My Mini Smoker Build- Need advice

[black88coupe]

Im building a small charcoal grille/ smoker. Im using the tank from a small air compressor. The inside of the tank is pretty good with some rust and scale. I am wondering if its OK to sandblast the inside to clean it up since im going to have the outside blasted to get it ready for fresh paint. I figured i would have it blasted then do a nice fire inside it to burn out any funky stuff. Is it safe to blast it or would any silica become an issue? This is my first build so ANY advice is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[SmokinGame]

Some places can/will blast with corn cobs or walnut shells. If not too grungy inside, these options might work.

 

[Chasdev]

See if you can find a vapor blast shop near you.

 

[civilsmoker]

I'm assuming it is an oil less compressor, if so blast away and once the outside is painted just wash the inside out with dish soap and flush it good a couple of times, then season it....... Grinding flaps leave nasty stuff too....

 

[black88coupe]

Some places can/will blast with corn cobs or walnut shells. If not too grungy inside, these options might work.

Thank you

 

[black88coupe]

See if you can find a vapor blast shop near you.

Thats a good idea. Thank you

 

[black88coupe]

I'm assuming it is an oil less compressor, if so blast away and once the outside is painted just wash the inside out with dish soap and flush it good a couple of times, then season it....... Grinding flaps leave nasty stuff too....

Im not sure about that as it looked pretty old. The inside didn’t seem to have any kind of oily residue. Will double check on that. The inside of the tank looked more like heavy “flash rust” on bare metal. I thought about just wire wheeling it and a light hand sand if need be. Then burn it in real good and oil it down.

 

[civilsmoker]

On my copper pot build, I didn't burn it out, but mainly used a flap wheel and a little wire wheel. Once shiny and washed...nothing to "kill" in the burnout that the seasoning won't do.....IE running it at 350 ish for an hour with a VERY light coat of oil...

This is just me but....I see the burn out for oils or other nasty stuff in the tank....A non-oil air tank is usually just "air and rust"...….I have two other air tanks I'm doing builds on and they won't get burned out....

 

[black88coupe]

On my copper pot build, I didn't burn it out, but mainly used a flap wheel and a little wire wheel. Once shiny and washed...nothing to "kill" in the burnout that the seasoning won't do.....IE running it at 350 ish for an hour with a VERY light coat of oil...

This is just me but....I see the burn out for oils or other nasty stuff in the tank....A non-oil air tank is usually just "air and rust"...….I have two other air tanks I'm doing builds on and they won't get burned out....

Gotcha Thank You