99% Recycled Metal

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While Driving around the scrap compound near my work place I spied two unserviceable central heating expansion tanks going in a skip. I asked nicely and for the price of a few beers they were delivered to my house to be reused. A little research and I discovered that I needed to drill out and then refill 72 spot welds to free its internal rubber diaphragm before I could cut into it to make the door. Pretty much every piece of this Smoker is constructed out of recycled steel from the compound. the black BBQ paint cost more than the whole smoker. I set it up so that you can use it as a pure smoker or a BBQ by dumping charcoal into its belly. It was built as a birthday present for a good friend of mine. He is most pleased with it and is busy trying out many a recipe as you read this. This smoker/BBQ is the MK1 prototype and although I would never win any prizes in the welding porn "woodies" it isn't going to fall apart in a hurry. I've learned a lot building this one, enjoyed the experience and am getting good feedback from my mate as to how to improve the MK2. I already have other folks wanting me to build one for them, I'll be charging them though! Attached ImagesFletch
Reply:Lovely job. I want to build one of these, when I get a round tuit. We're heading into winter here (NZ), so could be a good project and it will be ready for the summer. I'll keep my eyes open for a similar find
Reply:If the wife sees this, I'll have to build her one. Looks good.
Reply:Looks good enough to eat out of!MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Really nice man! I like the "re-purposed" aspect the best, some of my best treasures are unwanted junk that others trash.Just another clown trying to be cool
Reply:Hey Roofletch, welcome aboard. And....... will you be my friend?! Awesome job, what did you use for the cooking grid surface?"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:That's really cool. I'm am jealous beyond words. I do a lot with tanks and would kill to get some that size!!!!!!!!! Total score! 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Hello,  ... Originally Posted by RoofletchHe is most pleased with it and is busy trying out many a recipe as you read this.
Reply:Another scrounger  You and Duane can form a clubPriced a smoker just for kicks at Atwoods................1600 dollars"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Looks good Roofletch. I have a group of folks wanting me to build them a large smoker pit mounted on a trailer.And there is nothing wrong with scrounging. OOPS I mean obtaining free material.
Reply:Very nice smoker, always nice to see the reuse of items.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Thank you all for the great feedback I'm getting. I'll just try to answer a few questions. The grills were made from 1" angle (recycled) and 2" x 1" box (recycled kids bed!) the mesh was the only new metal in the smoker although if I had of found some I would have used it.Call it what you will guys, I am an out and proud, self confessed skip diver and have gained many a good item io two out of my travels around the local recycling centres and scrap yards. I love the innovation and the sense of satisfaction I get from not spending loads and still being able to have those things I would like because I find and repair or make them myself."Free stuff is the best stuff" (as long as it is obtained legally!)The smoker just turned out some of the best ribs my mate had ever had (pretty modest as he cooked them!) but I am a happy man to know that my efforts are not in vain.Happy scrounging folks....Fletch
Reply:The mesh is 3mm expanded steel mesh from a local steel stock holder.the tank started out as one of these...http://www.bhl.co.uk/product/FLEXCON...PANSION_VESSELthe interesting thing is that these tanks are industrial sized and are not built to be repaired. once the rubber diaphragm inside ruptures the tank is useless. contanct your local industrial plumbers to see if they have any scrap ones going a begging.... Attached ImagesFletch
Reply:fletch - very nice work if i do say so myself, especially building it mostly out of scrap. the latest trailer pit i built was almost completely out of scrap (i had to buy some angle for the boxes) i wish more ppl would try and build things out of scrap thats laying around - our way of helping recycle.I break things for a living...
Reply:and so begineth the Mk2............after moving across the sea and setting up the workshop all over again!! Attached ImagesFletch
Reply:Great job!
Reply:I love it, recycling is to be commended, nothing gets my goat like seeing useable materials wasted. I was US Navy from '84 to '87 aboard the USS Hepburn FF1055. Fastest FF on the west coast. Imagine how pissed I was to find she had been used for target practice in 2004 and she now sits in 4000 feet deep grave. Too deep to be an artificial reef, and a waste of one helluva lot of steel. Kudos to some Govment Jackass for that good decision...........And now off my soapbox.Awesome job. Most folks , especially non tradesmen types, have no idea how difficult it can be to make a silk purse from a sows ear. Great job......Mike
Reply:one mans junk is anothers treasure...
Reply:Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted as things progress. Its a bit of a slow proccess though as I have to spend quite a bit of time with my legs poking skyward out of local skips(dumpsters) to find the right parts. wheels to go on next and organise the local foundry to mash me up some ornate strap hinges.....Fletch
Reply:Hey guys, here are a few mor pictures of the smoker, now with its chimney. Not that you can see it very well from the pictures, I used the cut out from the chimney to build an internal damper for it so that I can close it off when smoking meat and open it up for BBQing.You can see in one image the door sitting inside it at present with its "fleur de lis" strap hinges that I made to give it the old fashioned look. Attached ImagesFletch
Reply:RaptorDuner Re: 99% Recycled Metal--------------------------------------------------------------------------------If the wife sees this, I'll have to build her one. Looks good.
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerSounds like a good reason to let her see it.Nice work there Roofletch
Reply:Just got it back from the sand blasters and quickly shot it over with rattle can high temp black to stop it going orage in the rain that we are having over in UK at the mo.The little can on the side is the small smokey fire box affair for doing more delicate foods like cheeses and fish. just going to add some decking to the bottom of it to make it look a little more acceptable in the garden, this wood will of course be recycled from some old 8 foot pallets that i got hold of. not sur whether to stain or oil them though, any ideas?now off to search the land for beasts that sreepeth and winged foul that flyeth to apply to my new grill!!  Attached ImagesFletch
Reply:COOOOL ..soo like it