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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Sep 24 2013 Post subject: New 500 gallon RF trailer build in progress |
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Hi guys,
As I mentioned when I introduced myself I am working on a 500 gallon reverse flow out of an old Butane tank that has 3/8" thick walls. The trailer will also have a couple burners, a large charcoal grill made out of a 100'ish gallon tank that held refridgerant, wood storage and storage for misc gear.
First things first... No smack talk about my welding. 
I decided to build a pit, bought a used stick welder and built a trailer all inside of a couple months. Never welded a day in my life before this.
The trailer is 12' long on the perimeter with a 48" tongue and 102" wide at the knock-outs in front and behind the wheels, 82" wide at inside perimeter. Axles are (2) 3,500# on 15" wheels and tires.
I will attempt to upload some progress pics here shortly.
Thanks for looking,
82nd |
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
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SoEzzy
BBQ Super All Star
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 13183
Location: SLC, UT
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| Posted: Sep 24 2013 Post subject: |
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Please read PMPNLT650pxOTLS!  
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Here's a change Robert.
I still work here! |
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Cat797
BBQ Pro
Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 717
Location: El Paso, IL
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| Posted: Sep 25 2013 Post subject: |
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Nothing to be ashamed of there 82nd!......Nice Job. That thing is going to be a hog for sure. Keep up the good work. 
Cheers,
Ed
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Maniac
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 02 Oct 2010
Posts: 2433
Location: Pa
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| Posted: Sep 25 2013 Post subject: |
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Looks real nice 
I have to agree with Cat797...she's going to be a beast.
keep the pics coming,just size them right
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TrailerBuilder
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Joined: 08 Feb 2010
Posts: 3151
Location: Springfield MO
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| Posted: Sep 25 2013 Post subject: |
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EightySecond wrote:
| Quote: | | built a trailer... Never welded a day in my life before this. |
These are really 2 phrases that should never ever go together 
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X2 Finished Build
Disco Time
Fire Pit |
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sep 25 2013 Post subject: |
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| TrailerBuilder wrote: | EightySecond wrote:
| Quote: | | built a trailer... Never welded a day in my life before this. |
These are really 2 phrases that should never ever go together |
I discovered it isn't really rocket science, no offense. |
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purplewg
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 1300
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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82nd, from what little I could see of your first ever arc welding, you did pretty good. I ran across some of my really old stuff a while back when I was learning and I thought, "wow, now that is some nasty looking welding". I should refer to it splatter gluing. lol
Anyhow, I look forward to your progress.
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TrailerBuilder
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 08 Feb 2010
Posts: 3151
Location: Springfield MO
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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EightySecond wrote:
| Quote: | | I discovered it isn't really rocket science, no offense |
Trust me, no offense taken Anyone can build a trailer and you proved it
Its not so much building a trailer, which isn't rocket science at all, but judging by your welds on the coupler, doesn't look like there was good penetration throughout the weld, so I can only imagine that the other joints might have looked the same. Im sure the welds didn't look the greatest, so you sanded them down to clean them up, problem is that you probably sanded away what little bit that was holding the steel together. Looks great now, but after some trips down good ole American roadways, you know, pot holes, bumps and just plain rough passages, those sanded down welds will have a good chance of breaking and possibly coming apart. Not a big deal for you hopefully pulling the trailer, but maybe a bad deal for a car following you when the trailer comes apart, or something comes off of it. It happens a lot sadly because although there is no rocket science in building a trailer that is square and pulls straight down the road, there is a touch more involved in making welds that hold and do the job that they are intended to do. A persons first few welds, in my opinion, shouldn't be on something speeding down the highway that could come apart and hurt and or kill someone just going about their day.
No offense...just my thoughts
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SoEzzy
BBQ Super All Star
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 13183
Location: SLC, UT
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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Troy, someone has cracked your account on the smoke ring, you need to change your password and reclaim your account!  
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Here's a change Robert.
I still work here! |
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Painless
BBQ Fan
Joined: 23 Aug 2013
Posts: 107
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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I agree 100% with Troy.
I have been welding as a hobby for 15 years.
I'm not a pro or anything like that, but what I have learned is that the key to a strong weld that will last for ever is good penetration. It don't matter what it looks like, it just matters that there is plenty of heat to get everything bonded together.
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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Good tips on the welding. I had a couple old timers that weld for a living and have over 90 years of experience between them come by and show me the ropes initially so I wasn't totally winging it as much as I could have been. Basically got the thumbs up on the my welds prior to moving forward.
The coupler was done with a 6011 root pass and then a bead of 7018 over the top of it. The penetration was enough to totally liquify the leading edge of the coupler.
I trust it to hold under the stress without issue.
So you all have more material to poke at here is my practice plate. It's 1/2" AR500 plate, no idea if that matters or not.
http://imageshack.us/a/img844/5277/p8nl.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img27/3963/srcp.jpg
This is my practice on a little chunk of 1/4" plate all vertical welds.
http://imageshack.us/a/img850/6461/3bhz.jpg
This is one on the trailer frame.
http://imageshack.us/a/img51/1959/4mtt.jpg
I |
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gandrfab
BBQ Fan
Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 242
Location: Edgewater fl
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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Just to point out, If that weld is left alone like it is that void/opening on the left side is where a crack would start.
One could fill it in or weld the bottom side.
I'm not saying it couldn't live a long life just like it is.
But it would not leave my shop like that.
Cool project, Thanks for sharing. |
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sep 26 2013 Post subject: |
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| gandrfab wrote: |
Just to point out, If that weld is left alone like it is that void/opening on the left side is where a crack would start.
One could fill it in or weld the bottom side.
I'm not saying it couldn't live a long life just like it is.
But it would not leave my shop like that.
Cool project, Thanks for sharing. |
This view is before the trailer was flipped and right-sided. This weld is on the A frame and will get another pass to the left and right of it once I start the top welding. I plan to try to restart in that void to make a solid bead if all goes well.
Thanks for feedback! |
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sep 27 2013 Post subject: |
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I am planning on cutting my tank soon and wanted to double check my calculator numbers.
LINK
You guys know 10 times more about this than I do obviously, do you see any glaring issues? My math skills aren't the best and I am struggling with how to calculate the half moon FB to Cook Chamber opening at a 30.83 diameter. Any tips would be awesome.
Warning, the following is likely a dumb question.
I am also planning on putting 1/8" diamond/tread plate on the top of the trailer, would you suggest mounting the tank directly to the 4" channel cross beams of the trailer then placing the diamond plate around those supports? It would be easier to weld to the plate but that doesn't seem like the stronger way to do it.
Thanks in advance. |
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gandrfab
BBQ Fan
Joined: 08 Feb 2012
Posts: 242
Location: Edgewater fl
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| Posted: Sep 27 2013 Post subject: |
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| You could cut holes in the 1/8". |
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sep 27 2013 Post subject: |
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| gandrfab wrote: | | You could cut holes in the 1/8". |
That's a good idea, appreciate it. |
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EightySecond
Joined: 19 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Oct 10 2013 Post subject: |
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| Would you guys suggest doing all the cutting on the tank and attaching the firebox before or after mounting the tank to the trailer? I'm concerned about ground clearance in the rear due to the size of the FB and think that I might need to have some flexibility on how high the tank sits above the trailer. |
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MongoNC
Newbie
Joined: 01 Mar 2012
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Oct 11 2013 Post subject: |
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82nd,
I just did a quick run of numbers on your setup and came up with a horizontal center line on your tank as around 50 inches based on a ground clearance of 12" and the info in your link.
12" + 36" - 30.83(.5) - 1 + 37(.5) = 50.085
12" Ground clearance
36" Height of FB
30.83(.5)" Half moon FB to CC opening
1" Grease bridge
37"(.5) Horizontal center line on 37 diameter 500 gal tank
None of this calculates the thickness of metal each component is made from and assumes your 500g tank is ASME sized. |
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