To Build or To Buy the Grill Extender?

spbull472

Do I buy the Grid Extender from BGE or do I try to build my own? I see some people own the extender from BGE, but in other places I've read that people feel they're flimsy so they build their own.[p]If I was to build my own, how difficult is it and where can I find instructions on how to build it? Hopefully, it doesn't require a bunch of tools I don't have.[p]Thanks in advance,[p]STL "wishing you could have the forum auto add signatures" Scott

dhuffjr

spbull472,
3/8 threaded rod.
18" weber grids with handles a 10" coal grate if you want to build in a drip pan/heat deflector
nuts and fender washers
a couple lock washers.[p]Hack saw and a couple wrenches and your off to the races.

dhuffjr

dhuffjr,
I should say I have the Big Green Egg one and the one I made. I use both and will continue to do so. Just depends on your mood for the day and what your cooking.

spbull472

dhuffjr,[p]You happen to have pictures of what it's supposed to look like? I'm not a good guesser when it comes to building. [p]Thanks,[p]STL Scott

fishlessman

<p />spbull472,
ive used mine for 5 or 6 years, it looked flimsy but lasted a long time. you can make your own, other options would be to set a grate on two fire bricks which works well, bge has a tiered rack system, tjv was making a ring that works well to put a rack on, sometimes he makes some real nice stuff and sells it here, then theres the grate with bolts on it that sits on the fire ring, and old daves rack setup can be made. lots of options. its good to have a couple of options handy for different cooks[p][p]

edbro

spbull472,
1 nice thing about the BGE version is that it is hinged. You can flip up one side to more easily get at the bottom grid.

spbull472

fishlessman,[p]Where do people typically find fire bricks?[p]STL Scott

Clay Q

spbull472,
I built this one. 14" Weber grid, 3 stainless legs made from 4" carriage bolts, heads down to form feet.

spbull472

ClayQ,[p]Hey thanks for that! That looks like I can even make it![p]Thanks,[p]STL Scott

RRP

<p />edbro,
yes, and they also can go in the dish washer. I think the BGE extender gets a bum wrap when people say they are flimsy. If you'll just hook the legs and stretch it tight it is very strong!

dhuffjr

spbull472,
That is pretty much the look you going for. I made Old Dave's rig which is two of those webber girds with the handles and I put a 10" grid below it that I cover with foil for indirect cooking. The 10" grid is bolted to the bottom grid. The top grid sits on that one on the legs I made from the threaded rod. I don't have any pictures but will see about taking some this afternoon.

fishlessman

spbull472,
i got mine at a local brickyard, any masonry place that builds fireplaces should carry them, we line industrial boilers with them so a local boiler shop might also have them. first pic is soft refractory brick which can be cut with a hand saw, the other two are hard firebricks, second pic is splits which are the ones you would want, last is pieces broken with a chisel

Flashback Bob

spbull472,
Instead of threaded rod, use (3) 4.1/2" carriage bolts

just assemble nuts, washers and bolts. I sit this directly on top of the BGE grate. Turn the nuts the right way and they fit perfectly into the spaces on the BGE grate.[p]I think TNW has instructions on his website.

bobbyb

RRP,
I had my BGE grate extender for about 2 years before I had the revelation to hook the feet into the lower grid. I believe this was after seeing a picture you posted. Works much better this way.
Thanks, Bob

RRP

bobbyb,
good! I remember years back someone damning the extender because a pot of beans oe something spilled in his egg when the extender collapsed. When I aked how that could be and if he hooked and stretched it a sheepish reply came back "no".

Matt

ClayQ,[p]From whence does the 14" Weber grid come? I got a Weber charcoal grate that I use to hold my firebricks and drip pan for indirect, but I wouldn't put food on it....I'd love to get something to go above my current cooking grate -- i.e., above the opening in the Egg.[p]Matt

Unknown

ClayQ, Great! I bought a bge one. Was disappointed. First time I cleaned it, used one of those green scrubbers, the finish came off! Copper color underneath. I have some square porcelain grids off of a Thermos gasser I might try to engineer something from. I love ingenious makeshift deals that turn out better than anything commercial. This last cook, I put my bge grid in the dishwasher on top of the rest of the dishes and all I had to do was wipe it down with a clean rag. Have a blessed day. ern

Unknown

fishlessman, Didja get my thanks for mojo recipi? Thanx!! Anyhoo, watcha cookin in the first pic? ern

fishlessman

ern,
yep, thats a good recipe, wdan desnt post much, but his recipes are really good. the first pic is gfw's river city jerkey and squaw candy which is a very sweet salmon jerky.

Whitetail

Flashback Bob,
Threaded rod allows more flexibility. I use 8-inch pieces of threaded rod. Most of the time I keep my raised grid 5 inches above the regular grid but I can go up or down just by turning the nuts.[p]I hope stump doesn’t read that.

Whitetail

RRP,
I have that grid but it just isn’t “raised’ enough. I like to be a full 5 inches over the main grid.

spbull472

ClayQ,[p]Did you use Galvanized or Zinc Coated Bolts? Those are the only two options I saw at Home Depot.[p]Thanks,[p]STL Scott

Clay Q

spbull472,
Hardware is stainless; bolts, nuts and washers. The Weber grid is nickel plated. Everything food safe.
Try True Value or Ace hardware stores.

RRP

Whitetail,
just out of cursoity - why 5"? What exactly are you atempting to do? It doesn't have something to do with pizza does it?

Clay Q

Matt,
The grid is whence forth; Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill. True Value hardware sells them as replacement parts.

Matt

Thanks, ClayQ -- I'm not such a smart guy. I own a Smokey Joe and it never even occurred to me....[p]Matt

Clay Q

ern,
If you scrub hard enough the plating will come off the Weber grid also. A fine brass brush, soap, warm water, and towel drying will get things clean enough for me.

Whitetail

RRP,
Nope. Probably 75% of my Egg use is grilling. When grilling, with the exception of steaks I like cook hot without searing. I cook boneless skinless chicken breasts, salmon, swordfish, pork loin chops, you name it at about 450. The very raised grid is much easier to control and keeps the food from searing. The high heat cooking allows me to get these non-fatty cooks on and off the grill quickly, which makes for juicier finished product. [p]It’s along the same lines of the way fishlessman always talks about getting his cook as far away from the coals as possible.

Judy Mayberry

spbull472,
The right stainless steel parts were very hard to come buy, even in a city with over 1 million people. None of the usual hardware sources had them all. I found just what I needed at marine supply stores--in fact, more sizes of everything than I could have used. [p]I made raised grids for both the Small and Large using Old Dave's directions and use them constantly!

spbull472

So I just discovered there is a different forum version where you do actually log in.

http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php

vs the BGE link to

http://www.greeneggers.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.shtml

All those posts not counted! Anyway, I digress.

Thanks for the heads up, the hunt will begin Friday for stainless steel components. Would do it today, but my company has decided to send me California for meetings tomorrow. Yippeee!

Whitetail

Judy Mayberry,
I got all my SS parts at smallparts.com