And We Have Liftoff!

[RandyB]

Well so far all is exactly according to blueprints. Well, the 1st cut is..

[Pete Mazz]

Amazing you could do all that with a hammer!

[Weldun]

First cut is the hardest, now you're on your way!

[Rodcrafter]

I'm impressed with your hammer skills too. That was good Pete


Making memories.

[RandyB]

Determination is the best tool in your toolbox...

I overhauled a small block chevy with a screwdriver and a pair of tin snips once!

[Dirtytires]

Oh, you silly boys. You can't cut a tank with a hammer.

It is clear to me, based on the puddle, that a water jet was used. Probably from a pink super-soaker...if I had to guess.

[RandyB]

Amazing the things you think of. I just watched a water jet slice through 8.5 inches of plate steel...

[Squiggle]

Nice work, from what I can see you used a water jet to put a starting hole then hit the car jack with the hammer to precisely split the end off the tank, that's some nice bogan bodgy work.

[Pete Mazz]

[RandyB]

So, I got the doors laid out. BUT, is it better to have the holes in the tank right in the center line where the hinges wold be, or cut the legs off, rotate to tank so that the holes will be at the bottom maybe, or can I shorten the doors by 2 inches thus moving the top of the doors out of the center line where the holes are?

[Pete Mazz]

Are you cutting the legs off either way or were you planning to keep them on? You don't want the patched holes near the door if you can avoid it. What if you spun it and make the feet a shelf support? That would put the holes in the back.

[mp4]

I would rotate them and get them to the bottom just to keep them out of sight.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[RandyB]

I been looking at my post thinking nobody cared because it was the last on the page and I was missing these replies. lol

So, I wanted the legs, but not enough to deal with those holes causing the grief they were if I do leave them on. I went and got my torches and immediately found I had a blown diaphragm in the regulator, so I ordered a repair kit. Gonna cut the legs and grind the bottom down and roll the tank and use the seam as a reference, but what would you do, put it at 3 o'clock or 12?

[mp4]

Mine is at 3 on the opposite side of the door.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[RandyB]

Mine is at 3 on the opposite side of the door.

The seam is 180 degrees from the door bottoms?

If so, that where mine is presently with the filler and gauge holes at 12 and feet at 6. I think I'd like to rotate it so that the seam is at 12. My question is though, I've often seen it recommended to lower the door top by 1 inch, so can I do that even though my prints have the door tops at 12? And would this have an adverse effect on the doors sealing?

[Big T]

I don't think it'll be an issue if you drop it an inch or so. I make my top cut 1'' past 12 and my bottom cut at 1'' below 3, this helps with water run off on the top and allows my bottom rack to be at the widest point of the tank. I use 3/8'' or 1/2'' rope gasket and 1-1/2'' strap around the door gap and I don't have any sealing issues.

[Rodcrafter]

Yep what he said. The cut won't effect the CC or the seal.


Making memories.

[Squiggle]

[RandyB]

Ok, before I go much further. I'm waiting on some diaphragms for my torches and the steel from my neighbor who lives next door and happens to be a supervisor at and mega steel producing company to cut my steel and bring it home...

Personally I'd like a single huge rack to slide out, but then the center support comes into question. Also, I imagine the single door would be heavy, but counter weights should help with that. I've thought the heat loss would be a big factor on a single door tank. And I also bought blueprints for the 200 gallon build with the double doors. So, I'm almost sure I'll stick with double doors, but I'm wondering what are the pro's and con's of single vs double door from experienced builders?

[Pete Mazz]

If you make double doors, make a single opening and have the doors overlap in the center. That way you can open both and have no obstructions.

[Big T]

[RandyB]

If you make double doors, make a single opening and have the doors overlap in the center. That way you can open both and have no obstructions.

Before I go much further, can you point me to a couple pictures of the doors?

Pretty sure I went beyond the 2 door thing. I have cut 2 holes with the 4" separation. How can I turn that center into a third door that would allow me to open either door or all 3 at once?

[Pete Mazz]

No pics but basically you cut 2 doors from one larger opening in the tank. Add strapping around the perimeter of both doors but leave it off one side of one of the doors so that when it gets closed first, the other doors strap overlays it and can be gasketed.

[Rodcrafter]

Yep!


Making memories.

[Squiggle]

Check out the "Mack" build thread, got some good pick of the doors in it.

http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/vie ... =11&t=4100