Step 5: Creating the Vertex
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:28 am
I also made sure the bottom door opened first, as the overlapping top of the bottom door would prevent the top door from opening. As it would be more useful to be able to tend the fire from the bottom door.
To keep the doors closed and secure, a locking mechanism was made from 1/8” steel stock. First the 8” piece was bent into the shape of the tank, a 3/8” hole was drilled in one end, this piece of metal would be the latch. A spiral handle from a welding hammer was welded onto the latch. The handle of a welding hammer is ideal as it doesn’t get car owner data when using the smoker and it looks cool. On the tank body a small piece of steel stock was cut with a “V” notch and then welded in place. A hole was drilled in the door and then the latch assembly was installed with a 3/8” bolt and washers. A V-shaped notch welded to the tank holds the latch and door tightly to the tank body, the further you push the latch down the tighter it pulls the door.
I made the top of the propane tank smoker removable, this allows me to clean and check the food from the top if needed. The handle was removed from the top of the tank and a 4 inch hole was cut out, this will be for the smoke pipe or vent. Around the perimeter of the 4 inch hole I made a flange out of 14 gauge steel. I started by pre-bending the steel for the flange, then spot welding it in place and continually bending and welding until it was a full circle.
A piece of 4” ducting was used as the smoke pipe.
To make the top fit against the bottom of the smoker I bent and welded a piece of 1/8” x 1” around the outside. This created a lip that creates a good seal and fits into the bottom of the smoker. The handle was then welded in place, I like to keep the look of a propane tank.
Step 6: Create the Intake
The intake is needed to control the air flow into the smoker. It was simple to make but did require some pre-bending of sheet metal and bar stock. First a hole was cut in the bottom of the door, I wanted it to be as close to where the fire would be burning as possible.
The rail system was created by bending about 1/8" x 1/2" bar stock and welding a piece at the top and bottom of the hole, leaving a 1/4" at the top and bottom of the hole. The two doors were made from 14 gauge sheet metal. 14 gauge sheet metal is thinner than 1/8" bar stock which allows the doors to slide once the rail is completed. A piece of 1/4" round stock was welded onto each door, these will be the handles.
To keep the doors closed and secure, a locking mechanism was made from 1/8” steel stock. First the 8” piece was bent into the shape of the tank, a 3/8” hole was drilled in one end, this piece of metal would be the latch. A spiral handle from a welding hammer was welded onto the latch. The handle of a welding hammer is ideal as it doesn’t get car owner data when using the smoker and it looks cool. On the tank body a small piece of steel stock was cut with a “V” notch and then welded in place. A hole was drilled in the door and then the latch assembly was installed with a 3/8” bolt and washers. A V-shaped notch welded to the tank holds the latch and door tightly to the tank body, the further you push the latch down the tighter it pulls the door.
I made the top of the propane tank smoker removable, this allows me to clean and check the food from the top if needed. The handle was removed from the top of the tank and a 4 inch hole was cut out, this will be for the smoke pipe or vent. Around the perimeter of the 4 inch hole I made a flange out of 14 gauge steel. I started by pre-bending the steel for the flange, then spot welding it in place and continually bending and welding until it was a full circle.
A piece of 4” ducting was used as the smoke pipe.
To make the top fit against the bottom of the smoker I bent and welded a piece of 1/8” x 1” around the outside. This created a lip that creates a good seal and fits into the bottom of the smoker. The handle was then welded in place, I like to keep the look of a propane tank.
Step 6: Create the Intake
The intake is needed to control the air flow into the smoker. It was simple to make but did require some pre-bending of sheet metal and bar stock. First a hole was cut in the bottom of the door, I wanted it to be as close to where the fire would be burning as possible.
The rail system was created by bending about 1/8" x 1/2" bar stock and welding a piece at the top and bottom of the hole, leaving a 1/4" at the top and bottom of the hole. The two doors were made from 14 gauge sheet metal. 14 gauge sheet metal is thinner than 1/8" bar stock which allows the doors to slide once the rail is completed. A piece of 1/4" round stock was welded onto each door, these will be the handles.