Thanks Okie, Nice photos..I noticed wing nuts retaining the fire pot and the material it is mounted to looks like stainless then transitions to black coated metal.. In previous models this was a one piece
housing. I am curious as to the reason(s). It surely isn't cost..In a manufacturing world, one cent can sway a decision relative to materials, labour, warranty costs, serviceability, longevity and warranty costs.
Several things I do not understand: As you said the housing for the fire pot is half SS. But also, there is a large SS sheet under the firepot assembly and it curves up on both sides make a double walled bottom as well as sides. It is screwed into place. The exits for the downdraft exhaust are visible on either side of this sheet in the back. I can see ash and debris building up under the bottom of the SS. How would you get that out? By the way, I am convinced that the SS throughout the insides is about 18 gauge. You are correct, the firepot is held in by wing nuts. Fire pot is also light gauge IMO and has 8 holes.
Now I have these questions:
What keeps the heat from just going out the "downdraft" holes without going up into the chamber? Note they are below the drip pan level. Once those exits become the least point of resistance it seems to me that the air flow (or a lot of it)would just go that way without going up around the drip pan.
Why is there a thick heat seal at the bottom of the lid and not all the way around? (it also did not close well.)
Why is the deflector so flimsy? It gets the full blast from the pot.
One big positive, is that the cooking chamber is very high. Did not measure but looks to be over 10 inches.
Will be interesting to see some unbiased performance testing. ???Happy Trails to you.