"baffles" in a Grimm Arch

[tuckermtn]

I am rehabing a early 90's Grimm raised flu 2.5 X 8 arch and am wondering what opinions are about what to do around the two "baffles" under the flu (back) pan...do you archboard + brick along the sides and bottom and leave the spaces between the two baffles ? Or do you fill them up with sand between the baffles? In the old Leader diagram I have of an arch set-up, it shows the bricking of the baffles, but nothing clear about sand levels, etc...

I assume that the baffles are there to force the hot air from the firebox up in the the flues, and that if you don't fill with sand, there would be some sort of turbulance. My previous arch, a homemade rig didn't have the baffles and we just filled up the space under the flu pan with sand to within 1-2" of the flues.

any input would be appreciated...

[Breezy Lane Sugarworks]

yes. inbetween the baffles should be filled in. i have sand inbetwwen on mine, but i think it is supposed to be something called vermiculate? you could also brick it up i suppose. it's just that sand or bricks will take heat away from your pan, but i think that vermiculate doesn't do that as much. i've never used any so someone else will have to tell you where to get it, but i suppose any sugaring dealer would know.
good luck rebuilding!

[Fred Henderson]

You can get the vermiculite at any building supply. It is an insulation of type. Just be sure to get the attic fill and not the block fill which is smaller and could get moved by the stack draft. I just bought a bag and paid 11 bucks and change.

[chipa]

I bricked-up the front of my "baffles" and used vermiculite (I got it at a masonary supply store) and ceramic blanket on the arch deck. If you use sand it tends to hold moisture. Brick will add alot of weight and can cause the deck to sag.
I shaped the blanket so that it almost touches the flue bottoms; it helps keep the flames up in the flues.

[ibby458]

I was planning to tack in a sheet of Stainless to cover that gap, and blanket over the stainless. Will that work as well?

[chipa]

that should work just fine