saltydecimator 482 Posted January 20, 2018 Report Share Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) ok so i dont have $10k laying around to buy this https://www.etsy.com/listing/461112928/6-ft-death-star-fire-pit?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-art_and_collectibles-other&utm_custom1=531b8e6c-229d-4be8-957c-6f67217bcb8e&gclid=CjwKCAiA7ovTBRAQEiwAo8dPcevhriClhdere-NugKCwTU3gL7HHpol_3Sf_2OLwprNhMpCm10hJlhoCjR0QAvD_BwE so i thought i could build one outta a 55 gal drum. prob is my math skills are weaaaaaaaaaaaaaak. so my question is, what is the radius of corner pieces to make the tube into a half circle at the bottom and top. my plans are to take the barrel, cut top 1/3 off to make it more box like and proportional, then cut the 22.75" barrel up the side into 8 equal tabs that will fold to center and weld to each other, but i cant figure out the math how to get all 8 pieces measured and radiused to interface with each other and make the "ball" feel me? my math says 71.435" in circumfrence, giving 8.93" tabs, but getting the radius of the 8.93" tab edges is whats confounding me... i drew it out, and i know its possible to figure out like Pythogoras, i just dont know the math. and where to put the origin of the radius, cause thats gonna be "big" Edited January 20, 2018 by saltydecimator Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 20, 2018 Report Share Posted January 20, 2018 You'd be better off with sheet steel than a drum. No curvature or ribs to deal with. Build an upper and lower 1/2 sphere frame from steel rod, cut your petals and weld to the frame. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 The easy way might be buy some scrap heavy angle iron. Cut and bolt together a rough circular outline. Then heat and bend some HD steel strap strips to outline the circular form. The frame does not have to be exact. Only a good outline of what you want. Then buy more scrap 10 gage steel sheet metal. In long 3 inch strips better. Then heat soften and bend the strips around the frame. Go slow. Have fun. Lots of beer. Eventually you will encompass the circular form. Leave room for the big hinged door. Consider chinker type overlaps between the cut to fit 10 gage steel outer layer. Hot hammered welded together as much as possible. Do consider lots of nuts and bolts to hold the entire thing together. These could be faked as armor plate bolts all over. Then the fun part. Spot heat the steel and hot work the strips together. Primitive welding. Gets very hot. Hammer with a sledge and backing irons. Expect to get burned some. Extreme protective clothing helps. This will take much time but some money. Once you got it just about where you want it, try to heat the entire thing to anneal it. Be sure to line the bottom and flame impingement areas with thin fire brick where doable and thick where possible. Design many air vents to control the heat. Have fun. Do not be afraid to use plain old nuts and bolts to structurally hold the thing together. Also to strengthen suspect welds and seams. Three big legs are better than four smaller legs. Consider an appropriately sized smoke stack vertical vent to vent the thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackHeart762 288 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) be smart Buy an old out of date spherical propane tank...a few cents on the pound cheap A little plasma cutting and violla deathstar BBQ BH PS a Sabre saw or saws all will do as well PS PS...HB of CJ.......you may be insane.....just kidding Edited January 21, 2018 by BlackHeart762 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 +1 on the old propane tank. I see them on craigslist sometimes. Don't forget to purge before cutting. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 http://blueoceantackle.com/marine-supply-equipment/buoys-fenders/steel-buoys/ Look for an old one. I know where there is one. The ends out of a propane tank are a good idea too. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 The curved sections of a 225gal oil tank will work too, Cut watermelon slices out of the curves and weld together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 You will need thicker steel in the long run. Trust me on this one. But then again the burn scars are fading. It was fun. Years ago we made a copy of one of the first successful old wood heat stoves. Used Iron. Forged welded. Actually worked but somewhat smoky. Leaked. PS: We did NOT use the guts of a retired appropriately sized propane tank. Great idea. Will save time but may not be thick enough. Oil drums not nearly thick enough ... but MIGHT work for a barbecue. Depends upon how hot for how long. For cooking ribs and stuff MAY work.. Linux Mint 17 Spell Check sometimes is a HOOT! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 Using an old buoy looks like your best bet. THICK steel, so it'll last. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted January 21, 2018 Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 Ya, if it'll stand up to salt water it'll hold fire. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saltydecimator 482 Posted January 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2018 how much the buoys cost? im out there in front range o colorado and far from salt water... mainly i just wanting it for making smores in back yard... i mean do it once and rihgt sounds good too... all excellent ideas with the big propane tanks... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted January 22, 2018 Report Share Posted January 22, 2018 Freight would likely be the expensive part of the equation. It would be awesome though. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gaddis 1,689 Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 I'd personally fabricate up a nice pair of teats than a death star. And the real treat would be how my lib. neighbor would probably s**t herself blind when she saw them. Now how did that big link of kielbasa sausage manage to fall directly betwixt the breasts, Ann? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 A female torso, face up, that opened to reveal a BBQ grill would be cool. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackHeart762 288 Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 (edited) I saw a giant Armadillo smoker/ grille in south Dakota at a bbq place. It was fabricated from two 250gal propane tanks and lots of VERY artistic metal fabrication. I wish I still had a pic...It was awesome BH PS just found pics with google Edited January 23, 2018 by BlackHeart762 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gaddis 1,689 Posted January 23, 2018 Report Share Posted January 23, 2018 A female torso, face up, that opened to reveal a BBQ grill would be cool. Lemme guess where the fish and crabs would go on that grill? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 24, 2018 Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 A female torso, face up, that opened to reveal a BBQ grill would be cool. Lemme guess where the fish and crabs would go on that grill? Not if it were mine... 1. The women I do...BATHE. 2. I don't eat seafood. ick. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted January 24, 2018 Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 An epic anatomically correct supine positioned human female form barbecue sounds like a hoot. Try to be as non political correct as possible. The envisioned possible final designs beckons. Hot dogs slots. Hamburger discharge places. Rib resections regions. Oh boy! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patriot 7,197 Posted January 24, 2018 Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 An epic anatomically correct supine positioned human female form barbecue sounds like a hoot. Try to be as non political correct as possible. The envisioned possible final designs beckons. Hot dogs slots. Hamburger discharge places. Rib resections regions. Oh boy! It's gonna have to be someone with mad skills for that. Not me. I'd LOVE to see one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gaddis 1,689 Posted January 24, 2018 Report Share Posted January 24, 2018 (edited) A female torso, face up, that opened to reveal a BBQ grill would be cool. Lemme guess where the fish and crabs would go on that grill? Not if it were mine... 1. The women I do...BATHE. 2. I don't eat seafood. ick. Real women DON'T smell like flowers and shit (or even Ivory soap) down there unless they just washed or they're trying to cover something up. There's not much difference between a clean cooter and a raw clam in taste or texture (or so I've been told). I just don't like sand grit in my seafood (or cooter). I'll eat the hell out of a nice lobster though Edited January 24, 2018 by Gaddis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted January 25, 2018 Report Share Posted January 25, 2018 A guy I know has done a few of these that are very cool. Two barrels welded together vertically with a grate in the bottom to allow air to flow under the fuel made for a cool chimney effect. Specificially a 40' tall spiraling tornado of fire coming out the top when forklift pallets were the fuel. you need a grate on the top too, to make sure it can't blast burning paper out the top. They were memorable. The first one I recall had two barrels stacked and sort of had a succubus dancing in flames as the art. I don't have any pics of that. Here are some of a more recent one: If you are thinking of doing something like this, I suggest using a plasma cutter, and skipping the barrels. They are too thin, and will rust out sooner than you like. A lot of old water heaters are perfect, being about 24" in diameter and ~1/8" thick. That's the part under the insulation. Same guy also made this: I wish I had taken better pictures of that. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saltydecimator 482 Posted January 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) hahaha bbqrs are high on my list, as well as titties, and a plasma cutter sounds bad asss... need to start outbuilding to put all this stuff in!! got nat gas plumbed outside so i gonna cheat in them regards, for a while at least.... i have done an ugly drum smoker, but they are an ass pain to kill the charcoal in when you done. i found this site: http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/55168.html dr rick seems to respond with a reasonable looking equation... freaking long though!! Edited January 28, 2018 by saltydecimator Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted January 28, 2018 Report Share Posted January 28, 2018 Overthinking. Take circumference of circle, divide by # of segments you want to cut (less pieces = easier, more pieces = smoother sphere.) . From 1/2 pipe cut slices that go from the measurement of the circumference divided by the number of segment in the center of the slices, to 0 at the edges of the 1/2 pipe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted January 29, 2018 Report Share Posted January 29, 2018 hahaha bbqrs are high on my list, as well as titties, and a plasma cutter sounds bad asss... need to start outbuilding to put all this stuff in!! got nat gas plumbed outside so i gonna cheat in them regards, for a while at least.... i have done an ugly drum smoker, but they are an ass pain to kill the charcoal in when you done. i found this site: http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/55168.html dr rick seems to respond with a reasonable looking equation... freaking long though!! Plasma cutters are one of the most satisfying tools to work with. Very easy to cut, no mess, if using clean metal no fumes. Minimal heat problems with tempered metals. Water cooled is way nicer to work with. You can get really clean cuts with a straight edge or a compass type jig too. Very easy to rig up to a CNC router table, at almost no additional cost. I want to own one very badly. The air cooled type are fast, but if you are cutting irregular surfaces, you will gunk up the cooling holes and arc through the nozzle just enough to start hating the cost of little copper nozzles. The other annoyance is that most of them have an automatic cool down cycle after every arc. Bump the trigger inadvertently, or decide you want to change your grip, and you are tapping your foot for 45 seconds or so before you can reset. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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