Oil Tank Smoker plans

[roastntoast]

I just got an old furnace oil tank. Would like to make a pig roaster out of it . I've been looking all over the internet for Idears but can't seem to find much. Not sure if I want to go reverse flow or Charcoal tray in bottom with water pan. Anybody have any suggestions and or pictures ?

Thnaks
Jules

[Frank_Cox]

Welcome roastntoast! Anyway of course I always have ideas
I just have not drawn any plans for one of those yet. What do you have in mind as far as what you want or think would make this the perfect smoker?... Rotisserie?, plain ol hog smoker?, laying the drum down?, or standing it up?, trailer or no trailer?
I'm sure we can help ya hash it out

Update: 7/11/12....

FINALLY! we have a set of plans for an Oval Oil Tank! This set of smoker plans is a reverse flow smoker and has 2 removable sections of the Baffle Plate to allow for use of Grilling Baskets for using this smoker as a Charcoal Grill also. This smoker also has a removable Rotisserie Spit and slide out racks.
Oval Oil Tank Smoker Plans fire box Right
Oval Oil Tank Smoker Plans fire box Left

[roastntoast]

Well .. Hog cooker is what I was going for . I was thinking up right as well i have an old snowmobile trailer that I will use to mount it on. I will take some picture of the tank on the weekend. Just debating the reverse flow or charcoal tray in the bottom option.

Jules

[Frank_Cox]

Well, anyone that knows me will tell ya I would go with a reverse flow for the temp control. If you did go reverse flow with that tank I would insulate it. I would bet it is only 1/8" thick or so.
I will predict smoker toms response.... "go with a center feed!"
He really likes that concept and I agree with him it is a real cool idea. A center feed is a reverse flow with the firebox feeding in from the center instead of one end. I have not built or operated this style as of yet but the principle is close to the same. I will not steel his thunder tho. I will let him have his say

[roastntoast]

How would one insulate a tank like that. Wouldn't that be a lot of work ? Would you do the lid as well .

jules

[Frank_Cox]

All you hafta do is wrap the out side of the tank or firebox with fiberglass insulation or I prefer to use fire wrap kind of insulation and then put a skin of steel over that.

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[Tom_Heath]

Ya, I'm liking the center feed jobbers. Probably not on a vertical tho. Let's see what Matt has to say, I was thinking that his was a different style feed.

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[MattS]

That tank has a wall thickness less than 1/8. Its closer to 1/16. But that isn't that big a deal especially with a reverse flow. I am assuming this is the oval shaped tank. My big smoker is a thin walled fuel tank just like the oil tank you have. As long as you keep it sealed up then it will work fine for hogs. Just need a good firebox and a thick RF plate and your set. If you go RF then you don't need to worry about rotisserie.

[Tom_Heath]

Jules, thats a fantastic avatar. I love it.

Now I need to find someone to help me out with making my avatar into a more cartoonish looking logo.

[roastntoast]

My bbq was done by.

http://www.barbecuelogos.com
great to deal with

[Frank_Cox]

Kool thanks for the tip

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[Tom_Heath]

Yes, Thank You so much for the link.

[roastntoast]

Here is a pic of my tank



looking to make somthing like this

[Tom_Heath]

I'm out of town workin a small storm or I would load a pic of a real nice looking rig with the same tank. If Frank doesn't find it, I will post it once I get back to the computer.

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[Frank_Cox]

FINALLY! we have a set of plans for an Oval Oil Tank! This set of smoker plans is a reverse flow smoker and has 2 removable sections of the Baffle Plate to allow for use of Grilling Baskets for using this smoker as a Charcoal Grill also. This smoker also has a removable Rotisserie Spit and slide out racks.
Oval Oil Tank Smoker Plans fire box Right
Oval Oil Tank Smoker Plans fire box Left

[jon in mass]

anyone got any ideas on a horizontal center feed RF oil tank ?

[Frank_Cox]

If you use the pitcalc on the main page everything works out the same. only thing left to do is put the firebox under the center of the tank. FB to CC opening is still the same only add a chunk of 1/4 plate 4" wider all the way around above the FB to CC opening and under your Baffle plate. The Baffle plate is still the same with the same gap just the gap is split between both sides.

[jon in mass]

this is what i was thinking about (pardon the crappy drawing computers are like women rarly get them to do what you want)with a warming chamber on top of the FB

[alleyrat58]

Here are a few pics of my center-feed RF. Let me know if you have questions...

[Frank_Cox]

alleyrat, I forgot yours was a centerfeed!

[jon in mass]

awsome rig, thanks, but i was thinking more of laying the tank on its side and even about taking 18 inches out of the middle of it. my questions are more about the RF plate. should i run it out to the front and leave the gap on the sides? and how much of a gap. (thanks for the detail ablut the extra plate above the FB to CC opening.)

also i was wondering about the flew. my thought was 2 stacks in the middle rear from about 6 inches above the RF plate

[Frank_Cox]

jon,
I would put the gaps on each end of the smoker left and right of the door. since the tank will be on it's side the gaps will be shorter because of the long run front to back.
as far as the stack goes, I would put 1 stack in the center and on that big of a cook chamber you would want it at the top not near the BP. instead of taking 18" out of the middle of it you could put an upright plate in the center of the tank closing it off and make 2 cook chambers. make the firebox big enough for both and divide it in the middle also have doors on both sides of the CC and the FB have a 2 in 1 rig!

[jon in mass]

thanks for the input.
haddnt thought of splitting it. would 2 FB be ness? or could i just use 2 openings with dampers in them with seperate controles.
also how do i tell how much of a gap on the BP ? is there a formular to tell? or woould an adjustable BP be better

[Gizmo]

Adjustable - definitely adjustable ... they're not that hard to do and you'll have a lot better control.

[jon in mass]

hi frank. bein thinking about youre idea of making a two in one. also was looking at some other posts about squared off doors and did a little rethinking. hears what i came up with


was thinking of cuting one end off and welding it on the bottom as a smoke chamber. use two FB as two center feeds. in affect two 137.5 gallon units. with FB 24x24x24 (pit cal) it also comes out compact for my fairly small trailer 60x32