150 gallon build, lots of questions

[Tipps]

[Tipps]

Something I did different on this build from what little experience i have had in the past.

In the past, I've used heat and clamped the flanges to the door and tacked them on and they've worked ok. This time, due to some irregularity with using a tank, after cutting and the door edge not perfect with the cook chamber edge in places, I wanted to do something different to get the best seal i could. I welded a ring on each end of a longer-thanp-needed flange piece, and used a ratchet strap to bend the shape and tacked as I went. I heated the flange a little with torch after it was tacked on to hopefully relieve some of the tension. I was going to use a gasket, but the flanges are pretty tight to the cook chamber now so I will just use the high temp RTV or whatever it's called to further seal it.
On the firebox end, due to leg placement, I had to tack one end of the flange below the door line, and weld a ring on the opposite leg and the end of the flange to make the ratchet strap method work. And it did, pretty good. The top and bottom flanges were easier, I just positioned by hand with the door closed and started tacking and they tightened down as I went from one end to the other. Maybe this will help somebody, I'm not sure.

[Dirtytires]

We all learn from each other....thanks for sharing.

[Tipps]

Almost done. Just need to add a handle for steering, and paint this sucker.

[Tipps]

finished my firebox door last night

[Big T]

Nice!

[akjeff]

Beautiful work!

[Tipps]

Well, I finally got my front steering handle on this thing, built some tools for it and hangers on the back, and got it painted up. I debated about adding a shelf, but the more I thought about my old one the more I remembered I hardly ever used it, and I can just have a small table nearby. Time to light a fire and season this sucker! i'll get some more pics whenever I get some meat cooking in it. took me a long dang time, but I sure am proud of it.

[Tipps]

[ajfoxy]

You have got to be proud of that smoker. Looks great.

Now for the Q-view... you know, rules and all that...

[towtruck]

I like it! I have to build some tools for my new smoker as well. I'm not sure what I need yet but a hook to pull the charcoal bin out and something to sweep the fire box tube out with are two items I know I will need.

[Big T]

[Tipps]

I'm finished. Lit the first fire in it last week and seasoned the cook chamber with a mix of tallow and bacon grease. Let that burn for about 5 hours and threw some chicken thighs on it just for kicks. The real first cook was this Saturday. Lit my fire about 4 in the morning, smoked a 13 lb brisket and 2 small racks of ribs, and it rained the entire time. I had just put the ribs on in the pic, failed to get any meat cutting photos but it all turned out pretty good.

Learned a lot about my new cooker, it will get very hot with minimal wood if I need it to, but I found the vent setting that holds a pretty stable 250-270 with about a log an hour or so.

[Tipps]

[Tipps]

[Tipps]

[Tipps]

Thanks for all the help and advice on my build guys, I really appreciate it. Learned so much through this whole process and ended up building something that is exactly what I had imagined and wanted from the beginning. It holding the temps like it does is rewarding for sure, and I am about to use the crap out of this thing.

[ajfoxy]

That came out really well. Well done

[Dirtytires]

So cool when it turns out as you expected, nice job. Now you have to shift from spending time building to time cooking!

And eating....

[Pete Mazz]

[Big T]

You've definitely built something to be proud of and it sounds like it works great .

[Rodcrafter]

Very nice work!


Making memories!

[CGTex]

Hi Tipps,
I think I have the same exact tank size. 'Planning to do the same basic thing as you did (round firebox made from the tank). My questions are: what was the best way you found to cut the tank? In the photos your cuts look so straight! And secondly, I guess the fire wood and fire inside the two pieces initially was to burn the left over tank grease / tank residue / impurities out, and also to remove the outside paint? Also, did you MIG or stick weld (which stick) for the most part? It looks great!
Carl in Texas

[Tipps]

Hi Tipps,
I think I have the same exact tank size. 'Planning to do the same basic thing as you did (round firebox made from the tank). My questions are: what was the best way you found to cut the tank? In the photos your cuts look so straight! And secondly, I guess the fire wood and fire inside the two pieces initially was to burn the left over tank grease / tank residue / impurities out, and also to remove the outside paint? Also, did you MIG or stick weld (which stick) for the most part? It looks great!
Carl in Texas

I bought a roll of 6" roof flashing, wrapped it around the tank where I wanted my cut, and taped it with overlap. If the overlay was straight, then really the cut should be straight, and I just used the flashing as a straight edge and cut the thank with a cut-off wheel on my grinder (actually went through about 10 cutting wheels).

I had heard to burn a fire in the tanks after cutting them down, and it helps make sure to get rid of anything that could be left in there. It did no do good at getting the paint off the tank though. That took several flap discs on the grinder and a bunch of dang time to get down to clean metal. Tried a paint stripper but it didn't work as good as I expected.

I mig welded the whole thing, using a millermatic 140. I now have a 220 machine, but it was late to this party.

sorry for being so late to reply.