Its a grill not a rocket ship How close does it have to be. Besides I wanted to hear the story about his wife tossing him out of the bathroom

I thought I said that some ways back, Jake. Try to keep up.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Understand displacement guys.

We do, mj. More is better. We are car guys, ya know.

[This message has been edited by heybjorn (edited 01-08-2014).]

The box idea is nice but then I have to build a perfect sized box.

Aliens would be nice, but what do they know about barbecues.

Cut it in jaggies, they dont have to line up straight then, and it will fit together because you are essentially cutting both faces at the same time anyway

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 01-08-2014).]

Just crack it down the middle.
Click to show
This could be hard to explain if you looked at it while you should be working.

If you are just building a grill forget the stupid propane tank, go to the local Semi repair shop and see if they have a wreck in the yard. Pull off one of the big ol stainless steel tanks and use that! We made one at work for a shop grill and it works great! Best part was the tank was free as long as we made the truck shop one too.

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: But, a sure obstacle is making that longitudinal cut, so it closes perfectly. If I screw it up it will look silly, and be nearly impossible to fix.

You weld say 1/2" flat bar all the way around to the lid. It hides the cut and helps seal the opening. What are you gonna do for hinges ? Large bicycle like chain works well.

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: Wow, I didnt think I would get such a response. I was at Lowes and saw the small cooking grills which were basically made from a small tank, some legs, and a burner. A good friend said he had two propane tanks, I believe they are 10 or 15lb standard barbecue grill tanks. Nothing that large. I'm single so I just need something small and I have time so I thought I would would fabricate one. Sure, I am not going to weld or cut on a propane tank before I am sure it is empty. I'm not crazy. But, a sure obstacle is making that longitudinal cut, so it closes perfectly. If I screw it up it will look silly, and be nearly impossible to fix. I can use a tape measure but that is only so accurate. I thought of wrapping it with a piece of long paper and creating a paper cylinder. Then I could fold the paper in half, mark a line on it, and then place it back over the tank. I could then mark the tank. To check I could measure to see that the lines are equally spaced.

Any reasonably good tape measure has increments of 1/64th" . ________________ a little thicker than that line. Use the tape and a straightedge. Other than that, lay a piece of angle iron down on it where you want to cut. It will center itself straight and square.

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: The Egyptians build the pyramids with lesser technology.

There is a technical term for your predicament: "Analysis Paralysis."

quote Originally posted by cliffw: You weld say 1/2" flat bar all the way around to the lid. It hides the cut and helps seal the opening.

... thus creating a near-perfect finger shear.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Determine circumference of the sphere by measuring at it's widest area. Do this several times to ensure you have found the widest part of the sphere. Divide by 4. 1/4 of the circumference is exactly 1/2 way down one side of the ... sphere. Inasmuch as it is assumed to be a perfect sphere, simply attach one end of a string securely to any point on the sphere with a piece of tape. Make that string the same length of the results you got by your division. pull the unattached end of the string down the side, make a mark, then move it along different points on the side of the sphere, marking as you go with a very sharp pencil making sure the other end stays securely in place.

This. A piece of string and a marker is all you need.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 01-09-2014).]

This is a lesson in problem solving.

You have to think things through before you do anything. I learned this in doing my 3800SC project (to make this Fiero related).

I am surprised no one mentioned not cutting it in half and making just a door. I could get a large piece of rectangular paper and use that as a template. It would be easier. Also, to keep the door perfectly aligned, I should weld on the hinges before completing the whole cut. I learned some of this watching youtube videos last night. Little stuff like this makes it easier.

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: I am surprised no one mentioned not cutting it in half and making just a door.

That was not the question you asked.

quote Originally posted by RotrexFiero: Simply, how could you cut a sphere perfectly in half?

Yes, in the topic, but I did detail that I was making a barbecue grill.

Yes, but you were a bit vague in describing what you were making it out of.
I'm prone to answer the question that was asked--not one I make up in my mind.
Either way tho, the string and tape measure will work, as will some of the other suggestions since we now ar all on the same page--cylinder--not sphere.

I thought you were going to be making a kettle type bbg grill/pit.