OT: Can I build a smoker out of a gas tank?

kbutler84

We have an old gas tank that's not in use and I was wondering if it'd be possible to turn it into a (rather large) smoker?  The thing I'm concerned about is that I do not know how thick the walls are.  I've read that propane tanks are often thicker than gas tanks and therefore more conducive to building a pit out of.  Just curious if anyone here may point me in the right direction.

fishlessman

gas as in gasoline, your going to need more than one beer hitting that with a torch

Langner91

Smoker?  Hell, I'd be worried about building a flamer!

kbutler84

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought many people built custom smokers from old gas/propane tanks?  Or is using a gas tank a terrible idea?

Langner91

No offense meant.  I, personally, am a big chicken when it comes to stuff like that.  Other guys probably look at it as no big deal.

NPHuskerFL

Yes. It'll need drained, flushed, re-flushed, etc until whomever is cutting it feels safe.  Once all the fabrication is complete it'll need several burns to season and remove any residual toxins. I'm no expert but, thus one appears to be a #2 fuel oil or diesel tank around 500 gallons would be my guess going solely off your pic. My personal opinion for offsets is a LP tank mod is better because of the thickness of the tank itself. 

kbutler84

Thank NP, appreciate your response.

fishlessman

looks like #2 to me as well. ive done propane tanks, i soak them with soap and water a couple days and rinse well and cut into it immediately. if its gasoline its always scared me, i might soak, then steam, then fill with argon, and still i might want more than 1 beer in me. if its #2, its going to really smoke when you cut into, outdoors and a big fan

shnax

There's an episode of BBQ with Franklin where he builds a smoker out of a propane tank. He fills it with water and makes his cuts while it's still full of water.

fergi

There's an episode of "BBQ with Franklin" named "The Pits" that shows step by step how to build one from a 250 gallon propane tank. He filled it completely with water and cut the openings with a grinder while still full of water. It aired on public tv here in the DFW area.

fishlessman

this is my propane boat stove, the propane doesnt scare me but after washing gas tanks you can really still smell the gassoline

DoubleEgger

Maybe Scottie can chime in on this @SGH

luckyboy

You can probably gage the thickness by the overlap of steel on the tank . There usually pretty thick. Looks like it would hold at least 4 whole hogs.Yes you can make a good cooker out of it but you'll have to vent the devil out of it on your first cut.It probably was used for oil.I bought a 300 new tank and made a cooker.I sold it and got my egg.
good luck with the project, take your time and you can do wonders.

SGH

DoubleEgger said:

Maybe Scottie can chime in on this @SGH

Give me until tonight my friend. I'm still at work. I actually have some pretty good info for him. 

NPHuskerFL

Many legit offset stickburners are being used that were made from mods just like this. Go for it. I had a decent offset a longtime ago but, at the time it was just way overkill. I gave it away :(  FWIW I can put out serious Q on the BGE but, it's a totally different end product and the process is 100% different when compare to the BGE. I'm not trying to dissuade you but the facts are the facts.

nolaegghead

No worries on getting the fuel oil out.  Hopefully it's empty because you can't just pour the fuel down the drain.  

You fill it up with water and a couple bottles of Dawn, slosh it around.  Do this a couple times.  After you're done building it, burn a hot fire inside. 

You'r concern with the gauge of steel is valid for durability.  Thinner steel won't last as long.  The most corrosive area is around the fire and I imagine you'll have a firebox.  

Pridnjoy

shnax said:

There's an episode of BBQ with Franklin where he builds a smoker out of a propane tank. He fills it with water and makes his cuts while it's still full of water.

Yep. Best advice in this thread. Do this. 

blasting

nolaegghead said:

You'r concern with the gauge of steel is valid for durability.  Thinner steel won't last as long.  

@nolaegghead  Just curious what you're thinking on this.  @Thatgrimguy got me all hot and bothered to build a UDS.  In fact, my new barrel is in the back of the truck as I type this.  It sounds like guys are getting quite a bit of use out of the UDS's and those barrels are pretty thin metal.  Are you thinking that the steel will corrode over time?

Thatgrimguy

blasting said:

nolaegghead said:

You'r concern with the gauge of steel is valid for durability.  Thinner steel won't last as long.  

@nolaegghead  Just curious what you're thinking on this.  @Thatgrimguy got me all hot and bothered to build a UDS.  In fact, my new barrel is in the back of the truck as I type this.  It sounds like guys are getting quite a bit of use out of the UDS's and those barrels are pretty thin metal.  Are you thinking that the steel will corrode over time?

It definitely will. The uds will stay pretty coated in oil. But it's ugly by design so who cares. And cheap. 

Firemanyz

If my vote is worth anything I say hell yeah go for it. But as stated above clean it and cut it full of water. Here is one a friend built for me last year. 

johnnyp

Aaron Franklin discusses techniques to forces excess fumes from the interior of a propane tank while converting into a pit. Probably worth a watch as some of the techniques will be transferable.