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What tamarian means is that in a typical (iRoast included) air-roaster, the sides of the roast chamber are solid and the bottom of the chamber has openings for the air to flow up and circulate the beans. Your initial design ideas are likely to restrict heat from getting to the middle of the mass of beans. In other words, the roaster needs circulation of the beans.

7" would probably work for 5 pounds, but the side walls will have to be solid, and you will have to experiment with the amount of open area under the beans for air to flow up and through, as well as the amount of air flow and heat.

CHAD