GrillinFool
Full Fledged Farker
I've got a 500 gallon propane tank, a trailer, and somebody who can use a cutting torch and welder. So, I need some design ideas for how to turn this into a trailered grill.
I've got a 500 gallon propane tank, how do I make it into a grill?
- Thread starter GrillinFool
- Start date
M
Matt_A
Guest
A friend of mine has done just what you're talking about. He used a hand-held grinder with fiberglass cutting disks to cut the doors/lids of the grill out. This makes a much nicer and much smaller cut than a torch. One thing he did was to cut all of the door out except the areas right next to where the hinges go, and a couple small spots on the opposite side. This allowed him to weld the hinges on while everything was in perfect alignment. He then cut through the remaining uncut areas and the door/lid functioned perfectly.
GrillinFool
Full Fledged Farker
I'm also looking for ideas as to what to use for grill grates, how to design them. What to do for charcoal, but getting it in, and getting the ash out. Should we use fire bricks to retain heat? What about venting?
Untraceable
Babbling Farker
totally needs exhast like this
GrillinFool
Full Fledged Farker
Chrome pipes!?! Definitely. We're think cutting some flames out of diamond steel and checking on high heat paint to trick it out. Custom rims are a must as well!
colonel00
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Don't forget neon street glow.
As for grates, its pretty standard to use 1" or so angle and expanded metal. Depending on the size you might need a support to run the length in the middle. This isn't the best pic but hopefully gives you the idea.
As for grates, its pretty standard to use 1" or so angle and expanded metal. Depending on the size you might need a support to run the length in the middle. This isn't the best pic but hopefully gives you the idea.
GrillinFool
Full Fledged Farker
What do you think of this?
Super smoker #4 catering rig grill smoke box full door smoker BBQ - YouTube
Super smoker #4 catering rig grill smoke box full door smoker BBQ - YouTube
fat_bastard
Knows what a fatty is.
Nobody has mentioned being absolutely certain that the propane tank is empty before cutting into it. I've never done it but from reading here the best way to do it is to fill it with soapy water, drain it, then fill it with clean water and drain again. We don't need BBQ'd Brethren
GrillinFool
Full Fledged Farker
I'm pretty sure it's empty. It was slated for the junk yard. We rescued it. But that's a good tip on cleaning it out to make sure there aren't any residuals... Oh the visions in my head of a dozens of shoulders and briskies or a whole hog.
fat_bastard
Knows what a fatty is.
can never be too safe around explosive gas in a sealed vessel
Grabnabber
Babbling Farker
I would make *REALLY FARKIN' DANG SURE* that it's clean before cutting or welding it.
Even a small amount of flammable vapor can be absolutely disastrous.
Even a small amount of flammable vapor can be absolutely disastrous.
NRA4Life
is Blowin Smoke!
I've heard of people filling them with soapy water and using a plasma cutter to cut the door while it is still filled with water. Also heard of dropping large quantities of dry ice into the tank to diplace the oxygen, making the tank safe to cut.
GrillinFool
Full Fledged Farker
More great advice...
SteveT
Knows what a fatty is.
A good way to make sure that the tank can not explode is to feed argon or another inert gas (I.E. CO2) into the tank. You can rent a full tank of argon or CO2 at a welders supply, and just feed the hose into the tank, and fill the tank, and keep the flow going while cutting. Of course a couple of rinsings with soap and water first wouldn't hurt...
SteveT
SteveT
Chef Country
is one Smokin' Farker
as long as its been empty for a while you will be fine with just filling with water once you have a opening it wont blow if you have time let soak for a week full of water it you have access to a purging gas such as argon just purge it with argon and you will be good, I weld and cut tanks quite a bit and still have all my fingers and teeth
D
daverev
Guest
fat_bastard
Knows what a fatty is.
jestridge
somebody shut me the fark up.
Damn that first cut is always the worse one,!!!! I always stick a garden hose in it and fill until it start running over let it overflow for a spell ,then cut
Two Bears
Full Fledged Farker
Grill or smoker?
There are a lot of plans on here and other sites that show how they built their smokers. There a lot of ideas out there that you will pick up on and add to your build so look around and see what has been done and decide what you want to add to your build.
There are a lot of plans on here and other sites that show how they built their smokers. There a lot of ideas out there that you will pick up on and add to your build so look around and see what has been done and decide what you want to add to your build.
Two Bears
Full Fledged Farker
Here is the design that I wend with on a reverse flow smoker on a 500 gallon propane tank and trailer...Just a few pics but you can get the idea of what I did. I still will be adding a shelf, water supply tank, santa maria grill to the trailer and probably some other odds and ends as time goes.
