cutting the lips on the drum

[ryf]

I'm working on a horizontal drum smoker plan, for the door I was thinking about cutting through the top and bottom lips and making a straight line between them, so the door opening will be on the "sides" of the smoker, not the "front". my reason for considering this would be the lip would give the door some rigidity, and it would be different. if this road has been traveled before, just wondering what was the out come?

I posted this here as its not specifically a wood/charcoal/propane question, if there is a more appropriate location, please feel free to move it. thanks.

 

[garyt]

Never done one but I am a metal worker, I would leave 3 to 4 inches on each side for stability, Ok I am a coward I would leave 6 inches. and I think it would look better with a margin.

 

[garyt]

And what would you do for a lip seal to keep the smoke and heat in

 

[ryf]

I was going to weld 3/4"x3/4"x1/8" or so angle all the way around both sides, since it would be all relatively straight cuts (no barrel curves), depending on how the stove rope compresses, I will gap it so I could get good even lines, but also a really good seal. the angle would also more than make up for the lost ridge of bead once they are welded together I would think. I may overlap the joint as others have done on more traditional builds with 2x 1/8" flat bar, and spot it in from the back with drilled holes so its blind welds. hope that helps paint a picture.

 

[ryf]

speaking of pictures, for clarification, this is a simple simple example, but it might help understand what I'm asking. thnx

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p224/ryf_photos/smoker/barrelcuts.jpg

 

[walking dude]

plasma cutter do that in a cinch(sp)

 

[ryf]

no plasma cutters here, been considering one, but a sawzall, metal saw, and grinders are sooo much cheaper, and if I bought one, all I'd want to do is cut stuff.

 

[guvna]

don't you mean "cutting your <teeth> on a drum"?