Rotisserie Roaster Made Out Of Fuel Oil Tank

Rotisserie Roaster Made Out Of Fuel Oil Tank FARM HOME Food Forrest Robinson Westmoreland N H converted a 275-gal fuel oil tank into a wood-fired rotisserie roaster     The 2-ft wide by 5-ft long roaster is used to cook everything from chickens to beef turkey and whole pork loins It has a pair of small wheels at one end and big handles at the other so Robinson can move it around like a wheelbarrow     The roaster is fitted with six 3-ft long “spits” which consist of 1/2-in dia metal rods with small sprockets welded onto them The spits ride in 4-in deep slots cut into both sides of the tank An electric gearhead motor drives a chain that rotates the sprockets The chain rides over a length of square tubing welded onto one side of the tank making a continuous loop while driving the sprockets     The fire consists of 8 to 10 small sticks of wood that burn at the bottom of the tank     “It works perfect ” says Robinson “I can cook several different kinds of meat at a time - turkey pork beef chickens etc I’ve cooked 18 whole 8-lb chickens in it and it can easily handle twelve 14-lb turkeys too ”     The spits are 3 ft long on a 2-ft wide roaster in order to provide a handle and they’re pointed at one end to slide the meat on “I tie pork loins with butcher twine so they can’t wiggle around on the spits and offset the balance and also cook unevenly ” says Robinson “If I want I can remove a spit or move it to another location without having to stop the motor And if some meat gets done before the others I pick up the spit and move it back where there’s less heat     “I try to use split wood instead of round because it’s bark-free and too much bark can produce an unpleasant smelling smoke A 4-hour cook time uses only a large armful of wood ”     Robinson says he generally operates the motor at 3 to 5 rpm’s and keeps the flame no higher than 10 to 12 in “I’m careful to never let the ashes get wet because if that happens the next time I build a fire there will be an unpleasant odor ” he says     He used a sawzall to cut off the top of the tank and then drained away all the oil He then built a small fire at both ends of the tank keeping it burning for 4 to 5 hrs in order to remove any oil smell     “When I cut through the tank I saved the top to serve as a lid but I’ve never had to use it because I always make sure the roaster stays dry ” notes Robinson     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Forrest A Robinson 1072 Rt 12 Westmoreland N H 03467 ph 603 399-4815; violetterobinson@ gmail com

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