Firegrate...

dougcrann

The fire grate in my XL is just about ready to become 2 pieces. Dealer wants $88 for a replacement.  Have seen some of the aftermarket ones. Will be building another Reverse Flow smoker soon so I decided to get the materials to make the fire grate for it a bit early...will be making a fire grate for the Egg sometime in the near future...I have 2 XL Eggs and only the 1 soon to be busted grate. Will be building a grate for both the XL'S  & our Large. Thinking that it will allow more airflow thru the bottom...time will tell...

RRP

Be sure to make yourself a whole bunch of those as they don't last long! I would highly recommend a far sturdier KAB, but I know you don't want to buy after market eggcessories. I'm NOT being a smart *ss - I've just been around here for 16 years and I can draw on history of what works and what doesn't.

DoubleEgger

Just a friendly reminder that the grates have a 5 yr warranty if your egg isn't that old.

SGH

RRP said:

I've just been around here for 16 years 

You have been here 16 years and only have 17,690 posts? Slacker

dougcrann

RRP said:

Be sure to make yourself a whole bunch of those as they don't last long! I would highly recommend a far sturdier KAB, but I know you don't want to buy after market eggcessories. I'm NOT being a smart *ss - I've just been around here for 16 years and I can draw on history of what works and what doesn't.

Not trying to be smart ass myself....but was fully expecting this comment.  
This is the same material that custom offset builders use. Seriously doubt that some stainless wire, which is,exactly what the basket is made of, is going to last forever either. All that aside, the basket needs to sit on the grate in the XL....least that's what I read on a site where I seen it. So 2 fire grates and 2 baskets....hmmm...that is close to $300 if my math is right. The grate and the expanded were $260. Wonder how many 17" circles I could get out of a 4'×8' sheet?

dougcrann

DoubleEgger said:

Just a friendly reminder that the grates have a 5 yr warranty if your egg isn't that old.

Bought our XL back in 06. I did ask when I was at the dealer today. Thanks for the heads up...

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I have one of those I bought from Stlcharcoal when he was in the fire grate business. Still going strong. Probably been 3 years or so. Works like a champ and looks like it could easily go another 3 years.

RRP

dougcrann said:

RRP said:

Be sure to make yourself a whole bunch of those as they don't last long! I would highly recommend a far sturdier KAB, but I know you don't want to buy after market eggcessories. I'm NOT being a smart *ss - I've just been around here for 16 years and I can draw on history of what works and what doesn't.

Not trying to be smart ass myself....but was fully expecting this comment.  
This is the same material that custom offset builders use. Seriously doubt that some stainless wire, which is,exactly what the basket is made of, is going to last forever either. All that aside, the basket needs to sit on the grate in the XL....least that's what I read on a site where I seen it. So 2 fire grates and 2 baskets....hmmm...that is close to $300 if my math is right. The grate and the expanded were $260. Wonder how many 17" circles I could get out of a 4'×8' sheet?

I'm cool with your rational. I was just trying to be helpful toward others who will go to a big box store, buy a half a sheet of expanded grate, cut, grind whatever, be proud of their homemade grate, and then find out it warped/rusted/whatever soon thereafter. I'm outa here! Good night.

gonepostal

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

I have one of those I bought from Stlcharcoal when he was in the fire grate business. Still going strong. Probably been 3 years or so. Works like a champ and looks like it could easily go another 3 years.

+1

stlcharcoal

The stuff from the hardware store will only last until your first clean burn or pizza.  You need #9 expanded flattened stainless steel if you want it to last.  The XL is quite a lot of stainless though.  A 4x8 sheet of that stuff is going to be $400-500 if you're buying it a metal dealer, then you'll blow through quite a few grinder wheels if you don't have access to a plasma table.

Even though I had access to the metal at a discount and a plasma table for the others, I just used a Weber grate.....$9 at Home Depot.  If you're worried about charcoal falling through, get two and tack weld them together at a cross hatch.

I would not recommend using what you have pictures as a grate.....you need flattened, then you need to reinforce it somehow.  It will sag--even the 9" ones on the LBGE fire grate get a little concave.  Also, you will need to weld some handles or a way to remove the grate when hot.  Not matter how you cut it, it's HEAVY and gone to be really hard to remove, especially when hot.  Polish all the edges because you WILL cut yourself on it.  Trust me, stick with the metal rods for the grate unless you can weld up a frame for that stuff.  I made thousands of them and had the scars to prove it!

dougcrann

Should have looked before spouting...The KAB is not even stainless...hmmm.....read the claim to increased airflow....hmmm...I call BS....at least on the XL that needs to sit on the factory grate. So how is something that sits above the factory grate going to allow more airflow? Think...you have a 1/2" hose with .250" NOT fittings. Will increasing the hose to 1" increase flow, assuming that the hose is say 5' long? Of course not...the .250 fittings will only allow the same amount of volume regardless of the hose size between them....providing the hose is not to small to begin with...

The GRATE I picked up today is not a piece of thin expanded metal. It is GRATE material. The same stuff Shirley and Language use in there cookers. It is also the stuff I have had in several wood burning stoves. 

So let me get this straight...this stuff will survive in a wood burning stove. Will survive in the firebox of a Shirley cooker...but wont hold up in an Egg? Hmmm.....you folks say so...

Probably should add....I found a small piece of this stuff when building my Reverse Flow.  I have had 6 full size logs engulfed in flames...to the point that my cook chamber was over 600*...and it didn't distort at all. 

But if you folks say it won't work so be it...

dougcrann

Damn phone...should be Lang, not Language....and I do have a question...why in the hell would I be lifting a fire grate when it is hot? 

StillH2OEgger

I can't speak to any of the home made grate options you're contemplating, but I will say the air flow in my large improved with the KAB, and I also keep the grate in when using. Also seems well built, but if I needed to buy two KABs and two grates (some use KAB without the grate) I would also look at alternatives. Good luck with whatever you decide.

pgprescott

Question Doug. If you were happy with the OEM grate and you got 10 years out of it, why not just pop for the new one? $9 per year cost is pretty cheap. Comes to around $.75 per month. certainly not worth jacking around with some expanded metal, unless you just enjoy doing so. Can't be a cost driven decision is it? Curious. You seem a bit peeved about the whole thing.