Marrying tanks

[RajunCajun]

I picked up 2 tanks one is a 24"x54" and the other is a 120 gallon 24"x67 in. I will be cutting the smaller one and using it as my firebox. My question is how do you figure out how to cut the round CC to fit the round firebox? Thank you for all of your insight and experience. Looking forward to my first build with my son!

[Back9Q]

Are you planning keep end bells on CC or cutting off leaving flat wall?


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[RajunCajun]

Keeping the end bells like on the primitive pits.

[Back9Q]

I dont know how to layout the d*ck to d*ck method. If you want to run a square box around tank you can remove half bell end down and over to weld and mount it in the empty space


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[RajunCajun]

I'm having a hard time sourcing steel so I would like to keep the bell ends and mount them together.

[Back9Q]

By looking at style I would determine size opening you need based on perfect circle. Find dead center of CC endbell and do chalk line down to weld line making sure its centered in tank. Then use flex tape and determine length of that line. Fine halfway point and make that center of opening.

Do same thing on FB but line will be dead center end bell running up to weld line. Doing this should make sure both sections mate up and FB remains horizontal level


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[ThinBlue]

I dont know how to layout the d*ck to d*ck method.

[RajunCajun]

Thanks, after finding some videos, I learned it was going to have to be circle. I just couldn't figure out where to put the damn circle. I would imagine the cut out on the FB would be the half moon using the pit calculator to find out how big to make the half moon?

[SheffSmoker]

The way I did it was I drew my two tanks to scale in CAD, married them up roughly where I thought they needed to be then "sliced" one tank away from each other, leaving the shape I needed to cut behind. I then measured it and transferred it to a bit of paper and drew it on the tank.

Wasn't perfect though, took a long time of cut grind and fettle to get both the throat size and shape correct in the end, as well as making sure the FB was level and centre.

[RajunCajun]

Sounds like a clever way to do this. Unfortunately I'm technology challenged and don't have the means are no how to do this.

[Back9Q]

Which way? CAD or chalk line version

Running chalk line is easy. Need flexi tape and center square with small level. Probably take 10min to mark up each tank


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[Dirtytires]

Key to this procedure it to cut away a little at a time until they mate where you want them. It's a lot of fitting and cutting.

[SheffSmoker]

Sounds like a clever way to do this. Unfortunately I'm technology challenged and don't have the means are no how to do this.

Knocked this up quickly for you, should give you a better idea of the shape you're after. Both tanks are scaled to 24" on the drawings.

It will depend how far up you mount the FB, but as you can see below the side view it's a kind of "S" shape where the two tanks intersect. From the bottom though it just looks like a oval.

Try cutting an oval out of paper, wrapping it round your tank end and drawing round it. If it makes the S shape then you know you're getting close.

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[hogaboomer]

Some builders cut the hole on the cook chamber big enough to slide the firebox inside it a little ways. Some try to match both holes exactly. I've never done either way, but if I was going to try it, I would put both tanks where I wanted them, level everything up, then try to use something that you could slide in between them and mark both sides at the same time. Don't know if that would work or not...

[ThinBlue]

I haven't done this before either but if I were I would be inclined take the approach, or something similar, to what Back9Q outlined.

Sounds like a good video idea for Frank while he's got that camera out [emoji6]

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[RajunCajun]

Sheffsmoker, thank you for the time and effort for the drawings. I really appreciate it. It looks like when its cut right the seams make a straight line when the two are put together. Back9Q thank you for the flex tape info. Between the two ways I'm sure I can get it done. I've never done anything like this before so I may try and video it for others to either learn from my mistakes, or my success.

[ThinBlue]

I've never done anything like this before so I may try and video it for others to either learn from my mistakes, or my success.

That's a great idea! Sharing is caring. Good luck to you with that.

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