Other than end bells, consider how you plan to prep the tank. Grinding all the paint off a tank sucks! It should be a serious factor in the decision between a tank and a pipe. By the way, Frank doesn't use pipe anymore, his steel supplier rolls plate for him, there's a 3rd option for you to look into. But, like the others, I am not sure on cost.
I am seriously thinking about a forth option, fully insulated sheet metal. 10 ga, with 1/4" fb and bp. I just need to run the numbers. I don't have a torch or plasma cutter, so a jigsaw and circular saw will have to work. I have a big UDS already, so I'm not in any hurry to get the rf built...
Down here the lp tanks are closer to 3/16 may a bit less thick where the pip we can buy down here is at least 1/4" thick or thicker. Main down side I have seen down here with cold roll sheets is that it peels off in layers, mainly in the firebox where the pipe does not do that, I think the pipes we get are mostly oilfield type so maybe a different grade or type of metal, I have always wondered the actual difference myself.
I would use 1/4" plate for the fire box and bp. I would use 10ga for the inside and 14 ga for the outer skin. I live on the north side of DFW, so I should be able to find pipe. I really haven't decided what I am going to do, just thinking out loud.
I'm in Phoenix and just bought a 4 foot chunk of new 24 in dia by 0.250 pipe. It was brand new, unused pipe so I don't have to worry about dents, fittings, lead paint, explosive propane, other chemicals or rust. And the ends are smooth and square cut. All in all I would say the $340 I gave for it was worth every penny.
I would suggest checking multiple sources if you have them. The other major pipe supplier in town wanted $425 for the same piece.
Dude! It's been a whole year! lol, My brother in law lives right around there in Haslet and knows a couple of welder guys that may point you in the right direction.
If you get a good fire going in the propane tank after you cut out the doors, the paint flakes off, and if you spray it with water, the paint flies off.
...but, plate is pretty cheap right now.
I have bought 1/4" plate, 4'x8' for 99.00 recently, and 3/16 for 65.00.
I use 3/16 for smaller pits, like this one (30"x18") it does a great job on a brisket, with about 2/3 of a small bag of lump.
That's a nice looking rig, Brisket Envy. I called around DFW in November and the cheapest I found was about $215 for 4X8 of 1/4. I found a place up north of OKC that refurbs lp tanks. I can get 250 gal lp tanks (30"x 8') for ~$100 or 330gal (30" x 10') for $125. I could see if they will cut them in half, I can keep one and sell one. Basically it would cost gas money up and back.
Hey all, I'm an idiot. The price I quoted a bit back for that 24 by 48 by 0.25 wall pipe was for my entire bill....I forgot I bought a few other pieces on the same trip. The actual price was $240.
Don't know if anybody still cares but I at least wanted to be accurate.