250 gallon propane tank

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diesel

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Apr 29, 2008
594
28
Powhatan, Virginia
only have one picture but plan on keeping everyone up to date on the project.
I would like to think everyone for all the great information! I have been researching and reading the forums on this topic for a few weeks. I picked up a 250 gallon propane tank last weekend. I have it full of water and soap now. Will be cutting the doors out this weekend.

Again, I want to say thinks for all the info. I have found so far!

This was a good find. The Gas tank had been sandblasted and painted over a year ago. In the picture below I have started to cut the legs off. Oh ya.. now I have an excuse to buy a welder. Looking at the Hobart 125. All the reports on that model say that it is good for the beginner.
 
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I have two doors now. I used an angle grinder with a metal cutting blade. I have to say I didn't expect it to work so well. Some advice on the blades. The Dewalt brand worked very well. The other brands (ACE) and such pretty much just broke apart. Two more cuts to make, the firebox and the smoke stack. Getting excited. Stay tuned.
 
Someone around my area was getting rid of one of those, same size and everything for free, had no way to get it delivered so had to pass.
 
Diesel,
I am about to start a similar project with the help of some friends. We do not have access to a plasma cutter so I am considering cutting the doors like you did. How long did it take and how many blades did you go through? The cuts look good.
 
Looks like a great start I look forward to watching the continuing pics thanks for posting them
 
So, got home Thursday evening and could not resist.. picts below.

CrawFishSlayer, The grinder is the best method unless you have access to a plasma cutter. I used the dewalt 4 1/2 inch cutting blades.link: http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Meta...s-6105902.html

It cuts a really nice and smoothe line. I would go ahead and buy at least 10. It only took about five blades and about 2 hours to do the job. Let me know if you have more questions...
 
I received my new toy last night. I purchased a Hobart 125 arch/mig. Gonna give it a try when I get home from work. Picts will soon follow.

Oh.. I am having firebox issues. I can’t seem to find out where exactly to make the cut on the tank. I have look at a lot of picts w/ 250 gallon tanks but there doesn’t seem to be any info on the exact measurement. I did use the firebox calculator to get the size. If anyone has any input please let me know.
 
Hi Diesel,

Saw you question on my build thread but i thought i would post here aswell:

I used this calculator a found on another forum to determine my dimensions based on my tank size.
http://webpages.charter.net/tomchism/Dodis%20Calculator/
The "Fire box to cook chamber opening" gives you the area required in Sq.In. so with a bit of math you can calculate how that relates to a circular segment. Here is the equation I used:
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/CircularSegment.html

I didn't have access to a plasma cutter so did all of my cuts with the grinder aswell. The best disks i found were the Walters; they lasted twice as long as any others i used. I must have used a dozen to cut up the chunk of 3/8 plate i used for my firebox.
http://www.heavydutystore.com/walter...-pr-63806.html
 
hey Deisel,

Keep the pics coming!!! are you planning to have two separate cook chambers or one big one? nice choice on the welder btw... I love building stuff!!!!
 
Ok, I got a little side tracked this weekend. A friend said he had a wood stove he wanted to get rid of. I went and picked it up from him and then found that it would not be big enough in size to work w/ the smoker I am building. So, I decided to use this as a way to practice welding. By the forth leg (Pic #2) I think that I may be getting the hang of it. The weld isn't real pretty but for the first time I have ever tried it I think with alittle practive I will get better. Now, I need to get back to the smoker. Need to find steel for the firebox.
 
Something my dad got me started doing was to buy the 7" metal cutting blades and stick it on a cheap sidewinder circular saw. You can clamp or tack a guide on to make straight cuts using the circular saw base that way. It makes it easier to cut a better looking line that way.
 
I am picking up a tank next week to start a similar project to mount to an old jon boat trailer...Anywho, what are the deminsions of that tank? I found somewhere thats says 250's are 92"x30"...sound about right? I think I'm getting a 150 (it's either that or a 500gal!!), which according to the same website (propane101.com) are supposed to be 85"x25". I guess really I am just checking to see if the deminsions I found are close. I'm not sure if one 250gal tank can be different deminsions than another 250.

FYI 500's are 120"x37"
1000's are 190"x41" (according to propane101.com)
 
cwinfrey,
I think they can be a little different in size. But most are very close. My tank is 93" in diameter. It is 67" in length not counting the round ends. Just the straight part from weld to weld. I am building a 24"x24"x24" firebox. That is big! and I spent around 150$ on the steel. Lesson learned that if you have a scrap yard around then go there. I paid 35 cents a pound for some stuff yesterday. Whole lot cheaper. Hope I have answered your question. I tell ya I think the 150 would be a good size.
 
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