Round firebox or to Square firebox.THAT is my question!

[SAFETYHARBORREDNECK]

gettin ready to start a 120 propane tank R/F build and trying to decide if I should go with the round firebox(the scrap yard where I'm getting the tank from has 4 of them for $100 each.Thinking of getting 2 and cutting 1 in 1/3 for the firebox)
or square.
I know,it's almost sacrilege to cut a perfectly good 120,but,I'm also on a budget.
My 2 questions are...
1-what would be a ball park figure be to have someone(since I can't weld) build me a square one?Don't need anything fancy like being insulated or nuthin,just a basic 1/4" thick, roughly 20x20x20 with door.
2-What might be the best way to attach a round firebox?I've seen most people turn them horizontal,but I want mine vertical so I can have a flat top to cook a pot of beans on.
Here's a pic of my buddy's(and yes DC,I have a buddy or 2,lol) 120 R/f hybrid with the setup I'd like.

His is attached by a 6-8" round pipe(can't remember the exact measurements,but I'm heading over there in a little bit to cook some ribs on it and watch some Succaneers football,so I'll get exact measurements then.)which seems pretty small(maybe why he goes through so much wood for 1 cook?)
The calculator says I'll need a 10" round FB to CC hole,does that seem correct?
Link to BBQ Pit Calculator
Another question.Should I change the shape of that hole for better airflow???oblong?trapezoid?
Any thoughts or input would be appreciated.

[Rodcrafter]

I think you should PM FishlessMikey about the FB. If you don't mind someone wearing a skirt makes it. Then as for the throat opening I try to keep it as low as possible so trapezoid is what I tend to do.


Making memories.

[Frank_Cox]

if you do a round firebox then the diameter of it should match the diameter of the cook chamber. if you do that then you will use an eyeball shaped opening. Pete Mazz has made several useful calculators to help make sure the Dims are correct. you can find them in his signature...
as far as how to mount it I recommend cutting off the endbell on the firebox end of the cook chamber and plating off the end to make the mounting easy

[Rev.Mike]

as OB1 has said

[SAFETYHARBORREDNECK]

Thanks for the help guys.
Will post the build as it progresses on another thread.

[Dirtytires]

Just my 2 cents but this would be a great question for the person who is going to do the project for you as it sounds like the correct answer comes down to cost.

They will have to decide if it it more cost effective to cut a sheet of plate and weld square or cut up a $100 tank and put a door on it. It might be pretty close as that amount of plate should be less than $100 so then it is just down to labor.

Personally, I will cut and weld plate any day as opposed to working with an old tank (with rust/old paint/fit issues) but that is just my opinion....ask the guy welding if for you for HIS opinion as it may be different. How much prep are you going to do? Running a bead is pretty cheap (if all he has to do is weld it) but if he has to cut and fit on a tank that is gonna cost you on the labor.

[JohnBFryJr]

I really like the way mine came out except the hinges are to close the the cook chamber and it will guillotine you if you don't have it leveled right. The air vent is in the wrong location but it works nice as a window so you don't have to open the cooker. I just open the fire drawer a little and it draws nice. The drawer is just the cut off piece of tank flipped and dropped down in the fb. If I had the money I would have gone with square just for the fact of less redneck engineering.

http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/vie ... =13&t=3904