Planning my first reverse flow

[Fiveflat]

Got a couple questions. I've sorta introduced myself in the "My first smoker" forum and I've shown my plans to improve upon my first smoker.
To catch you all up, here is what I have now. It's a 100lbs vertical propane tank. Simple. Build the fire inside the tank, much like a UDS but I have doors on it.



Now, my plan is to make it bigger. Just so happens my plans look very much like one of Franks builds. Coincidental I swear!
Here is my plan:





Now, look what I came across on craigslist... Tell me what you all think of these two finds.

Here's the first find. It's a 150 gallon propane tank. Looks really clean. Only concern about this tank might be the length, the picture is a bit deceiving. He's offering this tank to me for $200



Then there's this. Not sure the volume of this tank, but it's probably 36" diameter he's guessing. It comes with that boat trailer and he wants $500 for all of this. The concern about this tank are all the holes all over it and those two little rust holes at the back:


And suggestions? One over the other? Neither and wait for a better deal? Help?

[SmokinFF]

It's not my $$$, so buy both. The smaller one looks like it would work for your drawing. Just build a FB and attach your vertical cooker to the top. All the holes in the tank, can you patch em or put your doors there? Just a thought.

[TuscaloosaQ]

I would take the propane tank, they are generally at least 3/16 thick and that is a good price. Looks like you could cut it and half and make a couple of cookers

[DUAYNE B]

[Fiveflat]

My biggest attraction to the other tank was the trailer. Although the more I think about it, the more I would end up spending just as much modifying that one, as I would building a new one...

Maybe I'll just make the firebox out of the end I cut off. Anyone seen a firebox put on end, meaning the round bell end down and a flat top so I have a place for my current vertical?

[Fiveflat]

24" in diameter and 8 ft long... It's still in the bed of my truck in the shop.




Made by Buehler tank & welding works in Los Angeles, CA in 1946

[Fiveflat]

I'm ready to cut into this tank but I have a major decision to make before hand. This tank is kind of a monster. It's 24" diameter and 96" long! I think that's way more cook chamber than I'll ever need. There are two things keeping me from leaving it this long.
1. A lot of fire to heat up the cook chamber
2. More room than I need.

Now, probably the only thing that is making me want to leave it this long is, it's already got an end cap! Why buy yet another plate to cap it off if I cut it shorter. Although, I'm thinking I could make a pretty cool round Santa Maria style grill out of the piece I cut off...

Now, I'd like to be able to cook for 30-40 people 5-6 times a year and about 60-70 people once or twice a year. What would you all do?

[Smokeone]

Tough call there. You could cut it down and make a nice Santa Maria with the extra piece. You could also cut the tank in half and make two cookers. I think that 1 half would allow you to meet your needs most of the time. Then the second half could be sold, built as a twin for extra capacity when needed, or could be used to make a different type of cooker.
I know that isnt much help, just random ideas floating around in my head.
Heck I couldnt decid on mine , so I am building a ten footer, half RF, half roto.

[Fiveflat]

*cough* I called and got a quote for the steel needed to build a firebox. A 1/4" sheet 24"X24" is gonna run me $93 and I need 7 of them...

[jon in mass]

call someone else. way too much or on line but shipping is a killer

http://www.metalsforasteel.com/Catalog. ... teel-Plate

[Fiveflat]

haha, didn't think there would be that much of a price difference around town. Called someone else local, $35 each.

[Fiveflat]

What's everyone's opinion on these two options. Which one is more expensive in the long run, is it that much trouble to build a bigger fire for 24 more inches of cook chamber?

[jon in mass]

what if you use the piece you cut off the tank as the firebox

[Frank_Cox]

or make a cowboy cooker outta it?

[Fiveflat]

or make a cowboy cooker outta it?

Like a round Santa Maria type grill? That was my original idea. I already purchased 7 sheets of 24"X24" steel so I am prepared to recap the end of the tank...

[Fiveflat]

This would be cool, guy near me has two of them, $750 each. I'm contemplating building a trailer or buying one, I suppose I can't really build one for less than $750 though, can I? Heck a 5,000lbs axle and wheels are gonna run me close to $500 I would imagine...

[Smokeone]

That oughta be stout enough!

[Fiveflat]

Got the tank cut out and 5 sides welded up on my firebox. Poor Lincoln weld-pak 100 had a tough time getting through all that welding - it kept tripping it's internal little breaker.

Here it is all mocked up though. I'm really glad I didn't decide to cut this tank down. 5/16" is not fun to cut!

[The Czar]

Wow that thing looks HUGE!!!!


TWSS!!!!

[Fiveflat]

twss?

[Smokeone]

That's what she said!

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Fiveflat]

Ha! Ah... well I don't like to brag...

[Fiveflat]

Not thoroughly thought out, I have 3" of space on either side of a 4" hole.

So when I open the intake all the way, it really only opens to 3". I'm going to redesign this.

[gatewood iron]

Trial and error my friend. Trial and error.

[Fiveflat]

So after I got my doors cut out of the tank, I started freeing them away and I stopped right here for a second and had a thought...

There's gotta be a reason nobody else has done this... Will the door get in my way even if I have slide out grates?