Using an old propane tank to build a pit
Monday March 3, 2003
DDFOE Writes:
"I have aquired an old propane storage tank about 60 gallons, and I want to build a smoker cooker out of it something similar to a lang cooker. The valves have been out of the tank for about 6 months, Is there still any danger of flare ups when cutting into a tank like this? Does any one know of any other drawbacks of using a propane tank for a cooker? Any info would be appreciated."
Comments
First fill the tank completely with water to get rid of any fuel. Then have at it.
Yes the stuff they use to make propane smell is toxic and it permeates every pore in the metal. So everything you smoke will taste like that stuff and it will also be toxic. Propane has no smell so they add a chemical agent to the tank so you can smell it if it is leaking.
Okay, it will smell, the odorant is called mercaptin. I’m sure it is toxic, however, it can be removed with soapy water and a good hot fire afterwards. People have been building smokers out of propane tanks for years, and some of the best smoked meat I’ve ever eaten has come off of those pits. I’m still here, so I don’t think you have much to worry about.
so you are saying that it is safe to cut into one without doing anything to it befor you start
This is late but I’m gonna go with posts 1 & 2. Any gases/chemicals stored in that tank will have permeated the metal since it is porous. If you completely fill the tank up with water before making your first cuts you should be fine. I had a couple friends build one out of a propane tank and it came out quite nice.
Most of you guys are correct in your comments. I built a pit out of a 250 gallon tank. I filled it with water to avoid blowing myself up with the first cut. To be quite honest, I filled it with water…drained it then filled it again. LOL Anyway, when I finished the pit, I burned out the inside a couple of times and then BBQed a couple of rounds of old hambergur meat to get some flaver into the metal. That was 16 years ago and I probably cooked a ton of meat on it and I am still alive. Happy cooking to all the meat burners out there.
hello,
My name is jake and im only 16.
Im in my schools FFA and raise hogs. This year i am making a smoker/bbq pit out of a 500 gallon propane tank. My buddy who is heling me has a grandpa who refurbs tanks and he told me all i had to do was fill half way with water add deturgint and then fill to top with water. I do not plan on filling it but once because it is 500 gallons and takes forever to fill…
i also want to make a smoker from propane tanks how long must i leave water,detergent in tank before i start to cut it with meatal cutting disc? I was thinging of buying a new tank , do they test with propane be for selling ?it might be safer
I need some free plans for a 250 gallon tank to build it in to a bbq smoker please email me at Spainjon@aol.com
i will not pay for the plans so don’t even ask
I have a 500 gal 32″ by 12′ 6″ tank that I would like to get some ideas on how to go about making a rotissery smoker if anyone can share any ideas.
they work great i just sold one last night got a new and improved one in the works now. The tanks are easly cut on if you just take the regulator off and let it air out for a month you dont have any problems. I have probly cut 200 tanks in my days.
I am not having luck finding a old propane tank, Does anyone know if it is safe to use old hot water tanks, i have plenty of them. Has anyone used these to build a smoker?
what kind of detergent do you use with the water to purge the tank
You don’t have to put soap in it or water. It will not explode. I work for a propane company and make grills out of huge tanks and they smell very strong when I cut into it. Just bleed off the pressure take out the valve, hold a match to it and it may burn ever so slightly buy no…it WILL NOT explode.
Once pressure is let out you can cut right into it without adding water or soap. It will smell of propane but just make a hot fire in it with wood and it will never smell of propane again.
First of all you had better scrub out as much of the chemicals as you can BEFORE you burn it out! Otherwise you are just locking in the chemicals into the metal. That is the same reason you don’t use soap on cast iron grates. Your food will taste weird from the contaminant you put into the porous metal. You heated and expanded the molecules changing the internal energy of the steel. Then when it cooled the chemicals will be locked into the steel.