Howdy SMF Brothers and Sisters!
I started a RF patio smoker build several months ago...and kept meaning to start a build thread here. So I'm finally getting around to doing that!
I started with this propane tank. It's 5/16" thick, and 24" diameter by almost 11 feet long.
I plasma-cut the tank roughly in half. For this build, I'm using the half that only has one bung that has to be cut out (the half that's closest to the shop in this pic). The other half, I'm saving for another build later on.
Used my plasma cutter to cut out that bung, and then scabbed in a cut from the drop end of the tank so it would have the same curve.
Got most of the paint and rust stripped off. Now I'm about ready to do some fabricating.
I'm using 2x2x11 ga. square tubing for the cart frame...and 1/4" smooth plate to fabricate the firebox, the baffle plate, and the cook chamber end plate.
I got the tubing all cut for the cart frame.
And I got most of the plate plasma-cut for the FB, BP, and CC end plate
Next, I welded up the cart, with 1/4" castor plates mounted to the legs.
The cart and CC barrel welded together. I went ahead mounted the 8" solid rubber castors, so that I could move it around my shop more easily.
Next step was to roll it outside the shop and do a nice hot burn out of the tank. This removed the last of the propane gas odor.
Next I plasma-cut the door in the CC, leaving small tabs until I attached the flat bar flange to the top and bottom of the door...then cut the tabs out with a cutoff wheel, and removed the door. Now I can start cleaning up the rough edges of the cuts, and removing rust from the door and CC interior.
Next...I got the CC door all framed out with 1 1/2" x 1/8" flat bar, and did a test fit to see if I had any warping in the door or the tank. I'm relieved to say, it fits pretty good!
Next, time to tack in the baffle plate and drain pipe...And tack on the CC end plate.
Next, I got the firebox all tacked up.
So that's my progress so far...I got the FB all welded out, but haven't taken pics yet.
Next step is to weld the FB and the CC barrel together. Both are very heavy...so I've got to come up with a plan for handling and fit up to get everything plum, level, and square before I weld it together. Just one of the challenges when you work on projects like this by yourself!
Thanks for checking this out! Sorry for the length of this first post - that's several months of work all in one post!
More to come...
Red
I started a RF patio smoker build several months ago...and kept meaning to start a build thread here. So I'm finally getting around to doing that!
I started with this propane tank. It's 5/16" thick, and 24" diameter by almost 11 feet long.
I plasma-cut the tank roughly in half. For this build, I'm using the half that only has one bung that has to be cut out (the half that's closest to the shop in this pic). The other half, I'm saving for another build later on.
Used my plasma cutter to cut out that bung, and then scabbed in a cut from the drop end of the tank so it would have the same curve.
Got most of the paint and rust stripped off. Now I'm about ready to do some fabricating.
I'm using 2x2x11 ga. square tubing for the cart frame...and 1/4" smooth plate to fabricate the firebox, the baffle plate, and the cook chamber end plate.
I got the tubing all cut for the cart frame.
And I got most of the plate plasma-cut for the FB, BP, and CC end plate
Next, I welded up the cart, with 1/4" castor plates mounted to the legs.
The cart and CC barrel welded together. I went ahead mounted the 8" solid rubber castors, so that I could move it around my shop more easily.
Next step was to roll it outside the shop and do a nice hot burn out of the tank. This removed the last of the propane gas odor.
Next I plasma-cut the door in the CC, leaving small tabs until I attached the flat bar flange to the top and bottom of the door...then cut the tabs out with a cutoff wheel, and removed the door. Now I can start cleaning up the rough edges of the cuts, and removing rust from the door and CC interior.
Next...I got the CC door all framed out with 1 1/2" x 1/8" flat bar, and did a test fit to see if I had any warping in the door or the tank. I'm relieved to say, it fits pretty good!
Next, time to tack in the baffle plate and drain pipe...And tack on the CC end plate.
Next, I got the firebox all tacked up.
So that's my progress so far...I got the FB all welded out, but haven't taken pics yet.
Next step is to weld the FB and the CC barrel together. Both are very heavy...so I've got to come up with a plan for handling and fit up to get everything plum, level, and square before I weld it together. Just one of the challenges when you work on projects like this by yourself!
Thanks for checking this out! Sorry for the length of this first post - that's several months of work all in one post!
More to come...
Red
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