Used fuel oil Smoker

blueshound75 · Feb 12, 2009

I just picked up a used fuel oil tank I am looking at turning it into an upright smoker. If I get all the holes i want in it and clean out the sludge and what not if I load it with lumber and burn it out and finish construction and sand blast will that take care of the oil residue? I want to make sure the food I am makinis safe to eat as well as tasty. I have read on alot of other sites that old tanks are dangerous due to carcinogens from the oil. Not sure what to do I plan on beginning construction this weekend if this is a safe option for a smoker. I am not worried about an exploding tank have that all figured out cutting with a recip saw.

Blueshound
Shane in SD

Obstacles are the things you see when you take your eyes from the goal...

dodgeramsst2003 · Feb 12, 2009

Well I'm sure I'm going to start a debate here but I'll dive in anyways. Yes, people are right, there is a certain amount of residue left in the tank, burning it out should take care of most of it, if not all of it. I have one that will become a smoker one day. Just remember, there is going to be a fine line when burning it out as if its too hot the thing will warp and twist, too cold and you're going to have residue left. My thought on using one is, people have done it for years, and you're probably going to die of something else before you have to worry about what little if any carcinogens/chemicals are coming from the tank. The way I figure it is, you have "x" amount of surface area inside the tank. This "x" amount of area can only hold so much "residue" When you put this little area into perspective thinking about the air you breath (which has pollutants in it too), the food you consume, not to mention all the other things your body comes in contact with you'll be fine.

With all the above said, There is a strong opposition to using a used oil drum, and if you can find a new suitable tank then use that. I plan on constructing mine when I can do it free or cheap.

The Pigman · Feb 12, 2009

Made one years ago and had it sand blasted after cutting apart then burned out and used it for cooking pigs on it still in operation.

Weiser · Feb 12, 2009

I guess that we must have attended the same school of thought Chris.
Burn it clean several times and don't worry about it.

Weiser

Dr_KY · Feb 12, 2009

I like the look of them.

burnin butts · Feb 13, 2009

I've got a 300 gal fuel oil smoker. after we burned it out, the creosote covered anything that might make a smell or taste. Just give it a good burn and it'l be fine.

Redaero · Feb 13, 2009

Some friends and I made a pig cooker out of a used 275 oil tank a couple of years ago. After we cut it open we welded in some reinforcement and then burned it out 3 times as hot as we could. After that we pressure washed out the residue and started cooking pigs. It works really well.

Teleking · Feb 13, 2009

blueshound75 said:
old tanks are dangerous due to carcinogens from the oil.

What do you think is in the smoke that you cook with? Look up PAH's and smoke and that should scare ya a little.

Mark · Feb 13, 2009

Nowdays, eating peanut butter is dangerous. So WTF?

Balls Casten · Feb 13, 2009

What other options do you have? Why not wait for a cleaner tank?

Right now I could probably walk across the thin ice to get to the other side of the lake. But I don’t really need to be on the other side. And if I did, I could get in my car and drive around the lake.

Sure it could be done, but why? Do you have to have another smoker right now? Why not have someone roll you a sheet of steel and get the size you want.

Jaberwabee · Feb 13, 2009

Mark said:
Nowdays, eating peanut butter is dangerous. So WTF?

Now that is the farking truth!!!!!

midnight · Feb 13, 2009

go ahead and use it. I have 2 fuel oil tanks that I am getting ready to turn into grill/ smokers. I am doing one horizontal and one verticle. Post some pics of your creation as you make it. I know there are at least two other fuel tank smokers in the Aberdeen area so if you need any ideas on how to put it together you could sneek a peek at one.

CROSSCZEK · Feb 13, 2009

Got one. Did it. Love it.
Just do it.

Bevo · Feb 13, 2009

Balls Casten said:
What other options do you have? Why not wait for a cleaner tank?

Right now I could probably walk across the thin ice to get to the other side of the lake. But I don’t really need to be on the other side. And if I did, I could get in my car and drive around the lake.

Sure it could be done, but why? Do you have to have another smoker right now? Why not have someone roll you a sheet of steel and get the size you want.

This is true!!!! Everytime you cook on this thing you will always wonder if its safe...I would try and go a different route!!

Puppyboy · Feb 13, 2009

I have 250 gallon fuel tank. I washed it out at the car wash then burned it out two seperate time. Never had a problem with fuel odor or taste.

blueshound75 · Feb 15, 2009

The start of something big and addictive

Started out Saturday morning at the inlaws farm and with a bunch of welding and spare parts helped i got started on my 1st custom smoker maybe even a Smoker Trailer..... Pause for drama!!!!!!! Started by drilling a hole in the bottom of the tank because the drain plug was terminal and tipped it up and removed 15 gallons of very dirty stinky fuel oil. Began drilling holes in the side of the fuel oil tank at the intersections of the main doors big enough to get a recip saw started and cut out the 2 smoker box doors. I then proceeded to remove the 2 gallons of sludge from the bottom of the tank. (yay) Drug it outside and doused it with gasoline and set it ablaze twice... gasoline burns to fast so I threw in a bunch of scrap wood / plywood and reignited and burned out everything, very well I might add. After lunch I cleaned it out an pulled the tank back in to the shop and started installing angle iron to enclose the fire box, cut fire box doors on each end attached hinges and gave up for the weekend. Heading out next weekend to build some more and pick up metal and stainless steel water / drippings pan in town. So till next time........

Norcoredneck · Feb 15, 2009

Looks like your well on the way. Looking good!

jestridge · Feb 15, 2009

It should be very safe. I don't use charcoal briquettes they have lot of bad stuff in them

blueshound75 · Feb 19, 2009

cookin

Headed to the farm this weekend to work on the monster smoker. Gonna haul the bandera out there gonna smoke some ribs fatties and pork loin. pickin up material and continue on the project lemme know if i should make some alterations. Been reading the UDS page and I'll be a monkeys uncle gonna need to make one of those too. More picks sunday or monday!

smokestack · Feb 20, 2009

keep the pics coming-I have a couple old tanks laying around

Used fuel oil Smoker

Knows what a fatty is.

Full Fledged Farker

is Blowin Smoke!

Weiser

Guest

Quintessential Chatty Farker

Full Fledged Farker

Redaero

Guest

is Blowin Smoke!

somebody shut me the fark up.

is Blowin Smoke!

is Blowin Smoke!

Full Fledged Farker

Full Fledged Farker

Bevo

Guest

Babbling Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Attachments

somebody shut me the fark up.

somebody shut me the fark up.

Knows what a fatty is.

Full Fledged Farker

Similar threads