Propane tank build

[curtisimo81]

Thanks Dave I was just running all those numbers using that site to get all my messurements and was thinking it needed to be 21 inches after realizing the 7 inches would be right at the 20inch wide mark..  Thank you for all your help!

 

[daveomak]

My pleasure.... hate to see you build a smoker that was not 100%.... Thumbs Up

 

[curtisimo81]

My pleasure.... hate to see you build a smoker that was not 100%.... Thumbs Up

Yeah I would too. With as much time goes into building them I want to do it right the first time. Thanks again.

 

[curtisimo81]

My measurement must be off somewhere. At 21x38 rf plate I get less than 7 inches from bottom of cc. Is this right? And I get just over 4 at the return end.

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• curtisimo81
• Jan 14, 2015

 

[curtisimo81]

I was wondering if I just did a half moon would this still work without having to cut another RF plate....  I have the metal to cut another but would rather not waste this piece.  What are your thoughts?

 

[daveomak]

How can you fit up a round FB using a half moon ???? and keep the 80 sq. in. opening....


The smoker CC is out of round or you measured incorrectly....

 

[curtisimo81]

How can you fit up a round FB using a half moon ???? and keep the 80 sq. in. opening....

I don't know...  LOL Im just trying to figure out what happened.  I redid all my measurements and what you came up with should be right but it's not looking like its right.  Im just trying to figure where I went wrong.....

 

[daveomak]

Weld angle iron where the RF plate sits.... make it removable.....

 

[curtisimo81]

That is an option or I could recut it. But I need a min of 7 inches from bottom of cook chamber to top of RF plate correct? And 4 3/4 on the return side is ok? Or does that need to be bigger. I have enough angle iron to make it work. That's a good idea to fix it.

 

[curtisimo81]

So I decided to recut the RF plate instead of using angle iron. I'll find a use for it I'm sure. When I cut it bigger to get my 7 inches its actuall now at 8 inches. Do I need to cut it down or is 8 inches under the RF plate ok. I know I'm asking a lot of questions. I'm just new to this and trying to do it right the first time.

 

[daveomak]

8" clearance is fine.....   go for it....

 

[curtisimo81]

Good deal..  Off to welding I go...lol

 

[curtisimo81]

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• curtisimo81
• Jan 15, 2015

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• curtisimo81
• Jan 15, 2015

Not looking to bad.

 

[curtisimo81]

I will say since I'm not running the welder on a chord it has made a tremendous difference. Never would have thought you would loose that much power from a chord. Thanks again for all the help you guys have given me.

 

[smokingunny]

Now stop making rookie mistakes and get this thing done !!!

 

[daveomak]

I will say since I'm not running the welder on a chord it has made a tremendous difference. Never would have thought you would loose that much power from a chord. Thanks again for all the help you guys have given me.

Learning is good, very good..... 

 

[curtisimo81]

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• curtisimo81
• Jan 16, 2015

Got FB just about all welded up.

 

[daveomak]

Just an observation......   grind off the rust where you are welding AND where you place the ground clamp....  Rust does not melt well and does not conduct electricity well...

 

[curtisimo81]

Yeah theres no excuse....  lol  My grinding wheel was shot from grinding the round end pieces I cut and didn't have time to go to the store......

 

[parrish15]

When it comes to low amp welders a clean welding surface is very important. this step cannot be skipped even with a 400a machine you must grind the surface before welding

with mig welders i recommend a 1 in wide clean area when I weld on new steel, increase this distance with dirty or rusty metal 

due to the heat of welding it will ''pull'' any contamination to your weld