Spider / Cast Iron Grate

davejames0426

I am looking for a Spider with the cast iron grate mainly for searing steaks - any suggestions? Also are there any other good use of the Spider rig?

Lit

When I do pizzas I put the plate setter feet up, then grate, then spider feet down, and then the stone on the spider. This helps to get the pizza higher in the dome to the hotter temps. I also use the spider for my wok. I have a grate extender but I usually just put the spider in feet down and put another grate on it to get 2 cooking levels. It's useful to have. I have a small egg so I just use my cast iron grate from that on the spider. Only place to get the spider is the ceramic grill store.

chrisnjenn

The small BGE cast iron grate works/fits perfect on the spider. I use it a lot when doing steaks.

davejames0426

Spider + pizza stone = indirect

I see the 14 inch stone does not work with the spider.... Is this true????

chrisnjenn

The largest you can use with the spider is 13 inches. The 13 inch pizza stone from the Ceramic Grill Store (same place you buy the spider) is high quality.

StanNielsen

OK, I'll ask...what's a spider

Lit

The thing with the legs sitting in the grooves on the fire ring. It allows you to put a cast iron grate on it and sear your food right above the coals on a large. They sell them at the ceramic grill store.

 

 

StanNielsen

cool, I want one!

Spoon

@Lit Nice pics, what camera/lens are you using?

Lit

Thats a Sigma 50mm 1.4. Love it but am still getting used to it as 1.4 is touchy. I took a picture of my cat at 1.4 and zoomed in on his eyes and his ears were blurry. An inch of depth off and you focus on the wrong thing.

 

Squeezy

You have 'depth of field' issues ... what camera are you using? Is it an SLR or point & shoot?

A fast shutter speed on low light will give you a very narrow depth of field.

Lit

Its a SLR. The depth of field issue was cause I was shooting at a 1.4 aperature. At 1.8-2.2 I would have gotten his whole head and at 3.5 his whole body would have come in clear. Or I could have selected more than 1 focal point and probably been good at 1.4. I have gotten used to it now and usually shoot at no less than 1.8 as 1.4 is touchy. Here's a couple photos I took at eggtoberfest playing with aperature. The egg photo was taken at 1.4 on a single focal point and the portrait was taken at a 2.2 with multiple focal points.

 

Squeezy

You're good to go ... BTW ... that's a lovely portrait of a lovely lady!

Garnerac

The spider with small pizza stone is a great way to go indirect

Wilcox Farmer

What size stone with the spider? Does it do as well as a plate setter.

inkyon

what size do you use for the iron cast grate on the large bge spider? 13 inch?

Mattlock

Just a FYI, depth of field increases if you much further away from the cat.

I think this ceramic store is going to be getting some money from me pretty soon!