"Eddy"

[Gizmo]

Well apparently leaving Edna and Edgar unsupervised in the garage over the new year's weekend wasn't such a good idea.
We got the shotgun ceremony out of the way last night when I got home so it's on to the next build!

Went through my father-in-law's iron pile down on the farm looking for the discs when I found the propane tank - hadn't planned it that way but it's safe to say "Eddy" wasn't planned either! (this smoker building is an addiction)

BTW - that tank has been open at the top for about 15 years so how much propane should be left by now...?
...just want to be safe yunno...

I'm thinking broad base firebox and vertical cook chamber cause I like that look for this smoker...

Course he's from a mixed family so prolly have to be stick or pellet (convertible)

just stewing over ideers ...

[The Czar]

OMG......that is so cool..... I can't wait to see where this goes....

[Tom_Heath]

Oh yes......cool is not even a good enough word to use.

Staying tuned for updates.

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[Blazer]

I just got done with a offset 100 pounder for my lady. Traditional tuner plate style.I will post pic's . PLEASE fill that suka full of water will ya. Has it been standing up for the 15 yrs with the valve off? The gas will still be in there. 28 gallon (or so) of water don't cost much. Cant wait to see your build.

[Gizmo]

Yes. My father in law took it to his scrap pile 15 years ago just like that - no valve. Been standing there all that time. Are you saying fill it with water and dump it?

[The Czar]

....I am not an expert...but I do think that is what they are saying....

[GreenSmoker]

Hi kids, if the 100 pounder has been setting for 15 years with the valve out you have no propane in it. You may (but I doubt it) have stink pretty still pooled in the bottom, again, not likely. The rust and overall condition says it is old as in 1/4 plate old. You may find the mfg date on the top shoulder or on the valve plate. The gas evaporated long ago and the mercaptan is gone as well. It did leave a mess behind tho'. I made an offset tuner/rf and I'm in process of an rf from the 100s, they are a nice size.

[Gizmo]

sounds like I might have to sandblast the inside?

[GreenSmoker]

sounds like I might have to sandblast the inside?

Fair chance. The crud on the bottom may scrape or burn out but, a quick sb may be better. It gets very gooey and then cakes as it drys and can be a pain to just "clean". Not to say you won't get lucky. The old tanks are about 1/4 wall, newer is 1/8 ish. Old ones are often messier, new ones still make good smokers, just thin and not so dirty.

[Gizmo]

Thanks for the input - once I get the doors cut I'll have a looksee and git er blasted if it looks scary.

Which brings me to another subject - are the doors going to spring when I cut them out or will I have to "jack" them back to the right radius? Can't understand why if they roll these things to this radius to make them in the first place then why do they want to open up when you cut an opening out of them?

[Frank_Cox]

great thread guys! can't wait to see "eddy" on his first smoke!
blazer and greensmoker are both right actually. After that much time there is a high likelihood that all the propane is gone from the tank... that being said, I would still play it on the safe side tho.... just in case. also while doing the water I add some dawn and some TSP which will help break down the mercaptan and the crap that has settled in the bottom of the tank.
as far as the door springing... when they roll those tanks, they don't get them exact. If you look at the roll I welded up for my current build you will see I had to use a ratchet strap and some 2x4 blocks to get the roll to the right shape to weld on the end caps. so although the doors were really close they still did spring slightly. the springin will not be as bad if you stay away from the length wise seam in the tank. when they roll the steel they have to use a break to finish the last couple inches to get it right.

[Blazer]

Yea they all seem to move a little when you cut the doors no matter if its pipe or a tank, residual stress. I cut a tank recently and it sprung in, that was the first Ive seen that. Ive often thought on the doors that spring out it would be nice to have access to a set of rolls to gradually run them thru to get the radius back. Just the stuff we have to deal with.

[Frank_Cox]

Boy, wouldn't that be nice! have a roll that could handle that kind of material.... oh well keep on dreamin

[Blazer]

Yea really. a bottle jack and chain,sledge hammer, run over it with the truck, blood and sweat is all ive got to use. O yea a few beers to make it all work.

[Gizmo]

Thanks guys! ... guess I'll have to get nasty with it... come to think of it - I knew a guy in high school used to straighten car bumpers bare-handed - wonder if Rusty is still around... course the girl he married was - well - a piece of work so anyway - I'm sorry was that out loud?

[Frank_Cox]

sounds like a genuine good ol' boy! hate to run into him in a dark alley!

[Gizmo]

What about makin this into a UDS?
Suggestions - Idears?

[Blazer]

??

[Frank_Cox]

It would be different for sure! you would hafta make all the grates from scratch tho

[Gizmo]

No problem - I'll just fire up the old grate-o-matic and crank out a few.

...I think the concept is there unless there's something basic I'm missing...
...maybe a bottom firebox door
...cut off and hinge the top

Any problem putting a stack on a uds?

[Frank_Cox]

Sounds good to me! I think I would make the lid removable tho. And a stack is fine.

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[Gizmo]

What would the main benefit be to a removable lid?