Hot water heater BBQ

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Started making a BBQ out of a 55 gal drum, was to big I thought. So hot water heater is about right for my liking.A couple of pictures are out of order, operator fault. Any way here we go. First is the tank after the metal jacket is stripped off. Then after the foam insulation has been removed. Then after the bottom was cut off for reinsertion convexed. Then after fit back up [ a lot of beating and prying and choice words ] for welding back on. Then some welding on the fit back up. Oh and what I said about the H F wire in a previous post.... scratch that, It's no Lincoln wire not even close. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Oh and I took a couple pics if the blue lining that someone had posted earlier about not being glass... Well this blue lining is glass pics of before hitting with hammer and pics of after hitting with hammer, it's defiantly glass. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I made the first cut of the door opening with the plasma cutter then welded the hinges on before making another cut. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I also cut the bottom of the door, then welded the stops for the door before cutting the side of the door out. Then I bent some strapping for the cradle of the grill, which I will use to mount the legs/frame for it later. The straps were bent on the tank until I didn't have enough weight to press it anymore, then measure and use vise. And the handle is made from 1/4" round stock. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I Will try to finish this post up this week, I work will allow me the spare time. Here is the last of the pics so far. The blue you see on the end with no bungs is what used to be the inside of the tank, you can see where it is splintering, flaking from the rust it has under the coating.Tell me what you think so far. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Thats very cool. Is the water heater thick enough for bbq purposes? It looks like the perfect size.Bill
Reply:Yes it is thick enough, it's thicker than a 55 gal drum is. I'll mic it this evening and post the thickness.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:I sure wish I could find a dead hotwater heater in that good a shape.  I have snagged a couple from house renovations around my neighborhood and my finds all have been completely rusted out.  Nice job, by the way.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:go to craigs list place a add under wanted for old water heaterive got a couple that way
Reply:can you please tell me why you cut the end off & then welded back on. also what are the 2 braces on each end for.I have made a few but never cut the end off & never saw braces on any before now.  work looks good just wanted to know.  thanksLast edited by wheelerbuffy; 07-03-2008 at 02:42 AM.
Reply:About cutting off the end and welding it back on, thats so that it's not inverted inside the tank taking up space. To answer your question about the straps, I thought that they would be a lot stronger for the legs to mount to. I welded angle to the straps after bending a place to weld the angle to, then welded the angle to the tank. Here are the pics, to hopefully explain better. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:In these pics you can see where I welded the legs and framing to the platform in the front and back to make the whole thing stronger. Also my brother came by over the holiday and I was talking about making the grill look like [ Little Boy ] the H bomb. Well today he had a great idea, he thought of putting wheels on the non business side of the grill, and a cow pusher on the front so that it would look like a train... I liked the idea so I guess I'll have a train grill for a while. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Taking these pics was a lot easier than the set up was! Hard to center level and then make sure both sides of the round tank were on the same plane.... But I think it was a good learning experience. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:What do you people think about the train idea? Or do you like the Little Boy [ H bomb ] idea for the grill? Any way here are some more pics.  I'll post more pics after I get the burners fully installed and the tank painted. Tell me what you think about the whole thing [welds too]. Attached ImagesMiller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Heck, hot water tank, crossarm braces, bed rail material, good deal. You haven't had to buy a lot of material for this rig. Looks like you have the flux core well under control.Where are you going to get your gas valves?
Reply:Thanks Sandy for the complement. And you are correct 100% on the cost of the materials. So far the only cost has been the 22" burner and the electronic igniter. Now all I like is the burner controls and the regulator and a 20# tank. A lot cheaper than I thought it would be. And all and all it's been a lot of fun for me, and hopefully you all as well. I thank every one for there help too.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:looking good
Reply:how you gonna get the glass out of the inside?
Reply:I'm wondering about the glass too. It looks like it is flaking/splintering off. Might not be too tasty...
Reply:thankx for the pic's you have given me a few ideas. A place to start with one of my own.
Reply:I sure do like how your grill is coming along.  I always want to do a project for fun, but I never seem to get around to it.Please keep the pics coming
Reply:Bitpiolet and Farmersamm; I will post up the pictures of the grill when it's fully finished, not much left. Where I work though has went into 7 day production mode so it may be a while, but I haven't forgot about the grill.Thanks for you comments and every one else as well.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Man U hit it right on the money!  I've been welding every day of my life for the past 33 years, have built many 55 gal. drum BBQ's.Never once have I thought of a water tank liner. I have a trailer that I have been wanting to build into a BBQ with 2 deep fryers. The BBQ for ribs, steaks, dogs and burgers,  charcoal, and the deep fryers, 1 for fries, onion rings mushrooms and such and the other for turkey and chicken, fish and whatever. After all who says you have to have backed potato on every picnick, lolThanks, now I can finally get it together!If I Can't Weld It!-----It Can't Be Welded!
Reply:I was wondering how hot the shelf will get being steel with so many welds to conduct the heat
Reply:Originally Posted by kneedeepI was wondering how hot the shelf will get being steel with so many welds to conduct the heatOriginally Posted by kneedeepI was wondering how hot the shelf will get being steel with so many welds to conduct the heat
Reply:Originally Posted by paintmanhow you gonna get the glass out of the inside?
Reply:I thought about the shelf getting hot, but my current grill has no shelf there only the burner controls and the ignighter so it was mostly just for looks, all though it will have hooks on the front and possibly the sides to hang the thongs, skewer and spatula from.As to the glass coating, I'm going to heat the grill and see what happens.... I have had a few flakes while working on the grill falling. But without hammering or welding on it nothing flakes. I will have to see what happens when heat is applied, hopefully nothing will flake.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:All one of a kind projects involve a learning curve.  No big dealI sure wish that thing was sittin' out back of my house.  Better lock yer gate tonite
Reply:wait a minute the green beans had to cost at least 0.65 c. unless you went dumpster diving for the can then it was a good find also.People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.  Unknown Pro Mig 175Hyphertherm 600Lots of toys at work
Reply:How old was the water heater? Pre-1980 might very well have been insulated with asbestos!! Careful when selecting your donor tank, you don't want to get into something like ripping friable asbestos off a tank.
Reply:Farmersamm: If you didnt live so far away you could borrow the grill for a summer or three.Dangthatshot:  The green bean can was from a meal the same night that it became the grease catcher.And DFv2 the tank is a vintage 2000 year model.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Yea I got one cooking myself! How much did it cost you to build? Attached Images
Reply:That's not a BBQ, it's a propane tank with two very bad leaks"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Any advice how to turn it into a Bar B Q would be welcome this is my first project
Reply:I think being able to do a straight job cutting the doors is one hell of a good start.  I'd have some funny lookin' doors if I did itI guess a lot depends on whether you're goin' with charcoal/wood, or propane.  Somebody here should know how far the burner ought to be from the grate."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Out here, most water heaters are gas-fired with a center tube up the center; the electrics are harder to find. I get my tanks directly from the installers, who just put them in a  dumpster which used to be paid for, not free. The installers do grab the brass fittings and valves before dumping the tanks, which wasn't always so.The center pipe fitting on the top, and that square loop are for handling the tank, the first probably for spinning it when originally welded and the loop for hanging it in the furnace to melt the glass coating on. The only problem you're likely to have is that after building one that nice, everyone else will want you to build them one too, and if you try to, you'll never have time to use yours!PS   The bold 'Hint' was to save future builders some aggravation; it's to easy to grab or agree to take something, then later realize you should have checked details first. I've done it a time or two or .......
Reply:Originally Posted by DLUVLYAny advice how to turn it into a Bar B Q would be welcome this is my first project
Reply:Dluvly; So far all I have in the BBQ is about $30.00 for the burners and ignighter, and about 15 hours counting planing time. I still need the gas regulator and the  left and right controllers for the burners though.Farmersamm; You are correct about the air draft on the grill plan you laid out. It is best to regulate from the bottom, less smoke that way.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Originally Posted by STwelderDluvly; So far all I have in the BBQ is about $30.00 for the burners and ignighter, and about 15 hours counting planing time. I still need the gas regulator and the  left and right controllers for the burners though.Farmersamm; You are correct about the air draft on the grill plan you laid out. It is best to regulate from the bottom, less smoke that way.
Reply:Do my wels suppose to look this way using fluxcore? Attached Images
Reply:The picture is a little blurry.... But looks like you just need to slow down a little bit and wait on the puddle then move a bit wait on the puddle then move a little bit etc. etc. But from what I can see it'll do for a Grill no real stress on it, as long as it has from what I can see about 80% penetration.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:very nice pit. like the way you mounted the tank.here's a pic of mine i just finished for a professor
Reply:Lucky Perfessor! As for regulating the air a circular damper, w/ a rotating disk & opposite cutouts, a little snug in the middle could/would work? JMHO(very similar to a certain round kettle BBQ manufacturer)BTW, I Like The Wheels A Lot,Bruce The Welding ChefLincoln Weld-Pack 3200 NORWELD StickStanford Hill Farm
Reply:man that looks great. im plannin on buildin a pit like yours with a smoke box on the side and i want it on some 2x2 pipe so i can mount it to my reciever hitch. itd be perfect for tailgating.what did you cut out the door of yours with? its like a perfectly straight cut
Reply:I used a plasma cutter to cut all of it with. And I do agree it would be perfect for a tailgate party!When you start on yours be sure to post pics, and steps for how to. We all love a great project and great ideas!Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:damn i dont have a plasma and i dont know anyone that does. what would be another way to cut a line that straight without a plasma?i will when i get started. first i needa drop a 220 in my garage and then get a machine
Reply:Without a plasma..... You could use a saws all / reciprocating saw, with a piece of flat stock to guide the blade. Or a cutoff wheel on a grinder with the flat stock for a guide.And My plasma will use 110vlt or 220vlt. I cut the tank in this post with it using 110vlt.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:ST did you finish the bbq i just a old tankand going to make one too
Reply:This is my yard cooker that needs an axle......South Arkansas RebelMiller 210 W/ Spoolgun& dual tank rackMiller Thunderbolt AC/DC