Custom Grate Questions

Thumper169

  I just upgraded to having an XL and a medium egg "Had the XL a couple years" and I'm ready to build some custom grates for them.  I own a metal fab business and own all the cool toys needed to build/cut anything I want  or can dream up but I'd like some opinions on how the custom designed grates have held up over the long haul with the high heat?  I've cut several for a few guys a couple years ago and never heard back so I don't have any data to use for dependability. Any insight would be helpful and I wouldn't have any issue helping a fellow egger out for helping me in regards to getting them something custom built or cut. 
  I've always thought about building grilling goodies on the side but being I have zero working knowledge of it  I'm clueless as to what works and doesn't.
 Any help is good help thanks !!  

Carolina Q

If you want a heavy duty stainless grid, maybe something like this would be cool. Not $150 cool, but if you're making it yourself...

https://www.high-que.com/mobile/Luxury-Stainless-Cooking-Grid-for-Large-Big-Green-Egg_p_18.html

Or, Leroy has his Spring Chicken grid...

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1029092/broke-in-new-custom-grid

fergi

I've got a high end gas grill and it has 3/8 inch SS rod for grate material and it has lasted for over 10 years

Chubbs

What a cool shop. I would love to play with tools like that every day. I have a high que ash grate in my large and it is sturdy as hell. I would shoot for something like that. Perhaps you should offer up your shop to Franco from Ceramic Grill Works.  

Thumper169

I have 304 SS rod in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" on hand pretty much all the time so I'm going to toss one together first chance I get and give it a whirl. I guess I'll cut a wild looking plate out of some 1/4" and throw the heat to it and see how she holds up.  I need to fire up the cnc  this weekend anyway. 
  Any custom look to shoot for you guys want to see? 

Thumper169

 Dumb question but how the bloody hell do you post pics on here?  Posts without pics are useless  

Chubbs

@Thumper169 see if you can add handles to the grate so you can lift it out with gloved hands. 

Thumper169

Chubbs said:

@Thumper169 see if you can add handles to the grate so you can lift it out with gloved hands. 

 Now that's a good idea and easy to do.. I'm about to draw something up right now. 

Thumper169

I had to make me a pepper tray right quick to I'll cut another one out of SS once I see how she works. 

UrbanForestTurnings

Nice work. What state are you in. Like your dads boards. I'm in Cincinnati 

Lit

I am willing to test anything you want to make. Say like 13.5" grate out of 3/8" rods for my mini max.

Thumper169

Located in NE Texas,  Lit I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing but if I get one that size built it's yours to test. 

BYS1981

I have a branding iron, I think you should make one of those.  I brand steaks occasionally like a BOSS.

caliking

@Mickey has a custom grid too,  which he may post pics of.  He has separate lifters for it. 

I would not make it completely round. If you make it slightly oval,  or maybe just cut an arc out on one side, it will make it easier to add smoke wood after the lump has been lit. 

Thumper169

caliking said:

@Mickey has a custom grid too,  which he may post pics of.  He has separate lifters for it. 

I would not make it completely round. If you make it slightly oval,  or maybe just cut an arc out on one side, it will make it easier to add smoke wood after the lump has been lit. 

 I was thinking of having a section that will lift out for adding wood chips or maybe even a flush hinged section. Still in the thinking process of that one though. 

Mickey

Mickey

Mickey

Thumper169

Mickey that's pretty cool,  I'm checking into how having them ceramic coated would hold up right now. 

Carolina Q

I always liked webers hinged grate for adding smoke wood (and in webers case, more charcoal). 

stlcharcoal

Carolina Q said:

I always liked webers hinged grate for adding smoke wood (and in webers case, more charcoal). 

If you go to a Kamado Joe dealer and buy a grate for their "classic" size, it will fit a Large BGE.  It has the flip up grate on one side of it.  Not a very heavy gauge, but a good replacement for $40.

GalanteNate_OneEa

Holy crap @Mickey that is awesome, to say the least

Thumper169

I'm going to cut me one with reverse branding plates installed to try it out. Brand the steaks while they cook  I'm going to play around with a couple different brands on this one to attempt a few different styles at once. The plate will be out of 1/4" with the "Raised" logo's out of 1/4" as well.  

  Yes I know the brands will need to be reversed  
  

NPHuskerFL

Very cool @Thumper169 CI for material or steel?

Thumper169

 I'm going to use a steel plate with an under support for stability and add some more meat to the base for heat retention. 

Dobie

@Thumper169  build it and they will come. Heavy guage hinged stainless would be cool. Two tiers to add surface area is huge on eggs. 

Spring Chicken

I've got one. Use it all the time.

Spring "Got Grid Will Travel" Chicken

Spring Texas USA

Thumper169

Dobie said:

@Thumper169  build it and they will come. Heavy guage hinged stainless would be cool. Two tiers to add surface area is huge on eggs. 

 The problem I see long term with the hinged 2 tier set ups are warping issues.  

  I've heard several complaints about this issue as well, having said that I'm thinking about the upper rack being out of 1/4" or 3/8" SS rod to keep the weight down and strength up for the top section. 

Dobie

Warping not good, I defer to your expertise to solve this  

Thumper169

 I need someone in the north east Dallas area to be a Guinea Pig.  You must use the item n not sit and play with it lol It will be yours to keep but feedback needed.

  Once we get something lined out we will be giving away some freebies to test run on a larger scale.. A much larger scale!!

 
   

Thumper169

Question,  would these grates be better ceramic coated if the added expense could be kept in check?  It would make them stay cleaner and help with the life of the grate.