3/16” steel legs or heavier?

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Hello looking for some help on a bbq pit question. I have access to some steel that is 2” inner diameter round tube with 3/16” wall. I plan to use it for legs for a bbq pit that will weigh about 800 pounds. Before I get started, will this steel support that weight, or should I go up (1/4” or heavier wall)?
Reply:

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello looking for some help on a bbq pit question. I have access to some steel that is 2” inner diameter round tube with 3/16” wall. I plan to use it for legs for a bbq pit that will weigh about 800 pounds. Before I get started, will this steel support that weight, or should I go up (1/4” or heavier wall)?
Reply:Great answer. Planning on a 150 gallon tank, with a large firebox and heavy smoke stack. It’s just the metal I stumbled upon. Definitely going to brace the legs, I have some 1 1/2 inch angle I’m gonna throw in the mix. Thank you for your reply
Reply:Got a sketch? That'd help.
Reply:I see 275 gallon oil tanks in half the cellars I enter. Full, they weigh 2200. Standard legs are 18" long 1-1/4" schedule 40 black pipe. Never seen a bent leg. Just yesterday, I saw a badly bent bracket the legs thread into.Pipe is strong enough vertical. If bent sideways by any force, it is not.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:

Originally Posted by TooNew

Hello looking for some help on a bbq pit question. I have access to some steel that is 2” inner diameter round tube with 3/16” wall. I plan to use it for legs for a bbq pit that will weigh about 800 pounds. Before I get started, will this steel support that weight, or should I go up (1/4” or heavier wall)?
Reply:Steel in compression is WAY stronger than steel in tension.The "wobble" mentioned earlier is the changing of forces from compression to tension.The legs need to be gusseted so that there is no chance of wobble,, use the angle steel to make gussets for the legs,,45 degrees is the best angle for the gusset, and well,, the length of the gusset is also VERY important,, the longer, the better.
Reply:

Originally Posted by SweetMK

Steel in compression is WAY stronger than steel in tension.
Reply:

Originally Posted by SweetMK

Steel in compression is WAY stronger than steel in tension.
Reply:Strong enough to support the weight easily but you need a design that supports the leg right down to the bottom by the feet so they can't get kicked in any direction.
Reply:Ain't nobody pulling or purely pushing on legs. I won't go into the math of tension or compression. Likely either compression or tension of a "pipe" leg will be ten or twenty times what it supports. When bending force is applied, factors are multiplied. Leverage factors. If your legs can be kept vertical they are more than strong enough. The greater question is; Are they secured against sideways load?An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:3/16" is plenty strong for that. But as stated above, where the legs connect to the cooker is the issue. Most tank companies add a 1/4 or 3/8 plate to the tank to spread the stress of the legsSent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Reply:These guys will have you building a 2000lb monster in no time.  Heck maybe add some tracks and a dozer blade smoke can route out the Smoke stack.What kinda rig you going to transport this little beast with?Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
Reply:

Originally Posted by evan

These guys will have you building a 2000lb monster in no time.  Heck maybe add some tracks and a dozer blade smoke can route out the Smoke stack.What kinda rig you going to transport this little beast with?Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk