Double Trouble.

[PortCityBBQ]

Greetings.
New the forums, upping my game from a POS HD smoker and my trusty Weber kettle to this lovely:



Booze and Craigslist don’t mix kids...
She’s got all the right parts they’re just in the wrong places. Like a Picasso.
Both tanks were connected with 3x pieces of 6” square tube
The “chimneys” in the pics were 4” but the actual hole was about 1”
The fire box was way too small and had no air flow.
I doubt it would have even sustained a fire, no draw @ all.
Unacceptable.



The big one is a 400 gallon water? Air? tank, IDK.
-36”x96”
-Double racked
-FB dims will be 36”x36”24” tall
She will stay on the trailer for catering



Little one is a 125 gallon compressor tank
-24”x72”
-single racked
-FB dims 24” cube
This will be a nice patio smoker

Both FB’s will be out of 1/4” plate.
I’m also adding Franklin style exhaust plenums to both with 6” round tubing for the stacks.
All the dims are from Feltons calculator.

I had some fun with the plasma cutter and removed all the BS



Unfortunately I’ll need to fab in plates where the tubing was cut out.



After reading some on here, I think cutting the bell off the big tank will eliminate a bunch of BS with the giant hole.

If I leave the bell on, what’s the easiest way to layout the cuts for an exhaust plenum to account for the curve of the bell?
Find the horizon line and then with a square and a level mark the correct arc? Is there an easier way? Cut it off and plate it?

I’ll post more pics after the rain stops, she’s under wraps...winter in So-Cal LOL.
Anyways, thanks for looking and for everything I’ve learned already.
Cheers.
J.

[ajfoxy]

Welcome. Certainly got the makings of a fine project.

[Pete Mazz]

Welcome

[JKalchik]

J, if you want to find straight lines on that curve, use a contractor's laser level. Level the tank, level the laser head at the right level, and scribe at the light.

[McBroom]

J, if you want to find straight lines on that curve, use a contractor's laser level. Level the tank, level the laser head at the right level, and scribe at the light.

Awesome idea on using a laser level. I'd never thought of that.


OP great builds you've got started. I'm just a lil jealous here.

Claud

[JKalchik]

J, if you want to find straight lines on that curve, use a contractor's laser level. Level the tank, level the laser head at the right level, and scribe at the light.

Awesome idea on using a laser level. I'd never thought of that.

If you've got a few feet of clear plastic tubing, you can use the poor contractor's water level. Level the tank, and determine your starting point. Hold the tubing with the ends up in a U shape, fill with water so the level comes up to a few inches from the open ends. Hold one end of the tubing at the starting point. The other end of the tubing (still held up in a U shape,) will be level as you move it around the round tank end.

Contractors have used this forever to get things level around corners and over long distances. Actually, only the last foot or so on each needs to be transparent, what's in the middle can be a garden hose. And, just to pick a nit, it's really not completely level, but it's a function of the Earth's radius. It might as well be level, you're not going to be able to measure that accurately outside of a laboratory.

[PortCityBBQ]

Hey guys- thanks for the warm welcome!

The laser level is a great solution, thank you for this. Great idea on the tubing too, I've done this in the past for other projects.
I've decided that the ass-end of the big one with the giant hole is getting removed and plated.
Cutting it all off will eliminate a bunch of BS, and it will be cleaner than trying to beat 1/4" plate into shape.

Cheers -J.

[Dirtytires]

Congrats on the score....

Agree probably much cleaner to just wack the bell off and plate it. Makes the firebox much easier to mate up as well.

[Big T]

Welcome aboard!!