O/T BBQ cooker

Yea I know it is not tractor related, but here goes. I am cleaning up around our place and I have a butaine tank about 4 1/2 ft long and 20 or so dia. I was about redy to cut it in two pieces. I already have a couple holes cut in it. I got to thinking if I cut it long ways it would make a great BBQ cooker. Not for my self, but for someone who cooks for large groups. Think it's worth the effort, or will I have half of a tank sitting around. Any demand for something like this? Where could I advertise it? Stan

The guy who does my welding runs a small shop, when work is slow he builds tree stands, hog traps etc. to sell, he has tried building good heavy duty smokers and BBQ pits a few times and cannot sell them for what he has in them. Most people want the $60.00 sheet metal BBQ pit that will last a couple of years. That tank would make good water troughs or feed troughs or salt feeders.

Check out the forums at The Smoke Ring...these guys are always building pits of different shapes and sizes. I'd guess that someone might want one with the other half of the tank to use as a lid to make a SMOKER BBQ pit.

I'd advise you to look at the various builds that have photos attached and get some ideas, before cutting up the tank...'cause it might just change the way you go about doing it.

OR...you might just find someone who'll buy the tank as-is, and want to build their own BBQ. Either way, I advise you to go here and look around first.
The Smoke Ring fourms

Around 'here', people who do much outdoor grilling tend to fall into one of about 3 categories: those with a $25.00 Wal-mart charcoal grill, those with $125.00-$300.00 gas-fired grill, those who build their own/more elaborate charcoal grill. Around here, you couldn't get your money out of the thing. I've built 10 or 12 fish cookers out of 100# propane tanks which are close in size to what you have. Have to build my own burners, 'cause I've not been able to find anything with enough btus......without going to a jet burner, which I don't particularly want to do.

<a href="http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii44/thurlow8/?action=view&amp;current=August09a006.jpg" target="_blank"> </a>

Stan, A 150 gal tank as you described is worth about $100 or a little more since you have done the dangerous part of opening up the tank by cutting the 2 holes in it. A 150 gal is a nice size tank to put on an axle and be able to move around from Deer camp, to church social to Friday/Saturday football games. Do not cut it in half that is the waste of a good tank. JMO!
If you decide to put it on and axle as I describe then the sky is the limit as to how to build it, We build smokers as a rule with the ability to grill too. IE... RH or LH fire box! an area to grill steaks,chops and the like. or at least a easy way to clean out the main body of the pit , when charcoal is used to grill things. What to add to the trailer assembly ie LP deep fryer to fry fish/potatoes, or even a griddle to fry eggs, or breakfast items, add Electricity for lights when you are cooking at night! A Chuck box to store all accessories. Anyway hope this helps
Later,
John A.
PS My pit is a old underground 150 Butane tank, that was at my home as a child (History) on a channel iron frame, with a 1950 front chevy pu axle under it OBTW it has ball bearings in the hubs, NOT roller bearings like newer ones.
It is a LH fire box to the work area. A 1/2thick X 1ft.wide X 5ft.long piece of gray Coran counter top for the cutting board. I built it about 20 yrs ago and still cook as well today as it did when it was New! Yes there are things I should have done different or added! some day when I have more time.
Anyway if you decide to build a new pit you have a nice blank slate to play with. Have fun. Hollar if you like.
Later,
JAS.