Expanded metal

MuddyWaters007 · 01-02-2013, 04:16 PM

Hey everyone! does anyone use stainless expanded metal for their bbq grates? What do you guys use? I am thinking stainless is better cause it will not rust as easy. I went to a metal company today though and it is really expensive and they only sell it in large sheets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

gtr · 01-02-2013, 04:34 PM

It may be work asking the metal company if they have a bin of cutoffs you can check out - you may find something there.

bluetang · 01-02-2013, 04:35 PM

I picked up a 4x8 steel for 55.00, it's what I used in my stickburner. I was able to pick up some SS expanded metal "drops" from a local fabricator for cheap. Full 48"wide, various lengths, none over 16". Made a bunch of charcoal baskets for UDS's out of them. You might try going that route if you want SS and tacking them together to get your size.

yakdung · 01-02-2013, 05:47 PM

I used number 9 flat as it is known to build my fire rings for my UDS. Did not use stainless and it worked out great. It came in 4x8 sheets.

BigBellyBBQ · 01-03-2013, 05:47 AM

follow above...look for cut offs at the local scrap yard...call all local metal shops...or just figure what you need and order the whole sheet, when figure your grates using the stock sizes to eliminate ALL SCRAP or drops...find someone else to split the cost of new sheets...If you are in the Buffalo area I have a couple sheets and some drops saved

que_dawg · 01-03-2013, 06:17 AM

If you use your cooker often and season it properly before you use the grates, I don't really see any need to spend the extra money on the SS. In the cookers we build, we only use mild steel. If it is seasoned by spraying down with oil and baking it in at a higher temp for a couple of hours then you shouldn't have problems with rusting. If your cookers sits for long periods between cooks then you may need to consider the SS.

For the charcoal grate I think SS will stand up to the heat a bit better and fend off the rust for sure.

Just my $.02. Good luck with whatever you choose.

roksmith · 01-03-2013, 07:13 AM

Love my SS expanded metal grates. Been using them for 2 years and they look as clean and shiny as day one. Yes.. more expensive, but I made 10 of them, so I used up a whole sheet. If you only need one or two.. as said above, go look in the drops bin.

NRA4Life · 01-03-2013, 10:19 AM

None of my grates are SS. In my big RF, I've been using them for 6 years without issue. After each use, I burn the residual fat, spices, drippings off with my weed burner, wire brush it, then spray with cooking spray. I'm not saying I wouldn't use SS, but the materials to build my cooking grates haven't cost me anything.

mr dirts bbq · 01-03-2013, 12:31 PM

i use #9 - 3/4 expanded steel, i get it for $42 delivered here in ny (total order must be $300 for delivery though)
i just use grill brush and crisco after each cook

jestridge · 01-03-2013, 12:39 PM

After a few cooks you wont be able to tell the difference

01-02-2013, 04:16 PM	#1
MuddyWaters007 Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 12-11-12 Location: miami fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Expanded metal Hey everyone! does anyone use stainless expanded metal for their bbq grates? What do you guys use? I am thinking stainless is better cause it will not rust as easy. I went to a metal company today though and it is really expensive and they only sell it in large sheets. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

01-02-2013, 04:34 PM	#2
gtr Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	It may be work asking the metal company if they have a bin of cutoffs you can check out - you may find something there. __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Jumbo Old Smokey, Pig Hibachi, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. Golden Goose Egg - Got 2 in the nest baby! SPFP Mayzie's keeping an eye out for you! WTFWGALD?

01-02-2013, 04:35 PM	#3
bluetang Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-06-10 Location: Stuart, Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I picked up a 4x8 steel for 55.00, it's what I used in my stickburner. I was able to pick up some SS expanded metal "drops" from a local fabricator for cheap. Full 48"wide, various lengths, none over 16". Made a bunch of charcoal baskets for UDS's out of them. You might try going that route if you want SS and tacking them together to get your size. __________________ Homegrown 120 Gallon Reverse Flow, Homey, the Homegrown Kettle, 3 UDS's, 3 Stack Pro Q Excel 20, 18.5" Elderly(but not retired) WSM, 150lb Capacity Homegrown Electric and a CA gasserrrr Bicycle Fast Polder Thermo, Indisputably Fastest Purple Thermapen, SAI Satay Grill Thanks landarc for the avatar!

01-03-2013, 05:47 AM	#5
BigBellyBBQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-15-08 Location: Lake View, New York Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	follow above...look for cut offs at the local scrap yard...call all local metal shops...or just figure what you need and order the whole sheet, when figure your grates using the stock sizes to eliminate ALL SCRAP or drops...find someone else to split the cost of new sheets...If you are in the Buffalo area I have a couple sheets and some drops saved __________________ TwinTech Pro Double, Backwoods Fat Boy, TwinTech Hawg Kooker, FE 400, SP SPK 700, Empty check book and understanding wife...sometimes..

01-03-2013, 06:17 AM	#6
que_dawg On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-29-10 Location: Gainesville, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you use your cooker often and season it properly before you use the grates, I don't really see any need to spend the extra money on the SS. In the cookers we build, we only use mild steel. If it is seasoned by spraying down with oil and baking it in at a higher temp for a couple of hours then you shouldn't have problems with rusting. If your cookers sits for long periods between cooks then you may need to consider the SS. For the charcoal grate I think SS will stand up to the heat a bit better and fend off the rust for sure. Just my $.02. Good luck with whatever you choose. __________________ Superior SS-1 Superior SS-2 KCBS CBJ #54922 Right On Que BBQ Team Head Pitmaster In Charge, Superior Smokers

01-02-2013, 05:47 PM	#4
yakdung is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-12-10 Location: Houston, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I used number 9 flat as it is known to build my fire rings for my UDS. Did not use stainless and it worked out great. It came in 4x8 sheets.

01-03-2013, 07:13 AM	#7
roksmith is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-21-09 Location: Marietta, Ohio Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Love my SS expanded metal grates. Been using them for 2 years and they look as clean and shiny as day one. Yes.. more expensive, but I made 10 of them, so I used up a whole sheet. If you only need one or two.. as said above, go look in the drops bin. __________________ 4000 sq inch Wood Burner named Brutus - KCSB member/judge# 32129

01-03-2013, 10:19 AM	#8
NRA4Life is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-07-09 Location: Newark, OH Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	None of my grates are SS. In my big RF, I've been using them for 6 years without issue. After each use, I burn the residual fat, spices, drippings off with my weed burner, wire brush it, then spray with cooking spray. I'm not saying I wouldn't use SS, but the materials to build my cooking grates haven't cost me anything. __________________ - Kevin Team: Smitty's Real Pit BBQ KCBS CBJ 2 Custom Built Reverse Flow Stickburners 22.5" WSM Weber 26.75" OTG Weber 22.5" OTS Weber Blue 2000 Stainless Performer

01-03-2013, 12:31 PM	#9
mr dirts bbq Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-24-12 Location: yorktown, new york Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i use #9 - 3/4 expanded steel, i get it for $42 delivered here in ny (total order must be $300 for delivery though) i just use grill brush and crisco after each cook __________________ charbroil offset, custom trailer pit, 46" vermont castings gasser, 18" kettle, big poppa smokers engineered drum kit smoker than was never picked up = NEW TOY! and last but not least: a never ending 20' comp trailer project

01-03-2013, 12:39 PM	#10
jestridge somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 12-28-07 Location: annville ky Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	After a few cooks you wont be able to tell the difference