500 Gallon propane or Big oil storage tank

[randy028]

Hello, I am gathering up the metal to build me a new smoker. I have built a few before but I need some feedback on tanks. I have a 500 gallon propane tank that has been totally empty for over 20 years. I also have a 500 gallon diesel fuel storage tank. Which one would be the best to use? I used a oil storage tank on my last smoker but it had been buried in the ground for 5 years before I rescued it. It finally rotted away. I want this cooker to last. I need some input. I plan on making this smoker a reverse flow. Does a lot of smoke reach the meat with this design? any input would be great! Thanks Randy C

[Frank_Cox]

I would go with the propane tank myself. they are 1/4 to 3/8 thick steel and i dont usually see oil storage tanks that thick. the reverse flow design in my opinion is the best one going. if built with the proper design it will last forever and will produce consistent results. as far as the smoke flavor it absolutely does reach the meat. all of it does.

[KILLSWITCH505]

[Tom_Heath]

Yes sir, rf all the way in my opinion.

The proprne tank is gonna be way thicker then the oil tank, so the lifespan will be way more then the oil tank.
Now the oil tank will make an awesome smoker no doubt. There are some really awesome builds floating around out there.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

[The Czar]

That prompts a question on the oil tank....I would have been concerned about the oils and such leaching into the metal...is this a valid fear?

[GreenSmoker]

You burn it out/clean and no issues.

[The Czar]

You burn it out/clean and no issues.

SWEET!!!!!

[randy028]

Hey guys thanks for the input. I wrote this in my first post that I have used a fuel oil tank before. Burning them out is a must but after that, it in no way effects the meat. I am thinking about reinforcing the end where the firebox will be by welding 1/4 inch plate steel. That is where I have ran into problems before with the other cooker that lasted years on my first build. On that build tho, there was no good information like there is today with the internet. The first 500 diesel fuel gallon tank I used was a very good cooker but you had to really keep an eye on it because of the different variations on heat control due to hot spots. I did not have any tuning plates or a RF plate I had no idea about reverse flow back then. Grease control was a big factor on big cooking events I did for charity from time to time. cooking 275 chickens in a 24 hour period really makes the grease, I did have a grease drain on it but I had to keep the water hose close by. I do have an option for a propane tank, but where it located is really going to be a pain to haul it home. So on this build I guess I am going to use the diesel tank first. right now I am gathering my metal I need and doing all the research I can. I need to talk to Frank on some idea's of getting the smoke and the reverse flow heat control right so it will cook even and get rid of fighting the hot spots. When I start on it I will be uploading pics of my build. Still feel free to chime in on any thought any of you have.

[Frank_Cox]

sounds good to me bud, lemmee know what I can do to help!