Jet Powered BBQ Pit
by barnacle bill
by barnacle bill
| I seen some really snazzy look'n ones and now I got to decide what kind I was gonna build. Barnacle Bill is a builder, ya know!!!.... After lots of thought as to design, I decided on building one those round ones.... You know, them really cool look'n ones. I searched around and found this old 10 gallon propane tank like what ya use on a travel trailer. The size looked right and not much rust. I made a quick drawing of what I thought I wanted it to look like. A few measurements was made and a lid was sketched out on the side of the tank. Now Barnacle Bill ain't no dummy ya know! This thing at one time contained propane, a "highly flammable liquid" what explodes on contact with sparks and flame..... and I'm going to open it up with a cutting torch. Got me a big ol' pipe wrench an' takes out that valve assembly thingy... Sure nuff, this thing used to contain the "highly flammable liquid" gas cook'n stove fuel called propane. Then I got a think'n...."how the hell ya gonna get that smell out there"? Now, what better way to remove the fumes than to fill it with water? What I did!!! Three times. Then to be on the safe side, I blows it out with a air hose...three times. Then I take it back into the shop, laid it on the floor, but still being just a mite leery as to the past contents, "highly flammable liquid propane", I lights up a smoke and takes me a five minute break to survey the upcoming game plan. And think out all the possibilities as to what was about to happen. Hell....it couldn't blow up. Could it?? I took all the "highly flammable liquid propane" stuff out. Being safety minded, I made sure that the fire extinguisher was handy and that there was an open unobstructed path to the door. All looked well!!! Precaution #2 was to be on the "extra" safe side. So I pulls out my trusty Bic lighter. Yeah!!! I cautiously put the flame in front of the hole, keep'n back at arms reach...ya know. Bet you thought all hell were gonna broke loose, didn't ya? Well it didn't.....until I turned the flame into the hole. There was this God awful sound of a big ol' jet engine filling the room. Beautiful blue flames com'n out from that hole where I took that valve out...shoot'n 10 feets. My BBQ pit was on the move...LOOK OUT!!! Shoot'n across the room under it's own power. Across the shop floor it went, taking out and bounc'n off everything in it's path. I was definitely just a little "shook up" by all this excitement...boy howdy let me tell ya, was I ever...thought I done wet my drawers. My pride and dignity was terribly hurt from all the laughter and hee ha's from all the onlookers, which had kept their distance and made quick exits from the building. As I surveyed for any damage to property or person, I felt this numbing and burning feeling to my right hand. A couple weeks later my hand was completely healed and that "Jet Powered BBQ" was sizzling the finest steaks anywhere south of Dallas!!! |
I don't know what your doing up this late working on your blog, but now that was funny. I enjoyed reading the life and times of Barnacal Bill from your sailing days. Keep dry over there at the Slabs.
ReplyDeleteDammit Billy Bob!!! You GOT to start putting warnings on some of your post!!
ReplyDeleteHere I sat all nice and warm, cup of coffee in hand just catching up on the going ons of my fellow bloggers and after about a week of nuthing from you, I see this!!!
I spewed coffee all over the table and the laptop!!! At least now I got something to do this morning!! Clean up the table, ( once I quit laughing and trying to get my breath back)
Had a neighbor one time that had a full size set of oxygen and acetylene bottles for his cutting torche along with 3 or 4 spares. His garage caught on fire and those bottles went off like rocket shipes right through the roof. Never did find some of them.
ReplyDeleteThis is a classic, and I'm glad you're still around to tell the tale!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas ya old fart!
ReplyDelete