Saw a smoker cooker on a VW Caddy recently and thought the Redneck Express could do with one. Always useful to have a portable BBQ, but if you could use it as a smoker, then even better.
My mate Woodsie who is in demolition, saved us a couple of knackered gas bottles from the steel skip.
The valves were already missing.
As an added precaution I filled them with water before starting to cut them to prevent any ignition.
Then carried them to the garage, found some vintage heavy duty steel hinges, and used a flap wheel to grind back the paint to prep the area where the hinges were to be welded.
After which I used masking tape to lay a line for cutting the bottles.
Did the preliminary cuts, allowing the water to drain out to cut level.
Used my trusty magnets my mate Luke gave me to hold the hinges in place and tacked the corners into position.
After which I welded the hinges down completely followed by laying the bottles down and cutting almost all the way around with a 2mm cutting disc.
Next up I need to go buy some clip latches or decide if I may want to use a pair of nuts above and below the cut, to create a lock to keep the lid closed once I have completed the interior and also the chimney that still needs making.
Part two to follow soon.