My smoker/ pig roaster

[The Czar]

Nice....I am really surprised that a culligan tank is not galvanized.....I think that is cool how you cut that tank in half!!!

[gatewood iron]

I think it was originally a water tank that someone started using to hold oil or fuel oil.

Definatley an old water tank. I use them quite often. Most of the time,the inner coating is a ceramic coating sprayed into the tank. All of the tanks I've delt with were very time consuming when cleaning this stuff out. A grinder works best for me.

[Frank_Cox]

Looking good so far. I would like to see some pics of how easy/difficult the coating is to get out.

[alive226]

I started getting the ceramic coating off today. I have been busy lately, so today was my first day I could work on it. I am using a Ryobi angle grinder. I started with one of the softer discs, but changed and went to one of the harder metal grinding discs. No action shots this time.









I have about 2 hours on grinding off of the ceramic coating and another 3 in cutting it in half, so right now only about 5 hours into it so far. I got it back inside right before it started raining. I sprayed it down with brake cleaner after grinding, then with some WD40 to prevent rusting. I will say that it is not so easy grinding the coating away. If anyone has any better ideas, I'm open for suggestions. That's it for now.

[shskr]

Gr8 start

Sent from Galaxy Tab 2 using tapatalk 2

[Gizmo]

Have it sandblasted.

[Blazer]

alive226, Dude you sure thats not galvanized under that coating? It sure looks shiny like zinc not bare steel. I would heat up a spot away from the edge to red hot and see if you get the green fume or the snow that is the telltale sign of galvanized , I hope I'm wrong .

[alive226]

I will check to see if it is galvanized, but it doesn't look like it to me. Also, I measured the metal and it is 3/16". I kept forgetting to do so. I might put a torch to the coating, to see if it softens it up and makes the grinding a little easier and faster. Blaster, I will let you know if you are right. I hope not also. By the way the names Rick, not that you would have known.

[Gizmo]

Here's a question for everyone since this thread finally reminded me to ask it.

What if you treat galvanized coating with muratic acid (gives it a tooth) then paint it with barbeque black paint - would that then seal off the galvanizing from gassing off since it gasses at about 400 but the paint is rated at 1200 F ?

Or is this just a really good-sounding but dangerous idea?

[Rodcrafter]

You know, I think that people are worth much more than the price of getting another tank. All the ideas might work but if not someone could get harmed and that is just not ok. I always say if it is in question then don't do it it is not worth it.

my 2 cents

[Gizmo]

I agree with you rodcrafter - just asking for the sake of learning something....

[Rodcrafter]

No problem, I don't mean to sound harsh, I just think these things could be understood as possible solutions and someone could use them and get hurt that's all. Learning is awesome as long as we are alright in the end.

[TuscaloosaQ]

I personally would find another tank, I know that is prolly not what you want to hear but..... all of the maybes, mights, and if's would not be worth it for me personally. i work in a refinery and have access to pipe that has had hydrocarbons in it, will it burn out maybe but I ere on the safe side and say it ain't worth the gamble plus i would not want to give someone the "scoots" for life.... that is running to the toilet.

[alive226]

I checked it with a torch today. No green smoke, only the paint on the other side of the tank burning. I think it might look galvanized to you from the picture, but grinding any steel is going to make it nice and shiny. I tried putting a torch to the ceramic coating, to see if it would make it easier to grind off. No dice. It wasn't any easier. Spent another hour after work grinding away. As far as using something that hasn't had hydrocarbons in it, I don't think that's an issue. There are thousands of smokers/grills made from old oil tanks, that have never been a problem. They need to be burned out thoroughly first. I can't do the grinding in my garage, it has to be done outside, as the coating goes everywhere. I would never get my garage clean.

[alive226]

I spent another 1 1/2 hours the other day and another 2 hours today grinding away. I think I have another 2 hours left on this side (the lid) of grind in and I will bed done. Here are a couple of update pictures.



It was a little easier on the back grinding in the upright position.

[The Czar]

Dude...sucks don't it!!!!! But its worth it end the end!!

[alive226]

Yea it sucks, but I am hoping it will be worth it in the end.

[AR_Senior]

To settle the question on Galvanizing, When subjected to heat over a period of time It will flake off some small some large, also if subjected to soaking in alcohol it will leach out in to the hooch. The build looks good tho great job so far.

[alive226]

Well I had a nice day today, so I finished the grinding the one half of the ceramic coating. The somewhat shiny portion is the part I did today. My metal cutting wheel was getting a little small, so I hit the local Home Depot and thought I would try a different cutting wheel. I grabbed a Diablo brand masonry wheel and a heavy duty wire brush. I didn't try the wire brush, as the masonry wheel worked great. It took the ceramic coating out 2 to 3 times faster than the metal cutting wheel. Although I went through one whole wheel today. I think its a small price to pay for how much less time it took. Also, the metal grinding wheel went through the ceramic coating, making it into a fine powder. The masonry wheel made much bigger residue. Anyway, I am happy with the results. One thing I thought about, was that my changing of directions when grinding, to keep me from getting too fatigued, may give it a galvanized look. Just a thought. This next picture is the other half I still have left to do. I might start on it tomorrow, if the weather holds out. I think rain is in the forecast for tomorrow.



I have my work cut out for me on the other half. It's pretty damn dirty!

[gatewood iron]

YOU CAN DOIT! YOU CAN DOIT ALL NITE!

[alive226]

So another nice day, even though it was pretty windy. I got in another couple of hours of grinding. I think with the masonry disc, I should only have area hours left. I hope to have it done in the next week. The grinding that is. I need new safety glasses, the ones that are like goggles, not just glasses. I spent a painful hour trying to get ceramic dust out of my eyes. Two more photos. I think its coming along nicely. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Smokeone]

Its getting there. Anyday now you will get to move on to the fun stuff.

[gatewood iron]

I wonder, have you tried putting a torch to it to see if the coating will burn off like paint? I've done ceramic coated tanks before but for some reason I just thought of that. Go figure.

[alive226]

I tried putting a torch to it for several reasons. To see if it would burn off or at least make it easier to grind off. Also to confirm the tank was not galvanized. It didn't burn off and it didn't make it any easier to grind off (It seemed to make it harder). Thanks for the idea, but I did try it. I was thinking of trying to sandblast it off, but that seems like it would make a hell of a mess. I'm almost done now, so I'll just finish off grinding and get on to the fun stuff. The fabrication and welding!

[alive226]

Another nice day. I figured I would get some grinding done. In fact I thought why not do the rest of the grinding.







The grinding is all done!



That is a pile of ceramic dust. It's bigger than it looks and all from today. This was only half of it though.



On to more fun things. Sorry my updates have been of the boring grinding type.