Looking for a welder/fabricator in St. Louis

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Well, I don't know anything about welding but Looking to build a smoker like below. It will not be on a trailer. I need to just build a simple metal base. However, I don't really know how to do any of it. Apparently from speaking with others, it seems to be it's not that big of a task but more of the equipment needed and time involved. I have specifics already written down. I was planning on making it from 30" diameter steel pipe. .281 wall, 9.5' total lengthLet me know what you think.
Reply:Bump...Anyone? I've changed my design a bit
Reply:I'll build it for you but it's a bit of a distance to ship/deliver it.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:For a person that is familar with layout, cutting, grinding, drilling, fitting, welding, etc., it's a moderate level of difficulty to make such a clean looking unit.  If you are proficient at all the above, except welding, you'll need to practice on the welding the various joints involved in the project, BEFORE jumping in to weld the actual piece. The fitup of the joints can have a huge affect on how easy this is to weld.
Reply:SIR,why don't you tell us where you live?there must be someone in the st. louisarea that can do this.  i could do it, butright now i am covered with work.wlbrown
Reply:SIR,i hate to discourage you on this project, butthe general charge for welding is about $60.00an hour. the weld around the ends is about 8ftlong. this is a lot of welding, and i see a lot ofcutting, and fabrication, which takes time. the thing that gets me is, someone says,oh it's not a big project. how many times have iheard that.  good luck on finding someone.wlbrown
Reply:What I meant was that it is more time consuming than actually difficult. Sorry!I live in Ballwin (a suburb in St. Louis)I'm figuring about $800-$1,000 in labor. Is that incorrect? I have also changed the design so it will actually be only 1 door which should cut down the labor a bit since it would eliminate the cut of a 2nd door, hinges, racks, handles, etc...It would be more along the lines the pic below but not trailer mounted. More of just a base built from square tubing on pneumatic casters. Depending on shipping costs, I'd be willing to look out of state. I'm trying to get this done though for $2,000Am I being unrealistic?I'm looking for a .250 rolled steel with a 42" diameter or 36" diameter. However, most "drops" are thicker walled which would start making it pretty heavy. .250 would be perfect!I appreciate everyones help!Thanks,Justin
Reply:There is a metalwork/fab shop on the corner of Fairview and Maury in south St.Louis( about a block north of Kingshighway on Fairview) that has made a couple of nice heavy BBQ grills for my uncle.  They might be able willing to build the smoker you're looking for.  I've never had business with them, or even checked out their shop so I can't in any way vouch for the way they work or their prices, but I have used the grills and had no complaints with how they work.  One of them has been outside at the cabin for 5-6 years and has held up well.  Good luck.
Reply:Thanks for the heads up! Trying to search for fabricators here, I mainly get people who won't deal with individuals
Reply:I'll give you some insight..... If you are looking for a 30" diameter with a .25 wall. then find an old scrap 250 gallon propane tank.  alot of gas companies will give them away as long as you sign a waiver saying you will not use it for fuel storage.  I build ALOT of cookers yearly from them.  A standard 250 gallon tank is .25 wall 7ft long, and 30" diameter.  Then all you have to do is build your grates and fire box then cut your door out.  You'll be ahead of the game....I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I was thinking about doing that with a 500 gallon as they are 42" in diameter (or around there) but didn't know how hard it would be to cap them. Because I'm going to go with a 5' chamber now and I think the 500 gallon tanks are about 7.5' so by the time you take off the bullet shaped ends, I was thinking that would work. I can get a 500g one for $100
Reply:Why take the ends off?  I just leave them on, and cut out all the threaded holes, and weld them up, and cut off the lifting hooks when it is finished.    I just cut the door in the side of the tank two inches inside the welds of the caps.  Then lap 3/16x2" over the cuts for the door and it works great.   Even if you did take them off it would be no different than capping a piece of pipe.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......