Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

[luckyinkentucky]

I'm going to be welding together a bar-b-que grill within the next couple of days.
It will be less conventional than most of them you see, because this one will have a fire ring at the bottom for my fire to go. It will have a steel rod on either side with horseshoes welded at the top for a spit and hooks for utensils.

The problem I am running into is that I would like to use stainless steel for the grate, but it runs around $150 for a 24" X 36" grate. So, I was wondering what I could use instead of Stainless Steel. I would like to stick to the 'honeycomb' type grate instead of the slats or wire you see on most commercial grills. I will show you a picture of what I am going for , and see what you think. Like I said I can't afford stainless, so what should I use instead.

 

[i386]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

That looks like regular expanded metal like you'd see on a utility trailer tailgate.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

any way you can find an old grill with cast iron grates you could build a frame for?

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

I have 3 cast iron grates for my regular barrel smoker/cooker, but they are only about 5" X 18" long each. I could order replacements for my barrel cooker, but I would have 3 different grates joined together instead of 1.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

there is a website Grillclininc.com see if you can find anything there

 

[tommays]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Most metals tend to rust up in a Bar-B-Que and leave nasty stuff on the food


Unless you really go at with a cleaning brush every time you cook




Tommays

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Well, I am pretty good about taking care of cast iron. I've been cooking with it since I was a Boy Scout 20 years ago, and I inherited 10 Lodge pieces from my Great Grandmother. Growing up she showed me how to take care of Cast Iron, and she said that the pieces I now own were handed to her from her Grandmother. In the figuring we found that a few pieces were roughly 150 years old, and they still look very good.

So, a cast iron grate would be ok! I would just season it a few times before I used it, and keep it indoors when I wasn't going to use it.

 

[zoe'sdad]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Use an expanded steel grate. Used to hunt with a guy who welded four legs to a grate similar to the one shown. After the logs burned down we would set the grate over the fire and cook with it. It worked great. Take care of it in the same manner you would a cast iron pot or cast grates for a grill; clean after use, set back over the fire to dry the grate and heat up the metal and then coat with cooking oil while it is still hot. It will season the grate and stop rust.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Lucky,
The grate in the picture is called expanded, flattened sheet metal.
Available in steel and stainless, etc.
If I were you I would inquire at some local steel fabricators.
I googled "owensboro steel".
Go visit them and tell them what your lookin for.

I bet if you offered to demonstrate how great it cooks burgers for lunch when you get it built, you might get some of it for free.

If yours is gonna have that bar under the middle, you can get by with two smaller pieces.

If your gonna be transporting this around, a cast iron grate will be 10 times heavier to haul around.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

I was thinking about expanded steel, but didn't know if it would impart any off flavors to the food. Also, I didn't know how safe it was to cook with. Should any form of expanded steel be ok to cook with as long as it wasn't galvanized?

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

i would try to stay with stainless or cast iron . but you could always have anything porcalon coated to take the heat and not hurt anything

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

This type of shape/product is often used in steel catwalks and treads for industrial stairs. You should be able to find it right off the shelf at a local (industrial) steel supply place.....lots of those around. A local fabricator will sell you some of their, albeit with a markup but they could also cut it to size and spec for you.
The spec. for this kind of product usually includes thicknesses (aka Gauge) and then the spread or opening pattern depending on how much open space you want or need. ie: some of them would be more dense (more metal than opening) and vice versa.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

I was thinking about expanded steel, but didn't know if it would impart any off flavors to the food. Also, I didn't know how safe it was to cook with. Should any form of expanded steel be ok to cook with as long as it wasn't galvanized?

As long as it is naked raw steel or stainless, you won't impart any metal stuff into the food.
My Dad made a camp grill that looked just like the grill portion you pictured out of regular steel expanded and flatten like in the pic but had folding legs underneath. Lasted for 20 plus years.

You might look in Lowes and Home Depot. This time of year they might be clearencing out the grills and accessories. You might find a replacement grill for cheap that will fit you project.
Or even ebay.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Just had a thought. Ya know those grates in state campgrounds? Think they are cast iron. Might want to inquire at the DNR or whatever...maybe get one cheap or get there supplier (or just pay $10 and camp out one night and "borrow" it..)

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Well, I found some at Lowe's for $12.50 for a 12" X 24" piece. Not bad considering the grill I showed above is a 12" X 19"! The only difference is that Lowe's expanded steel is a 1/2" gap, and I think the one shown is a 1" gap. I may look around again tomorrow for a 1" gap piece. On the box at Lowe's it did show that one of the uses was for grilling. It had a picture of a grill on the side of the box under the suggested uses. Also, when I am looking for steel for this grill shouldn't I look for weldable steel and not zinc coated? I will be using 4 pieces of 1/2" round stock for the frame that holds the grill surface, and I will use square hollow stock for the support.

The next thing would be ......

How do you think they attached the grill to the steel pole that is stuck in the ground? It swings away so you don't have to re-adjust the bolt every time you want to move the grill.

Any suggestions on affixing it to the steel pole?

 

[KRS]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

9 gauge FLATTENED expanded metal

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

No galvanized (i.e zinc) if you're grilling. If you're smoking, you might get away with galvanized as the temps don't get that high. The first time or two you use it, cook some fatty pork (pork chops). It'll coat the grill and you won't have to worry that much about corrosion if you keep it out of the weather.

 

[Rowboat]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Used old steel from gravel crusher for years , and still walking lol ,never tasted bad and just cleaned with wire brush before using Bob

 

[rwise]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

Floor furnace grats are great! stand up to heat well and if you have a place aroun' that sells used home materials check there. For expanded metal check with fab shops and steel supplies for *drops* big enuf to do what you want.
*drops* - leftovers from a *special* order or job.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Bar-B-Que Grate ... what metal?

How would I be able to tell if it were zinc coated? WOuld it have a black powdery feel to it? I remember someone saying to scratch it with your fingernail, and if you have black on there then it's zinc.