Thread: Where to get an Old Propane or Air tank

Hey guys,
I've recently built a double barrell smoker for my uncle - he loves it, ribs cook up fantastic.
I currently have a timber smokehouse but I want to replace it with a offset smoker. Problem is, I cant find an old air compressor tank (large) or an old propane tank anywhere.
have been scouring gumtree and ebay, the scrap metal salvage yard down here is a nightmare to search through, so any ideas?

This is what im lookign for something like a 60gallon drum, or there abouts.

Hi,
Try the places that convert cars to gas, they also check for out of date ones. Failing that motor wrecking yards, would be another choice.
Kryn

Hi,
Do you seek 60 liters (13 odd gallons) or 60 gallons capacity? The pic shows possibly a 60 litre cylinder if it is on a standard pallet.

60 gallons converts to 272 litres. That won't fit well in the boot of a car.

If the 60 gallon size is correct, I would assume you are smoking something very large. A camel perhaps?

I googled and found this

60L UN Embossed Stainless Steel Drums | Stainless steel drums that can be re-used.

They mention POA which may be a bit scary?

Hi,

Try your local truck wreckers. Trailers have 2 or 3 air tanks of different sizes up to 72 litre to operate brakes, air bags, etc.

Nifty.

There are companies that wash out LPG cylinders (to a standard) so they can be scrapped safely. Talk to LPG mechanics, gas fitters and suppliers about where the old ones go to, probably happy to be rid of them.
regs,
A.

As advised previously, look at car/truck wreckers.

I got mine from a 4x4 wrecker at Somerville.

I turfed a 150 litre SS water heater last week...the cold water Bypas pipe was stuffed

Railway workshops or places that scrap trains. Like trucks, every bit of rolling stock will have a large air tank for the tripple valve and brake gear to operate. You can't get the brakes to come off if you don't have enough pressure to put them on again!!

G'day Oohsam,
I've got a steel 70lt car LPG tank at home, it's yours if you want it.
It still has a bit of liquid/gas in it but it shouldn't be problem to decant or get rid of it.
PM me if you want it.
Cheers,
Greg.

might be easier quicker and safer to get a flat sheet rolled and mig weld it and make your own end , they dont have to be domed for a smoker . or a steel place that sells large diameter pipe .

johno

A thing that has just occurred to me is the effects of mercaptan which is the smelly additive that gives LPG its distinctive smell.

It is very hard to remove as the smell lingers.

Question is,could there be any any effects from food smoked in a cylinder that has held this stuff?

Grahame

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

A thing that has just occurred to me is the effects of mercaptan which is the smelly additive that gives LPG its distinctive smell.

It is very hard to remove as the smell lingers.

Question is,could there be any any effects from food smoked in a cylinder that has held this stuff?

Grahame

I subjected the propane tank I used for my gas forge with 7 washings with hot water and detergent but I could still still smell mercaptan in the air when I flushed it with compressed air line. Then when I cut the tank with an angle grinder it let off a small pants staining woof and the was almost certainly due to the mercaptan coming out of the rust along the line of the cut. I could not smell anything after that probably because it was able to dissipate freely (i.e. could not continue to come out of the remaining rust and accumulate) .

Anyway it's highly flammable and would imagine the first firing of the smoker would burn any remaining residue.

I would first try an auto wrecking yard, if I recall correctly, they have to pay to have LPG tanks disposed of properly, and it's a real problem when a full one goes through the crusher, so they should be more than happy to be rid of them.

Bloke

Try getting an old stainless steel solar hot water system. I have converted a few of those into painted cray cook pots for fellas in the Pilbara when I lived up that way, cut the ends off, welded on 3 legs, job done. Drive around and have a look on roofs in ya neighbourhood, solar hot water system with black ends are steel, ones with stainless ends are SS. Check out some of the solar hot water systems suppliers in your town, I got mine from the local rubbish tip.

DD

Yes, LPG car conversion places will definitely have some. I have a couple of stainless tanks that apparently where beyond some test date or another for free. I cut one in half with the intention of making a big crab cooker. The was no trace of mercaptan smell, but what I didn't realise was how the domes were welded in on each end. The inside isn't finished flush as the dome is rolled in further than need be, and the outside cylindrical panel is welded to the outside (i.e. not a butt join). So for my application, it wasn't ideal. The metal was about 3, maybe 4mm thick from memory.
What is a bypass smoker anyway? and what function does the tank have? Smoke cooling? I tried to google it but just got lots of links to open heart surgery.
[edit: just read dingo's post - same idea but his is better implementation by the sound of it!]
Cheers
- Mick