Space between flues and insulation?

[chep]

Hi all
Boiling in a 3x8. Raised flue. Curious on how much space there should be between the bottom of the flues and the insulation blanket. I have heard "about an inch" and that it will force the flame up into the flues if the blanket is touching the bottoms. At the moment the blanket is about an inch away in the middle and then drops back down into the base stack area. Creating an upwward flownof heat. Just curious how other folks set up
Cheers!

[motowbrowne]

Basically as little as you can get. I aimed for 1/2" when I did mine. An inch would be okay, but I wouldn't want any more than that.

[chep]

Can i set the pans so the flues are touching the insulation? Leaving a gap towards the front to still force the heat/fire up into the flues

[bill m]

No. You do not want the insulation touching the bottom of flues.

[chep]

Hi Billm . Can you say why the flues shouldnt touch the insulation? How close is correct? Thanks

[maple flats]

I ran my 3x8 raised flue with 1/4" space under the flues. I got a fantastic boil in the flues pan.
The reason you don't want the insulation touching the bottom of the flues is because you would then limit the heat into the bottom of the flues.

[chep]

I set it up so the flues were a whisker off the insulation. Boiled like never before. This is my 3rd year with the rig and its def the hardest boil ive had. Thanks for the input.

[Brian]

I have mine touching the blanket and it is great.