500 Gal Diesel Tank

[TexHand]

I've got a friend that has a 500 Gal Diesel Tank, measures 4ft across by 6ft long. He would like to turn it into a bbq pit. He said he was told that you can't do that b/c the diesel permeates the metal and you can't cook in it.

Does anyone know if this is accurate, is this a lost cause for a pit or can it somehow be salvaged? If it is a lost cause, anyone want it? I don't know what he's asking, but I can find out.

[txfireguy2003]

I don't know about the diesel soaking into the metal, but I would think that the metal would be too thin to make a good pit. Seems like it might burn through pretty fast.

[TexHand]

I believe it's 12ga. So it's not superthin, but it ain't 3/16 either.

[txfireguy2003]

I believe it's 12ga. So it's not superthin, but it ain't 3/16 either.

Okay, so if it's 12 ga bare steel, that would make it 0.1046" thick...it's not galvanized is it? If it is galvanized it would be a no go on the pit, but asside from that, you're a little less than 1/8". I have a pit that I'm working on right now, rebuilding a firebox (actually starting from scratch on a new box) and using 1/8" plate. The original "box" was a piece of 13" diameter pipe with 1/8" walls and it lasted about 30 years according to my father before the bottom rusted out. You might get 20 years out of your 12 ga, maybe more if you take good care of it. I guess the only question now is diesel contamination. Good luck.

[aametalmaster]

I have seen quite a few of them over the years made from old home heating oil tanks....Bob

[txfireguy2003]

I did some web surfing today while I was layed up on the couch with a head cold. Found that lots of people say that the diesel does permeate the steel, and that you can't get it out. Also found that the mercaptan used to odorize propane does the same thing, and doesn't seem to cause problems. Maybe it you took the tank and built a huge bonfire in it prior to doing any cooking in it, you could burn out as much diesel as possible. Think about it, if you have direct flame impingement on the steel, it's going to get hotter than it would while cooking. The heat will cause the diesel to evaporate and burn, so even if you don't get it all out, you'd get as much as you can, and likely not get anymore while cooking. I may be wrong here too, but hey, no harm in trying, right? Maybe feed your first meal to a cat and watch him for a week to see if he dies, if not, the next test will be the taste of the meat. Just kidding all you cat lovers....just kidding!

[TexHand]

... Maybe feed your first meal to a cat and watch him for a week to see if he dies, if not, the next test will be the taste of the meat. Just kidding all you cat lovers....just kidding!

I think the cat would mind... it'd be easier to taste the mest if he died ;)

[txfireguy2003]

not sure what you're getting at there, I'm thinking if he died, I wouldn't be eating the next batch of meat that came off of that pit!

[Joe H]

I kinda doubt cat meat would taste very good. It's probably real stringy.

[TexHand]

not sure what you're getting at there, I'm thinking if he died, I wouldn't be eating the next batch of meat that came off of that pit!

It was a joke - let the cat eat the first meal, then eat the cat.


I kinda doubt cat meat would taste very good. It's probably real stringy.

With a little sweet and sour sauce, it's probably alright :D

[txfireguy2003]

With a little sweet and sour sauce, it's probably alright :D

No doubt, ever eaten S&S Chicken at the China Buffet? Not sure, but you never see stray cats running around those places...come to think of it, no stray dogs either!

[TexHand]

I know there are always urban legends about that. But we just got a new neighbor that moved in up the street and he grew up in a small town in Alabama. Joined the navy, went back home after a few years, and noticed there were hardly any stray cats & dogs anymore - he asked his folks and apparently the population drastically declined after a new Chinese buffet came into town. The buffet was investigated and closed, then the stray population started returning...

[Joe H]

It was a joke - let the cat eat the first meal, then eat the cat.



With a little sweet and sour sauce, it's probably alright :D



Evrything tastes good with swet & sour sauce. :)

I'll bet you could fry one up with a chinese welder.



Hey TexHand, a few years back here in Chattanooga there was a place here in Chattanooga, Yum-Yum Egg Roll. Rumors started circulating, leading to an investigation. Sure enough the meat in those egg rolls was not beef, pork, or poultry. It was plastered all over the papers and the news... True story.

[dda52]

Pete, the health dept shut down a Chinese restaurant in New Branufels several years ago....they found more than a dozen cat heads in the dumpster!:eek::rolleyes:

[calweld]

Hmmmm,,, my wife just picked up chinese today :eek::eek::eek:

Funny thing, my sister-in-law is Chinese, when we go out, my brother and her do the ordering, most things you've never seen or heard of before. When the food starts coming, they try to tell me what it is, and what's in it, I shut them up, I don't wanna know.

[Portable Welder]

I've built a couple BBQ s over the years out of old fuel oil tanks, I always mount them on an axle for towing.

All I do is through some logs & brush in there and get it good and hot, clean the debris out afterwards and have a good BBQ.

No one has ever said anything to me about the meat tasting funny.

What I have found is that when I'm done they end up smelling like a BBQ.

What I use for a cooking grate is 1" x 1" x 1/8" box tube mild steel for the frame and weld mild steel, 3/4" #9 Flat expanded for the grate.

I made my cooking grate in two pcs. one for each side.

In the bottom I use bar grating to set the coals on elevated about 6" off the bottom.

I have two 3" holes one on each side with an adjustable flap to adjust the air intake.

With my BBQ I have no problems cooking for up to 125 kids and adults at my annual Holloween parties.

[TexHand]

Thanks PW. That's good information to have right there.

Are there any special precautions to take before cutting on the tank? I would think this being a diesel tank, it is safer than a gasoline or propane tank. But it only takes one oops to ruin yer day.

[Joe H]

Shoot, I'd rather cut a propane tank any day! Dielsel's better than gasoline for sure, but I would still be careful to follow the procedures involved. People have been killed cutting old drums that once contained motor oil.

Propane is easy to purge out, and doesn't leach into the steel.

[salvageclaus]

I kinda doubt cat meat would taste very good. It's probably real stringy.

tasted fine today at the Harvest Moon Chinese Buffet:D

[Tom37]

Just courious on how the tank cutting has gone. When I cut mine I bought aa case of Dawn dish soap, the grease cutter :-).... 6 bottles and 150 gallons water, drove around and dumped it. Repeted the same steps filling to the top and started with the top cut using a HF 9 dollar grinder with a metabo cutoff wheel. Things went great the farther i cut the more the water droped. The grinder was expendable but never got wet enough to hurt it. Best thing was now I have a grinder to loan to the neighbor when he ask.

I can fit 24 large slabs of pork ribs and all I ever hear is (Man thats the best I have ever tasted). I dont say that to boost my ego. I think its funny because if someone ask me I will tell then honestly what I think, good or bad. People are funny sometimes its like if they say something negative they wont get any more BBQ.
Its all good unless its burnt..
I did burn several times and seasoned well before I ever cooked.
Good luck if you still have to cut the tank.

[TexHand]

Tom,

Thanks for asking. He sold the diesel tank to fund the construction of a pit/smoker made out of 2, 125gal Propane tanks. I've yet to start on that project. But when I do, rest assured there will be a thread with lost of pics.