[slolow]

I am creating a smoker from a 27 gal verticale air compressor tank. I cut the opening for the door, and mesured 17in inside diameter. I found 2 grill grates that fit beautifully inside. I would like to use propane as a heat source, with a smoke box for the wood chunks to fit on top of burner. The question is can I use a universal propane grill tube for the flame/heat source. Will I be able to control heat well enough with this idea. Any ideas will be appreciated.
Thanks Jim
PS This is new to me, smoking that is, and I am an eager student.

[SmoknAZ]

One thing that would concern me would be the lack of a thermocouple. If flame is lost the gas shuts off. If gas does not shut off a big boom will probably happen. 

[slolow]

Now that's what I'm talkin about.
Great input. I don't like loud noises.
I assume this can happen with all gas grills?

[squealers]

 you don't need a large burner to generate 250F

make sure you build a deflector sheet of some sort to avoid direct flame on your meats... because then it's called grilling

[SmoknAZ]

Now that's what I'm talkin about.
Great input. I don't like loud noises.
I assume this can happen with all gas grills?

On the home type of gas grill no thermocouple so if you drink too much and forget to turn it off all the gas empties even if the wind blows out the flame. Not certain on the comercial size cookers or smokers. The thing about your set up the wood would be smouldering so that spark could ignite the gas. Probably not so with a gas grill unless the burner covers were cherry red???

[azkitch]

Could one cannibalize an older (CHEAP) CL gas grill, maybe pipe a different burner on, yet keep the thermocouple? Do most grills have one? I guess mine doesn't, since there's no solenoid to shut off the gas.

[chas]

You should have a shield to keep grease away from the burner. Grease fires are a no-no. Your tank is small and a 4/5 inch burner should work fine. 20K BTU.

[chas]

I have a vertical with a propane burner. It has a wood drawer above the burner. The wood drawer is fabricated using 1/2 inch plate, that does not warp. The top of the wood drawer is the bottom of a water pan. This arrangement keeps the wood smothered with no flames. The water pan provides moisture in the cook chamber and clean up is easy. The wood box and the water pan can be loaded and checked/reloaded without opening the smoker door. Water pan drainage is located on the outside. If you build a insulated smoker,remember that the heat source has to be smaller. Build the smoker, using the same thickness of material that you would use if the smoker was not insulated. Insulation is placed on the outside and the outer metal covering is used to protect the insulation only. The exhaust is at the top of the smoker with rectangular stacks running down both interior sides between the walls and the rack tracks,to the bottom shelf. The vertical is 30 x 24 x 84.Weight is 750 lbs. Five SS slide out racks. Hook in top for hanging beef clods and other  meat that you want to hang. Hope that this helps.