Smoker build

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

Well you got me to thinking on this one. I wasn't worried about the galvanized danger as I grew up eating out of one, but I guess as I've gotten older I'm more paranoid and I have decided to abandon the galvanized tank. So I went to digging and thinking(ridge probably seen the smoke from his place), and I remembered my neighbor had an old 80 gallon 2 stage air compressor pump and tank without a motor on it. Went over and asked him how much he wanted for it, and he said free when he found out I would be using it to build a smoker. SO I scored a heavy wall 24" diameter 80 gallon tank with a little over 36 inches of good area to cook on for free. SO I lose a days worth of work, but my designs for it will stil lwork since it is the same diamter tank. So no more worry about the galvanized tank problem, and it will be made of a heavier wall tank.

And I'll be down for some pulled pork BBQ when she's up and running. I think you made a wise choice Ferm. Sorry about the wet blanket, and the loss of time, but we all want to be talking TO you, not ABOUT you. When I read about the Galvanized coating starting to flake off @ 389 deg. and the fact that it might contain lead I just had to say something. Lead ain't so good for that young'un you got, and I'm sure it's not so good for you and the missus either. I'll bring the beer.

[bradford]

Good call.

Ferm that's gonna be a bad boy when you're done!

[smokeonthewater]

one of these days I'm gonna build a grill....... thinkin about copying an engine block/heads and bolting on headers, valve intake, etc.... I know you can buy one already made from stamped sheet metal but where's the fun in that.....

Keep burning wire/rod Ferm.... Good call on the tank and BONUS that heavy wall should last longer and regulate heat better too

[THEFERMANATOR]

Heres the new victim. It's an old challenger 80 gallon air tank rated to 200 PSI, and it is over twice as thick as the water tank was. This thing is HEAVY.


And here it is cleaned up with all of the holes welded up.


I have it taped off for the marks to cut the opening, but cutting it won't be anywhere near as easy as cutting the other tank. This thing has to be 10 or 11 gauge steel. Since it is already REALLY close to the 36" cooking surface I was shooting for, I'm going to leave both ends on it and do all the work through the opening. So it actually makes for a little less work in the end. Just gonna take me some time to cut out the door opening as I don't want to chance distorting it using the plasma cutter, so gonna take some time with a sawzall. The best part is I'm still sitting at $0 as the new tank was a freebie from my neighbor.

[RidgeRunner]

I saw the smoke, knew something was cooking!

[bradford]

Friend of mine built one out of an old compressor tank. Buy ahead and buy the bulk pack of blades. LOL

Turned out great when he was done.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by bradford

Friend of mine built one out of an old compressor tank. Buy ahead and buy the bulk pack of blades. LOL

Turned out great when he was done.

Blades? I don't need no stinkin blades, me's gots a plasma cutter to use. No pics, but no turning back now. I cut the opening in the tank for the lid today, pressure washed and cleaned it out as best I could, and welded the reverse flow baffle into the bottom of it. Now I gotta get more welding wire, angle iron, and maybe another piece of plate to finsh up the firebox.