Your Opinion on this Steel Please

admin

Hi, I'm fairly new to welding and when I talk about it I always hear "Pffft, anyone can weld, it's not that hard" - well I've read enough to know that it's not that easy, and like any skill it takes time to learn.  Just because I can slop some metal down doesn't mean it's strong or will last.  That being said I need some advice please.I want to make a pig roaster, I've got a big old oil tank that I found in my neighbors field, it's been laying on it's side for many years and has a healthy coating of rust on the exterior, I cut about a 1/3rd off the top for the lid, inside there was some rust but the metal also looks black, and although I've left it in the weather for a few weeks rust is not forming as fast as I would expect it to on bare metal.I don't want to use this tank if it's galvanized, painted or some other thing.  After I cut the top off I stuffed it full of pallets and burned it out all day long - two times!  (I had lots of pallets) yet it's still not rusting that fast.  I took a wire wheel to the inside and it stripped it off down to nice shiny metal.  Can you please help me understand if this thing can be safe to cook in?If it matters I have a lincoln 180 mig and a Hobart Champ 1435 Stick.Thank you for your help!Matt Attached Images
Reply:As it currently stands, it looks pretty thin.  I'd be worried about when it holds weight (pig + wood + no internal/external reinforcement) coupled with high temps, that it would collapse within itself.The "thickness" of the steel shouldn't be too bad of a concern, as long as you "redesign" your cooker with the metal of this container.  You need some structured braces of maybe angle or channel iron fashioned into the design.Last edited by SuperArc; 10-12-2014 at 04:01 AM.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcAs it currently stands, it looks pretty thin.  I'd be worried about when it holds weight (pig + wood + no internal/external reinforcement) coupled with high temps, that it would collapse within itself.The "thickness" of the steel shouldn't be too bad of a concern, as long as you "redesign" your cooker with the metal of this container.  You need some structured braces of maybe angle or channel iron fashioned into the design.
Reply:Why not take it to someone with an industrial sand blaster? One that has at least a 185-CFM compressor!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPWhy not take it to someone with an industrial sand blaster? One that has at least a 185-CFM compressor!
Reply:Well I'd get busy with these.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:You can pick up media blasters at northern tool or hf. I wish I had one. Especially if you're doing sheet metal work I'd think its worth it. ive done 2 grills and i wish i had one.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPWell I'd get busy with these.
Reply:When you burn galvanized steel you get a little green flame with the smoke. Did you see that?Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPWhen you burn galvanized steel you get a little green flame with the smoke. Did you see that?
Reply:Fire up your torch, heat a small circle red hot. If you see some green flame, it's galvanized. If not sand / grind / wire brush to shiny metal. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I was going to do the same, use an old barrel and turn it into a cooker.  After some research, I decided against it.  Some old barrels were used to transport hazardous waist, some to store food, others for fuel oil, you just don't know.  My recommendation is to use a brand new unlined barrel.  It may cost more, but why risk your health just to cook your food and save a little money.  The way health costs are today, the money you save now may bankrupt you when your fighting some illness that was caused by the chemicals previously stored in that "cheap" barrel, and if you are willing to accept the risks, are you willing to accept the risks for your family?GarYou can read more here, and hopefully make a more informed decision:http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/1...this-drum-safeFood safe barrels can still have the epoxy lining. Food safe means they figured a way to hold food products in them, usually with a epoxy liner and a plastic bag. I quit trying to use lined barrels years ago. Too much hassle and wasted time and effort, let alone wood. I build three sizes of Barrel Smokers, all of which start as new, unlined barrels, period. My customers deserve that. I know that many people have used vessels that had a non food beginning. That's fine for them, not me. I have judged hundreds of contests and have tasted several things that would explain their origin. Foul tastes, diesel smell, oil smells, and many other things. Not everyone's taste buds are the same. I have a rule that says it all, Never put anything in the cooker that you don't want to taste. All things do not rinse, wash out, wire brush or burn out. Sometimes they change into other chemicals, none of which I want to serve or taste. These cookers are too much fun to use, so why take a chance on sickness? Good luck. -Steve.
Reply:Looking real hard at that inside it looks like ordinary mill scale to me. It just hasn't been exposed to the years of the elements like the outside has. Mill scale can be a decent protective layer. I wouldn't worry a lot about it."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:It looks lake an old heating oil tank to me. I've seen lots of them and all have been plain steel on the inside. Any oily residue will have been burned away by the burning pallets. If it doesn't have any nasty smell, you should be good to go.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Thank you very much everybody, that inner black layer seems to come off fairly easily, I'll grind off as much as I can and maybe burnt it with pallets again.  Since pallets are free and very easy to come by.Matt
Reply:Pig Roasters are made out of old Furnace Oil tanks ALL the time!Just build it instead of Warping the steel.First pig roasted in it will put a smoky layer on the tank walls.
Reply:Originally Posted by drujininPig Roasters are made out of old Furnace Oil tanks ALL the time!Just build it instead of Warping the steel.First pig roasted in it will put a smoky layer on the tank walls.