An old gas cylinder is not junk, but a wonderful future barbecue with a smokehouse
Gas cylinder is one of best materials for making smokehouses. And it's pretty easy to do if you follow the instructions exactly.
The resulting structure can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also as a barbecue or grill.
Content
Choosing a gas cylinder
To create a universal and high-performance smokehouse, you will need an empty gas cylinder. medium size.
The products most often used for these purposes are “AG-50» volume 50 l. This is an excellent choice in all respects:
- thick metal walls will last a long time retain heat;
- The streamlined shape contributes to better smoke circulation;
- impressive weight ensures sustainability (on a stand).
Important! Even in an empty cylinder there is always condensation left, which needs to be drained. This liquid has an unpleasant and corrosive smell, which is difficult to remove from any surface, so it needs to be drained away from residential buildings, into some container with a lid.
Preparing the cylinder for use as a barbecue-smokehouse
To prepare the cylinder, you need to open the valve and release all remaining gas. Then the valve is sawed off - slowly, using a hacksaw for metal. To avoid overheating, periodically pour cold water on the cut area. The liquid is drained from the cylinder.
If it flows out reluctantly, to speed up the process, drill a hole near the neck hole diameter 2-4 mm. Then, using a hose, water is poured into the container and left to settle for a day. The next day, the hole in the cylinder is tightly closed by driving a wooden block into it.
From this point on, you can begin the work that is necessary to obtain the desired version of the smokehouse.
Project of a smokehouse from a cylinder
There are several options for constructing a smokehouse from a gas cylinder. They differ in several parameters:
- location fireboxes;
- arrangement smoke chamber (method and location of installation of gratings and hooks);
- location and design doors;
- way smoke supply and removal.
Firebox can be done from another cylinder smaller capacity, welding it directly to the smoke chamber. If there is no second cylinder, you can build a firebox from metal sheets and connect it to the cylinder using a pipe.
Photo 1. A diagram explaining the principle by which a smokehouse, barbecue grill and barbecue are combined in one product.
When choosing the second option, you have the opportunity to do universal smokehouse, which, with a short pipe (chimney), will work as a device for hot smoking, and with an extension (extension) of the pipe - as for cold smoking.
Smokehouse stands
A gas cylinder can be used to make either a stationary or portable smokehouse. In any case, you will need stand (frame), since the round container is unstable despite its heavy weight. Both removable and non-removable (welded to the cylinder) supports have proven themselves well.
If the first option is most desirable, then the easiest way is to do the following:
- drill into the wall of the cylinder 2 holes located in one line for bolts with a diameter 10 mm;
- weld from metal corners or profile pipes stand on legs like a barbecue (optimal dimensions of the structure) 60x25 cm);
- weld along the support strip of metal;
- put the cylinder and to note on the strip location of holes under bolts;
- drill out in the strip there are holes (similar to those on the container);
- weld from the bottom side of the strip nuts for bolts with a diameter 10 mm so that they are located exactly under the holes;
- put the cylinder away on support and screw the bolts through all 4 holes (in the container and on the strip).
You can make a frame even more in a simpler way: weld a “table” of the size from sections of profile pipe 60x25 cm, and weld two more pieces of pipe to it on top, each of length 60 cm. The container is placed in the space between them. Additional stops can be welded to the frame of the stand: pipe sections located at an angle towards the container.
A non-removable stand is made as follows: legs made of metal corners of the required length are welded to the container.
Drawing and photos of finished structures
Photo 2. Drawing of a barbecue from a gas cylinder with explanations. In order for the structure to also work as a smokehouse, you need to make a firebox.
Photo 3. The problem of bulkiness and insufficient mobility of such a barbecue-smokehouse can be solved in an original way.
Photo 4. The finished structure of two cylinders is decorated to your taste: for example, it can be made to look like a steam locomotive.
Instructions for making a smokehouse with your own hands
At the stage of preparing the cylinder, water is poured into it, after which the hole is tightly closed, driving a bar into it. In this state, the metal is sawed. The water in the container prevents accidental ignition. To perform the task, use grinder with a metal disk of thickness 2.5-3 mm.
Important! When cutting a water cylinder, you need to place any suitable container under it, into which it will be placed. drain liquid when making the first cut. After the desired hole is made, drain all the water.
To set up a smokehouse you will need:
- Two door hinges, with the help of which the door will be closed and opened.
- Door handle.
- Knee.
- Pipes.
- Lattice.
- Hooks for hanging products.
Stages of work
Step 1. The upper part of the neck with the tap is cut off.
Step 2. Drain the water.
Step 3. Saw off the rear ring, which was needed to stabilize the cylinder in a vertical position. As a rule, this ring is not welded around the entire circumference of the container, but in several places. You need to find them and saw them off.
Step 4. Each cylinder has a seam line that runs along it, from the bottom to the top. This seam will serve as a guide for marking. Algorithm of actions:
- they take roulette, measured from the seam line 24 cm;
- put a mark with a marker or a simple pencil;
- find the point at the opposite end cylinders, draw a straight line between them;
- retreat 3 cm from each seam, passing along the circumference of the cylinder towards its central part, and draw lines (you should get two “rings”, one at the top and one at the bottom).
Step 5. Make a straight cut along the line that runs along the entire length of the cylinder, but starts and ends at the previously drawn circles near the neck and bottom (i.e. does not reach the seams).
Step 6. Door hinges are attached on both sides of the cut so that they work for opening and closing.
Step 7. Measure the desired door width from the cutting line with a tape measure. Draw a line.
Step 8. They make cuts along this line and along the side lines along the circumference, but they do not finish sawing the door a little so that it remains in the position fixed on the cylinder.
Step 9. They weld the handle to the door.
Step 10. They finish sawing the door and open it.
Step 11To prevent the door from warping during operation of the smokehouse, two metal rods are welded to the inside of the door, located along its width.
Step 12. A pipe elbow, the cross-section of which corresponds to the diameter of the hole, is welded to the hole in the neck of the tank formed after sawing off the tap. The chimney pipe will be installed in this elbow, in the upper part of which a damper is attached. With its help, the smoke outlet is regulated.
Step 13A circle is cut out at the bottom of the cylinder, to which a pipe leading from the firebox is welded.
Step 14. Construct a firebox using any of the methods suggested above.
Step 15. All smokehouse components are assembled into a single structure.
How to make a firebox from a cylinder yourself?
If you have a second cylinder, you can make an economical and durable firebox out of it.
The rules for preparing and sawing the container are the same. In the firebox you need to make two doors: one for the blower, the second (located 7-10 cm higher than the first) - for laying sawdust.
Chimney hole cut out near the neck of the cylinder. Size 7x10 cm.
The sawn-off plate is applied to the bottom of the smokehouse, outlined with a marker and cut out with a grinder. The two holes (on the firebox and on the smokehouse) are connected by welding a metal pipe to them.
Another option is to weld the firebox directly to the smokehouse. But in this case, you will need to make a damper, otherwise not only smoke but also open fire will penetrate into the chamber.
We use the smokehouse as a grill or barbecue
An assistant in preparing delicious dishes will delight you with its quality for many years. For more convenient operation smokehouses can be made there are holes in its side walls, into which the skewers will be inserted. If you close the outlet to the firebox and put a grate on the bottom of the container, you can make a barbecue.
Useful video
Watch the video, which shows in detail the entire process of making a barbecue smokehouse, indicates some of the difficulties that may arise, and ways to overcome them.
1. First, release the remaining gas, remove the valve and drain the remaining gas condensate.
1. Next, you need to add washing powder to the canister and fill it with water 2/3 full. Next, you need to plug the hole in the canister and roll it on the ground. Then drain the water.
3. Fill the cylinder with water again, this time completely, plug the hole again, put the cylinder on its side and start cutting it with a grinder, but not all the way through. As soon as the water starts to leak out, move the grinder further. When the cut is almost completely done, you will need to hit the part being cut off sharply with a sledgehammer.