Hand made grates for smoker

GBPB · 01-03-2011, 02:44 PM

I am in the process of building a smoker that will have about a 2' x 4' grill area. I was wandering what some of you guys have used for grates on your home made grills/smokers. I was really wanting to do something different than expanded metal. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Chef Jim · 01-03-2011, 07:34 PM

Way way back, I saw a guy use rebar. It wasn't pretty.

LT72884 · 01-03-2011, 08:01 PM

expanded metal cut to size and framed with sqaure framing. PM cowgirl. she mad a grate for her tractor rim fire pit

http://cowgirlscountry.blogspot.com/...fire-ring.html

NCsmoker · 01-03-2011, 08:01 PM

If you can weld you could come up with just about anything. I layed out a grid using angle iron and 1/4" thin wall tubbing that was about that size for an off set. Ended up costing me alot more time and money than expanded metal would have.

Chef Country · 01-03-2011, 08:06 PM

I use expanded metal with a square tubing frame it aint fancy but its fast and works

LT72884 · 01-03-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCsmoker

If you can weld you could come up with just about anything. I layed out a grid using angle iron and 1/4" thin wall tubbing that was about that size for an off set. Ended up costing me alot more time and money than expanded metal would have.

never mind then. i guess EX metal aint the way to go, but then again, i got mine dirt cheap.

LT72884 · 01-03-2011, 08:08 PM

landarc · 01-03-2011, 08:18 PM

I would look at the idea of welding up some heavy steel bar stock into grates. I like the idea of carbon steel grates. I have seen a lot of rebar and smooth bar grates and they work great. Not pretty perhaps, but, it holds heat, easily welds up, does not corrode once seasoned and is strong.

jimbloomfield · 01-04-2011, 12:07 AM

I have made stainless grates that look like grates on a Weber and others. What I did is use some MDF the size of the grate then used some MDF 1/2 spacers to put between the ss rods the grate was being made of. Once it was all laid out. I welded the bar together. Just takes a spot at the junction of the two.

TN_BBQ · 01-04-2011, 07:35 AM

What do they call that "cat-walk" lookin metal?

I've never used it, but I have seen it used. Me...I'd probably salvage some freebie grates from old gas grills

.

Johnny Ca$h · 01-04-2011, 07:43 AM

you could draw out a fancy logo and have it waterjeted at a local shop? but that could be pricy

chromestacks · 01-04-2011, 08:47 AM

The reason a lot of us like expanded metal is because it is light weight but durable. And as mentioned above FAST. If you like fabricating and welding, you could go with a small diameter round rod. I would still recomend a frame or some type of reinforcement.

btcg · 01-04-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBPB

I am in the process of building a smoker that will have about a 2' x 4' grill area. I was wandering what some of you guys have used for grates on your home made grills/smokers. I was really wanting to do something different than expanded metal. Any suggestions?

Thanks

At Home Depot and Lowes, they carry a number of different replacement grates for grills. Unless you're absolutely stuck on making your own, I'd get one of those and adapt it. They're made for grilling, and the heat transfer from other metals might not give you the same results with cooking or the cleanup afterward. AND... building the grill might be enough on your plate already, eh?

Teleking · 01-04-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TN_BBQ

What do they call that "cat-walk" lookin metal?

I've never used it, but I have seen it used. Me...I'd probably salvage some freebie grates from old gas grills

.

bar grate

hmacmill · 01-04-2011, 11:55 AM

Used stainless expanded metal on mine. Works real well. If i did it over, i would go without stainless. a good seasoning will most likely keep it from rusting.

01-03-2011, 02:44 PM	#1
GBPB Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 12-28-10 Location: Fayetteville, AR	Hand made grates for smoker I am in the process of building a smoker that will have about a 2' x 4' grill area. I was wandering what some of you guys have used for grates on your home made grills/smokers. I was really wanting to do something different than expanded metal. Any suggestions? Thanks

01-03-2011, 07:34 PM	#2
Chef Jim Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-07-10 Location: Tequesta, Florida	Way way back, I saw a guy use rebar. It wasn't pretty. __________________ Judge Jim, Given to me by Terry @ Git R Smoked. Chef Jim, Gym, Jim, or CJ. [B][COLOR=Black] I'm not a Chef, but I play one on the internet.[/COLOR][/B] [URL]http://www.chef-jim.com[/URL] [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][FONT=Tahoma]A veteran is Someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are far too many people in this country who no longer understand it. Author unknown.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=Red][COLOR=Black] [/COLOR][/COLOR]

01-03-2011, 08:01 PM	#3
LT72884 Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-07-09 Location: Draper Utah	expanded metal cut to size and framed with sqaure framing. PM cowgirl. she mad a grate for her tractor rim fire pit http://cowgirlscountry.blogspot.com/...fire-ring.html __________________ http://grillofmydreams.blogspot.com http://thebreadjournal.blogspot.com

01-03-2011, 08:01 PM	#4
NCsmoker Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-04-10 Location: Huntersville, NC	If you can weld you could come up with just about anything. I layed out a grid using angle iron and 1/4" thin wall tubbing that was about that size for an off set. Ended up costing me alot more time and money than expanded metal would have. __________________ Doug

01-03-2011, 08:06 PM	#5
Chef Country is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-26-09 Location: Wellington, KS	I use expanded metal with a square tubing frame it aint fancy but its fast and works __________________ Country Q Here for a Good Time, not a Long Time!Webber 22.5 OTS The fastest and most accurate splash proof Red Thermapen UDS that gets used more than traeger Shop built 300 gal smoker Traeger bbq 125 with digital 180 controller collecting parts for a 500gal reverse flow build

01-03-2011, 08:08 PM	#7
LT72884 Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-07-09 Location: Draper Utah	__________________ http://grillofmydreams.blogspot.com http://thebreadjournal.blogspot.com

01-03-2011, 08:18 PM	#8
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	I would look at the idea of welding up some heavy steel bar stock into grates. I like the idea of carbon steel grates. I have seen a lot of rebar and smooth bar grates and they work great. Not pretty perhaps, but, it holds heat, easily welds up, does not corrode once seasoned and is strong. __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

01-04-2011, 12:07 AM	#9
jimbloomfield Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-04-08 Location: Saugus, CA	I have made stainless grates that look like grates on a Weber and others. What I did is use some MDF the size of the grate then used some MDF 1/2 spacers to put between the ss rods the grate was being made of. Once it was all laid out. I welded the bar together. Just takes a spot at the junction of the two.

01-04-2011, 07:35 AM	#10
TN_BBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-02-08 Location: Knoxville, TN	What do they call that "cat-walk" lookin metal? I've never used it, but I have seen it used. Me...I'd probably salvage some freebie grates from old gas grills . __________________ Life's a party with a Backwoods Party!

01-04-2011, 07:43 AM	#11
Johnny Ca$h Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-28-10 Location: Richfield,oh	you could draw out a fancy logo and have it waterjeted at a local shop? but that could be pricy

01-04-2011, 08:47 AM	#12
chromestacks Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-11-10 Location: Guilford, N.Y.	The reason a lot of us like expanded metal is because it is light weight but durable. And as mentioned above FAST. If you like fabricating and welding, you could go with a small diameter round rod. I would still recomend a frame or some type of reinforcement. __________________ will be a Pit Master someday

01-04-2011, 11:55 AM	#15
hmacmill Got Wood. Join Date: 12-20-10 Location: Byram Twp, NJ	Used stainless expanded metal on mine. Works real well. If i did it over, i would go without stainless. a good seasoning will most likely keep it from rusting.

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