Charcoal grill from water heater tank?

[czechsonofagun]

I am sure somebody here build one of these.

I have a water heater tank, must be 20 years old, it was in our house when we moved in 2002 and it was already old.

Anyway, I got a new water heater, when this one died and decided to weld up a charcoal grill from it. I am aware of newer tanks sporting some lining inside which makes them unsuitable for this purpose.

When I cut up the tank, there is some kind of a surface enhancement on the inside, I tried to sand it - 24 grit on angle grinder - I tried to heat it up with torch and it is still there, you can tell, it is not a clean metal but it is not a paint or plastic or anything that will come of easily.

Now I believe it is oxide from the electrolytical rust protection, anybody can shed some light on this? I am ready to scrap the metal, will not take my chances of cooking in something possible harmful.

Anybody?

 

[johnrex62]

Just guessing, but since it was designed to heat potable water with a direct flame at the bottom of the tank what would the coating contain that would make it hazardous in a cooker? I would think it would have to inert to be allowed in the water tank at pretty high temps. How would a higher temp of the cooker make a difference as long as it doesent cook or pop off the surface.

Maybe a welder could give an insight?

 

[brin]

I agree with John....Prokop, I suggest you post the same question in the Welding forum....who knows fumes from welding it may be dangerous too...that always concerns me...Good Luck.

 

[czechsonofagun]

It was electrical water heater, sorry, thought I mentioned it.

Will copy/paste to welder's forum, thanks!

 

[Cord]

It's a ceramic coating that was poured into the tank, swirled around and then dumped out. Very tough stuff. The older ones are actually worse because they were galvanized which is deadly when heated. Frankly, I think the tank is a terrible shape for a grill.

 

[CNC Dan]

The older ones are actually worse because they were galvanized which is deadly when heated.

Not deadly. You may wish you were dead though. No long term health effects, but the short term effects are heck. It's called metal fume fever.

 

[Kaliburz]

Didn't some have "glass coated" on the inside???

 

[TheKid]

Like Cord said, it's ceramic and short of chipping it off there is no way to remove it from the tank. I used a portion of my old water heater add an addition to my smoker. You can weld to the tank as long as it's to the outside.