I'm gonna be driving you guys crazy

hdbrs · Dec 8, 2015

Well guys after major searching I came across a horizontal 120 gallon propane tank and with a lot of help from friends I'm gonna try to make a rf smoker. I've searched a lot of older threads and kinda got the basic jist of what I want to do and how to run the numbers but if you guys don't mind I will probably be checking and rechecking before I do anything. So I'll start by saying I removed the fittings from the tank and stunk up the neighborhood for 2 days or so. I then put 2lbs of tsp and a jug of dawn detergent and filled it with water completely. I plan on letting it sit like this for another 2 or 3 days then dump it out refill it with water and cut it with a cordless grinder. I'm gonna make a bunch of small cuts across till the water drains then do the top and finish the vertical cut. The tank has rounded ends and this is what brings me to my first question, where to make the horizontal cut? I've looked at the calculators but do not really see where it explains that. Tank is 68in long and an outside diameter of 24 inches. Thanks guys, and gals

dirtsailor2003 · Dec 8, 2015

I cant help with your questions. But will hang around if you promise to post pics of your process. @DaveOmak is the guru you need.

hdbrs · Dec 8, 2015

20151206_103840.jpg

hdbrs
Dec 8, 2015

Promise kept

daveomak · Dec 8, 2015

Ribwizzard recommends welding on the FB BEFORE you cut the door... That is supposed to reduce the warping of the door opening.... You do not want the door opening to warp....

hdbrs · Dec 8, 2015

I guess I said it wrong dave. When I cut the actual tank for where I'll be attaching the fb.what is the measurements for where I cut the notch out of the tank

daveomak · Dec 8, 2015

For a conventional reverse flow smoker, everything you need to know is here... It's a step by step.... write down the answers from each step... It will make sense later on....

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...others-ready-to-use-rev5-6-19-15#post_1264161

imafishingfred · Dec 9, 2015

hdbrs said:
I guess I said it wrong dave. When I cut the actual tank for where I'll be attaching the fb.what is the measurements for where I cut the notch out of the tank

I too had the same questions even after going through the calculator. Dave and the guys here helped me understand what I was looking at with the numbers. Read through my post here and it may shed some light on your numbers and questions.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/171029/new-guy-and-this-will-be-my-1st-reverse-flow-smoker-build

Don't be afraid to ask if you still don't understand. That's what I had to do.

daveomak · Dec 9, 2015

Sorry.... If you are looking how far "into" the tank to install the FB, install inboard of the welds... sometimes about 3" because the weld seam has a backing of steel to support the weld... and you want to save some work and make the RF plate straight..

hdbrs · Dec 9, 2015

350x700px-LL-74783e1a_Firebox.png

hdbrs
Dec 9, 2015

I found this in another thread and I'm gonna take a shot at this idea minus the ash tray. And yes Dave that is what I meant how deep to go. Now when u say inboard the weld you mean on the center side of the weld, not the rounded edge side

daveomak · Dec 9, 2015

yep.... toward the center of the tank.... You want to get past the weld and any trouble it will cause in fit up....

bigeee · Dec 10, 2015

Hdbrs, No disrespect to DaveOmak............Each build will have different material restrictions.

In my build, the elliptical head had enough straight metal to connect the fire box properly before the straight flange weld joint.

IMG_0965.JPG

bigeee
Dec 10, 2015

IMG_0978.JPG

bigeee
Dec 10, 2015

daveomak · Dec 10, 2015

BIGEEE said:
Hdbrs, No disrespect to DaveOmak............Each build will have different material restrictions.

In my build, the elliptical head had enough straight metal to connect the fire box properly before the straight flange weld joint.

========================

If you are looking how far "into" the tank to install the FB, install inboard of the welds... sometimes about 3" because the weld seam has a backing of steel to support the weld... and you want to save some work and make the RF plate straight..

yep.... toward the center of the tank.... You want to get past the weld and any trouble it will cause in fit up....

BIGEEE, afternoon.... I'm looking at the lower picture and the fitment problems you will have trying to make the RF plate air tight... Had you cut into the tank, past the weld, there would have been a straight section to fit up the RF plate....

It's perfectly fine to build it that way, lots of folks do..... having talked with hundreds of folks, during their builds, I'm fairly familiar with problems they run into......

Cutting into the tank an extra 3-4" makes fitment a whole lots easier...... Just trying to save hdbrs a headache or 2 and time....

You'll probably say, "It's not that much work to cut around the weld area and fit the RF plate"... but you have to do it twice and probably check fitment 2-3 times, lifting the RF plate in and out... Like I say, that's fine BUT don't push hdbrs into that spot...

bigeee · Dec 10, 2015

DaveOmak,

I agree 100% with you as the way I did it required much more work in the RF plate cut fit process.

I joined two 420lb slightly different I.D. tanks together which resulted in a very untrue edge to weld too.

The R.F. plate was installed in four pieces that required a lot of cut & grind fitting before welding.

It was not my intention to PUSH Hdbrs into that spot but to show an example of how I did it.

Hdbrs should look at all the options out there, ask questions and decide each step of his build

based on the material he is working with, time and expertise at hand.

imafishingfred · Dec 10, 2015

DaveOmak said:
yep.... toward the center of the tank.... You want to get past the weld and any trouble it will cause in fit up....

I'm still in the process of building my smoker but if you look at my pics fit up was spot on and my RF plate will be one size from one end to the other.

daveomak · Dec 10, 2015

That's a great picture of the weld seam.... I copied it so others can learn from it..... Thanks.... Dave

hdbrs · Dec 10, 2015

Ya that pic is gonna help me alot, thank you

hdbrs · Dec 10, 2015

And I know this is dangerous but I'm looking for a 3rd or 4th precautionary step. I've let the tank air out for 2 days. Filled with 2 lbs of tsp, dawn and water to the brim for 4 days. Gonna dump water out and fill with clean water and use a angle grinder to make small cuts while full of water. Let water drain then finish cutting. I feel confident doing that but if there is anything else I should do please tell

daveomak · Dec 10, 2015

Ribwizzard suggests welding the FB on first... cut the FB opening out on the top of the tank.... weld the FB onto the tank, then roll the tank to cut the door.... ANYWAY, that's what RB suggests....

curtisimo81 · Dec 11, 2015

I filled mine with dawn,tsp and water let sit for 3 days then dumped. Filled with water and cut my cuts. It was pretty simple and I didn't have to make any verticals cuts just cut off the end I wanted to use for the firebox. I do however recommend building a square firebox. I'm fixing to be http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/173539/propane-tank-build#post_1273519making a square one for mine and doing away with the round one. Here is the link to my build.

curtisimo81 · Dec 11, 2015

Well I posted that on my phone and somehow it put the link in the wrong spot. Lol

I'm gonna be driving you guys crazy

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