Thoughts about Barrel substitution???

So on most (if not all) RMH a 55g drum seems to be the standard.

I happened across 2 Stainless Steel 3/8” thick 150/180 gallon tanks originally they were used as well charge things (wrong name but I forget the correct term) … then they were converted to bonus air storage/compressor setup  … regardless… I have attached images … one image is tanks of this size that have been converted into bbq/smokers and the other two of the tanks themselves.  The BBQ conversion picture looks like mild steel … where my tanks are stainless … other than welding & cutting ramifications I don’t see how it would affect much in RMH usage or even for a BBQ smoker … because stainless just pushes heat stability temps up another level.

I’m curious as to thoughts from the community on the positive & negative with regards to replacing the 55g drum with the top 1/2 - 3/4 of one of these tanks.  They are about 6ft tall not counting the “legs”  and they have the rounded (bell) end vs the flat of a 55g drum and just a slightly bigger diameter than the 55g drum.

I think your tank would be a fine substitute for the usual barrel. If you have the vertical clearance room, you could use most or all of the tank as a bell; 3/8" steel is significant mass by itself, and the somewhat larger diameter would allow dry-stacking quite a lot of bricks inside for more mass while still allowing sufficient free air movement for the bell effect to work.

You would need to cut out the base of the tank (if not cut it right off) to fit the combustion core and a generous exit to further heat exchange mass or chimney, and probably cut off the top or a large part of a side and provide for reattachment and sealing to allow access for inspection and maintenance, and probably just for completion of construction unless you have a very high ceiling.

I was concerned regarding overall height as well and obviously with this tank being much heavier than the 55 drum
I was looking to incorporate additional options for internal accessibility… as well because once it’s in place I hope for tank placement to be permanent.

I was mostly just looking for others to give thoughts / critiques and see if this had any glaring problems.

I plan to get the brick work all in place including riser and then cut the barrel at exactly the correct height.  I think that with the mass of the steel and with the stainless polished up this setup the exposed barrel would be quite attractive and having most if not all of it exposed would facilitate the radiant heat aspect.

I would say you are lucky to own such a great asset, I could think of many uses but used as a bell for a batch box or vortex stove would be near the top of my list.

It was a Craigslist special that I found about 5yrs ago from an old farmer/vintner 175$ for the pair … but I had to load them by myself and the Toyota pu I hauled them with barely survived and it wasn’t happy with them in the bed.  But other than the RMH use I plan to make 1 into a BBQ smoker like 1st picture … what other (better) uses come to mind for you?? Asking because hey I can’t think of everything.

Well my interest and work most likely differ from yours, I work largely in Garden design and hard landscape including pizza ovens and koi ponds. My hobbies include steam punk, so I could use the vessels for many, many ideas ranging from RO water storage to garden art.

For myself I would look into getting one sand blasted and polished, cutting out and forming a door or two, possibly an oven compartment and powering it with a six inch vortex rocket stove.

From a commercial point of view I would maybe think about an outdoor feature, maybe as part of an out door kitchen but I would probably have to stare at it for a few days to get more inspiration.

Sandblasting is a given and either waves/quasi-flame or circles eventually…. Shaping and testing & a few fires & observation of what happens (appearance wise) especially when full on overheating it (fire it like I’m trying to melt the steel) then the final “finish” but all that is just the cosmetics.  Function first! Then when satisfied with that … could powdercoat but I don’t see it as a “best option” for either the bell or for the BBQ application… considering it’s stainless not to mention added cost …if it was mild/carbon steel I would definitely consider it.

I considered a pizza oven as well but a brisket smoker/bbq would get more use ^.^ and while not ideal for pizza it could be used in that fashion.