Firebox for 500 Gallon - Old Wood Stove?

[smokestackMT]

So I've envied you offset guys for a long time. Have loved barbecue my whole life, decided to buy a Weber kettle and try my hand at homemade barbecue this last summer, had a great time and was hooked.

This winter I've been able to find an old propane tank, I've got a fabricator brother in law who's volunteered to help me out, and I've decided to build an offset.

I have a 500 gallon tank ( was super cheap and available locally) and a lot of ambition. I want to do something unique for this build - I was thinking about some repurposed antique wood stove for the firebox, but I'm concerned the capacity may not be right, and the material may not work.

Has anyone ever tried to use an old potbelly wood stove or anything similar as a fire box? I'm in Montana, so there are tons of old wood stoves begging to be brought back to life, I just want to make sure I'm doing something that works.

Appreciate the help, I'm stoked to be here!

 

[SmokinEdge]

The pot belly is to small for a 500 gal tank also they are cast iron so joining the two is not a good idea.

Here is a offset calculator developed by a great member here (RIP) DaveOmak. Give it a read. It walks you through all the calculations for everything. It is designed for reverse flow but the numbers will still plug in for standard offset.


https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t...eady-to-use-rev5-6-19-15.172425/#post_1264161

 

[G8trwood]

I used one of the small wood stove to feed a vertical for years. I don’t live in a cold climate. You do have to keep a bit bigger fire. Joined the two with 6” insulated chimney duct. A lot of the stoves are too tall. If you can get one for free, it might not be perfect, but it was free, lol.