200 litre / 53 gallon Tank

[Wet Spaniel]

Hi folks, very long time lurker here based in the UK. I'm looking to build my first smoker however, we don't seem to have access to the variety of sizes and shapes of tanks that you guys in the US do. I've seen a 200litre/53 us gallon tank for sale fairly locally that measures approximately 57' x 18'. This seemed fairly long and thin to me (in my practically zero knowledge) but as tanks are few and far between, I'd be keen to buy it if it would make a decent smoker. I'd appreciate any input on if these dimensions would make an effective RF smoker?

Thanks in advance

 

[unclebubbas bbq]

20

Overall Dimensions: 35" depth x 65’’ width x 63’’ height 1/4" thick fire box 3/16’’ thick cooking chamber Single Door Main Chamber: 20" x 42" Square Firebox Dimensions: 20" x 20" x 18" Product Details: 2 sliding/pull-out food trays framed with angle in the main chamber 1 17.5" x 19"...

lonestargrillz.com

Why don't you try and build something that looks like this instead of a round offset

 

[motocrash]

Long skinny tanks are not favorable because airflow isn't good.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Not much help on the smoker build, but love my Spaniels...

 

[Wet Spaniel]

Long skinny tanks are not favorable because airflow isn't good.

Thanks. Would it fare any better as a regular offset? It would be my first foray into fabrication so I'm happy to have an experiment.

 

[Wet Spaniel]

20

Overall Dimensions: 35" depth x 65’’ width x 63’’ height 1/4" thick fire box 3/16’’ thick cooking chamber Single Door Main Chamber: 20" x 42" Square Firebox Dimensions: 20" x 20" x 18" Product Details: 2 sliding/pull-out food trays framed with angle in the main chamber 1 17.5" x 19"...

lonestargrillz.com

Why don't you try and build something that looks like this instead of a round offset

Thank you, I had considered doing something similar - I'm brand new to welding/metal fabrication so was trying to keep things as simple as possible.

 

[motocrash]

Thanks. Would it fare any better as a regular offset?

Maybe if you cut the 57" down to say 36". Do you have a pic of the tank?

 

[Wet Spaniel]

Maybe if you cut the 57" down to say 36". Do you have a pic of the tank?

Thanks, I did wonder that

 

[unclebubbas bbq]

If you cut approximately 1/3 rd of it off you can use that portion as your fire box
and the 2/3 rds of it becomes the cooking chamber

 

[motocrash]

Check this out if you haven't already.

Standard Reverse Flow Smoker Calculator... by DaveOmak and others... Ready to use.. rev5.. 6/19/15.

Here's to "Alien BBQ" and the folks that first put the calculator together and "1728 Software Systems" for this great "Circle Calculator" and all the folks at "SmokingMeatForums", with a special shout out to Ribwizzard, that contributed their ideas and feedback while this thing was coming...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[Wet Spaniel]

Check this out if you haven't already.

Standard Reverse Flow Smoker Calculator... by DaveOmak and others... Ready to use.. rev5.. 6/19/15.

Here's to "Alien BBQ" and the folks that first put the calculator together and "1728 Software Systems" for this great "Circle Calculator" and all the folks at "SmokingMeatForums", with a special shout out to Ribwizzard, that contributed their ideas and feedback while this thing was coming...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

Thank you - yes, I've been reading through the info - it's incredibly useful. A little bit challenging for a a brit more used to cm than inches but I'm getting there!

 

[Wet Spaniel]

Thanks for all the feedback. I picked up the cylinder a few days ago for the equivalent of about $50. as this is my first foray into fabricating anything like this and it's not as big as I would have likes. I think I'll make it into an offset rather than reverse flow. I'll move my progress across to the relevant forum section as and when I get started.

 

[Blakus]

Hi Wet Spaniel! I’m in the UK too and had similar issues finding a larger capacity tank.
Mine is 46”X15” compressor tank, I’m still gambling on RF build, Davomak gave some great calculations and adjustments due to the narrow CC.
Basically to make it draw I’m having to use a 36”X 6” diameter stack- it’s bloody massive! Fingers crossed it works.
Good luck with your build and let me know how you’re getting on

 

[Wet Spaniel]

Hi Blakus, sorry - I've not been around much and not spotted your reply. Good to hear from another UK based smoker. I've literally just got round to relocating a cooker socket suitable of running my welder so I've eventually made a start on cleaning up my tank and giving myself some welding lessons. I'm going to go with @unclebubbasbbq suggestion and use 1/3 of my cylinder for the firebox.

 

[Smokin Okie]

Long skinny tanks are not favorable because airflow isn't good.

On a reverse flow, probably so. On a conventional offset, if it has the right height stack the air flow would be stronger.

Horizon has trouble with air flow in their 16" conventional offset. But they don't do anything on stack end to increase air flow. If the exhaust was at grate level, it had a collector, and a taller stack it would have stronger air flow. But they don't build their cookers for air flow. They build bottom up cookers.

Think of air flow through the cooker like a river. If a river narrows or becomes shallower, the water flow speeds up.

On my Franklin offset, the stack is 4 to 5" diameter. Franklin made the stack taller instead of wider to get stronger pull through the cooker.

Everything about the Franklin offset is designed for optimum air flow.

He also kept the cook chamber at 20" instead of 24" like most of these copy cats are doing. If he thought 24 was better for air flow, he would've made it 24.

But a reverse flow is a whole nother animal that I'm not familiar with. The stack has to pull that air a long way.

 

[motocrash]

On a reverse flow, probably so. On a conventional offset, if it has the right height stack the air flow would be stronger.

Wet Spaniel was going to build a RF originally.

I'd appreciate any input on if these dimensions would make an effective RF smoker?