know of a ready to use diffuser that works in the t-well or have some insight or ideas?
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Post by Chuckie on Sept 8, 2014 20:54:04 GMT -5
I'm trying to find a heat diffuser to use with my Chambers that will also work in the t-well. Over the years I've used heat diffusers a lot, especially when I want a real slow simmer or to avoid scorching things that scorch easily. The ranges are always capable but I can be such a space-case when I'm cooking a large meal that I get distracted with the taters while the gravy scorches and stuff like that. Heat diffusers are my dinners salvation. I have a couple of different cast iron diffusers but they're square or octagonal and don't sit in the t-well they way I'd like them to. My round one is a steel one, not cast, that Camp Chef sells (they call it a Flame Tamer) and it's inexpensive - less than $12.00 on their website, sometimes even less expensive in sporting goods stores. The problem is that they're 10" diameter, which is the internal diameter of the t-well. They look like they'll squiggle down in there but there needs to be enough clearance that the heat can circulate, plus the diffuser will expand when heated and with that tight of a fit will, at best, damage the t-well enamel.
I'm considering just taking a flame tamer to a machine shop and have them turn it down to fit, maybe 9 1/2" or 9 3/4". I'll have to look at what will fit best on the t-well grate, maybe even make a cardboard template. Before I do that, and being a Chambers newbie, does anyone know of a ready to use diffuser that works in the t-well or have some insight or ideas?
Mach12: Take a look @ how FAR the BURNER is from the GRATE in the t-well. THAT--makes a difference--as well as turning the flame DOWN. Said grate is MUCH lower than say putting a pan on a top burner, thus things don't heat up so fast... We went to a Memorial Day celebration @ our local VA once, and had to do a 'picnic' afterwards @ me Mums. I put like five VERY LARGE spuds that I scrubbed in there to boil in the large pot and make potato salad, and BARELY turned the flame on (turned it on FULL BORE first to make SURE it lit and get them started). We were gone some 4 hours or more, and they were PERFECT--al dente like you WANT p-salad spuds, and the jackets peeled off easily w/a spoon. Just keep that in mind in the future. Also, WHENEVER we use the well, I turn the light on our "B" ON over the well to REMIND me there is something in there. I'll also turn the kitchen radio on VERY LOUD and/or turn on the "big light" which we NEVER use while the t-well is on, as often times I'll put baked spuds in there B4 we go to Saturday evening Mass, and would TOTALLY forget they were in there b4 we left otherwise... CHEERS!! Chuckie
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Post by vaporvac on Sept 9, 2014 1:29:11 GMT -5
That's a GREAT tip. I'm the QUEEN of forgetfulness whem I put think in there. I've been dyring my windfall of tomatoes and don't want to waste a one. Currenty, I'm leaving my coffee cups on the lid overnight, as that's the 1st thing I reach for in the AM. So far, so good, but your idea is better, (until my bf comes and turns off the light).
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Post by lwagne on Sept 9, 2014 14:11:39 GMT -5
What about that circular rack with the holes in it that come in some roasting pans and canning pans. I don't have a picture, but someone on here does. It would hold it up a little higher and diffuse somewhat.
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Post by cinnabar on Sept 9, 2014 16:22:59 GMT -5
You mean one of this species? While I was hunting them out of the cupboards I found my lost pastry blender, woot. Time for pie!!!
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Post by chipperhiker on Sept 9, 2014 23:00:51 GMT -5
I also forget when I put things in the t-well sometimes. One day it took me until lunch to remember the steel cut oats in there that were for breakfast, but they still came out great. A couple weeks ago, though, I burned up the test kernels of popcorn and olive oil I put in there while the burner was on. It wasn't pretty, and I still haven't figured out how to get the poor pot clean. Thanks for the ideas for setting up a reminder system, Chuckie.
Ilsa makes a cast iron 8.25" heat diffuser that I just spotted on Amazon. Might be worth a look.
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Post by vaporvac on Sept 9, 2014 23:29:13 GMT -5
Try boiling it with automatic dishwashing detergent. I haven't found anything that won't clean yet. Check to be sure it's safe foe aluminum.
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Post by mach12 on Sept 10, 2014 0:46:18 GMT -5
I have a couple of nice cast iron 3 legged pots that sit nicely in the T-well but the legs drop through the holes of the grate, so one of the things I need the diffuser in the t-well for is to give a stable platform for the cast cook pots. I'm not sure how well they'll work in the t-well but figured I'd play around and see what I can make them do.
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Post by lwagne on Sept 10, 2014 9:25:51 GMT -5
Maybe what Cinnabar is picturing will work, depending on the placement of the legs.
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Post by mach12 on Sept 10, 2014 12:36:39 GMT -5
I think I have a plan! I was messing around going through my parts stall this morning and came across an old round cover for a wood burning stove that I think will work. I found it up in the Cascade Mountains years ago (high school days) when I was hiking in to a stream to fish and it was laying there with nothing else anywhere around. I carried it back to the car when I was hiking back out thinking I'd drill a hole in it and use it as a drag anchor for my 12 foot aluminum boat. Never did anything with it and forgot all about it. When I cleaned out my parents house after they passed a few years ago there it was under my Dad's workbench. I took the t-well grate out and sat it on the grate and it looks like it's custom made for what I need. Sheesh - It was sitting there all the time! It also sits nicely on the top grates. Might be something to watch for in the flea markets if anyone else needs a diffuser.
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