expanded metal

chingador · 10-19-2006, 08:26 PM

Where is a good place to buy expanded metal. I scoured my local Home Depot and could not find any. I asked the "helpful" employees, and I might have well been asking for the secret of life.

I am in the Housotn area.

Heimelswine · 10-19-2006, 08:57 PM

Where I live the yellow pages list it under Steel Distributors. We have full blown steel suppliers on 40+ acres, down to the little shop on the corner that is the size of a home lot. I buy mine at the little shop on the corner.

midnight · 10-19-2006, 08:58 PM

Check with any welders in the area. They will usually cut it to whatever size you need for a small charge.

thirdeye · 10-19-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chingador

Where is a good place to buy expanded metal. I scoured my local Home Depot and could not find any. I asked the "helpful" employees, and I might have well been asking for the secret of life.

I am in the Housotn area.

Look under "Steel Distributors" or "Steel Recycling" in the yellow pages. They will have a variety of sizes in either a raised or flat profile. You can choose between stainless and carbon steel. It will be cheaper if you buy a "drop" (which is a partial sheet, leftover from another order) rather than having them cut a piece for you to order.

These are both flat profile.

Brauma · 10-19-2006, 09:16 PM

The local metal distributor in my area lets me go back and pick out whatever "drops" or scrap I want. Then they set a price. Always cash. And always a very good deal.

Q_Egg · 10-19-2006, 09:18 PM

.... also, note thirdeye's pics ..... that is 'flattened' expanded steel. I live in a small town in southwestern Utah, and local welders have lots of different size expando, but none of the local stuff is 'flattened'. Cleaning my grates is a PITA and unless temps are right at removal time, stuff sticks.

Apologies if you already knew this.

BBQchef33 · 10-19-2006, 09:27 PM

the expanded metal is ALWAYS hidden inthe home depots.

Find the isles where the work gloves, bungee cords etc.. in or around that isle, 1 or 2 up fom the lumber... There should be a small display with maybe a 4x4 foot footprint. It has steel rods, flats, angle iron in it, standing up. Directly above that display are 24x24" pieces of alminum, brass, decorative grate, AND......

Expanded steel... usually a flat white box with red or blue writing. Its always there cause no one else can find it either. :)

MilitantSquatter · 10-19-2006, 09:42 PM

Here's a link for manufacturers and distributors for expanded metals - ton's of sources... quality and patterns vary along with price so shop around... just close off to Texas to find the locals in your area as freight will be less for you.

http://www.thomasnet.com/nsearch.htm...ading=50550201

I'd recommend my company which is an industrial distributor, but we took it out of our offering a while back... I'm in the process of adding it back in to the next catalog... otherwise, check my competitors website... www.mcmaster.com and do a search for Expanded Metal... they have it.

FatDaddy · 10-19-2006, 09:57 PM

one note about HD expando is that it only comes in small pieces. Not enough to really do anything major with. i bought a couple of pieces through the fireplace store here to put in my fire box. one or two cooks later it was warped all to hell. of course i didnt reinforce it or make a basket or anything. i just laid it over a couple of fire bricks.
Recycling centers usually have a good source of expanded metal and pretty reasonable on the scraps.

smokinbadger · 10-19-2006, 10:01 PM

You can find expanded metal at ACE hardware stores pretty regularly. Last time I looked they had both 1/2" and 3/4" flattened stock in various sizes up to 24x24 and 18x30 inches. In the case that you need bigger pieces, a steel distributor is a better bet.

chingador · 10-20-2006, 06:45 AM

thanks guys

Arlin_MacRae · 10-20-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQchef33

the expanded metal is ALWAYS hidden inthe home depots.

Find the isles where the work gloves, bungee cords etc.. in or around that isle, 1 or 2 up fom the lumber... There should be a small display with maybe a 4x4 foot footprint. It has steel rods, flats, angle iron in it, standing up. Directly above that display are 24x24" pieces of alminum, brass, decorative grate, AND......

Expanded steel... usually a flat white box with red or blue writing. Its always there cause no one else can find it either. :)

I found some at HD, but like Phil said - it's hidden. Maybe ask the "helpful folks" where their sheet metal is, 'cause at my store they were together.

soulman · 10-20-2006, 01:22 PM

The following is from KCquer:

"I susupect you've read this already but I'll mention it just in case, do not use galvanized metal in you smoker. Toxic fumes, zinc poisoning, just bad news, don't use it."

SmokeInDaEye · 10-20-2006, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQchef33

the expanded metal is ALWAYS hidden inthe home depots.

Find the isles where the work gloves, bungee cords etc.. in or around that isle, 1 or 2 up fom the lumber... There should be a small display with maybe a 4x4 foot footprint. It has steel rods, flats, angle iron in it, standing up. Directly above that display are 24x24" pieces of alminum, brass, decorative grate, AND......

Expanded steel... usually a flat white box with red or blue writing. Its always there cause no one else can find it either. :)

Ok, Phil. Your knowledge of Home Depot is scaring me.

Just walked into the little Home Depot below my office in Manhattan (that barely carries lumber, mind you) and 3 minutes later I find 3/4x24x24" expanded steel above the rods, etc.

Now I guess I'll go build me another charcoal basket or something.

ggriffi · 04-01-2007, 04:49 PM

After going thru about 4 pieces of the HD expanded metal as my fire grate, I am looking for something heavier gauge so that perhaps it won't warp quite so quickly. After going to the links that Vinny provided, I think I am more confused than ever about this stuff. When the measurement is in gauge, is that thicker than when give as decimal point?

gary

10-19-2006, 08:26 PM	#1
chingador Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-18-06 Location: Pearland,TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	expanded metal Where is a good place to buy expanded metal. I scoured my local Home Depot and could not find any. I asked the "helpful" employees, and I might have well been asking for the secret of life. I am in the Housotn area.

10-19-2006, 08:57 PM	#2
Heimelswine Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 10-16-04 Location: New Mexico Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Where I live the yellow pages list it under Steel Distributors. We have full blown steel suppliers on 40+ acres, down to the little shop on the corner that is the size of a home lot. I buy mine at the little shop on the corner. __________________ Smoking = Relaxation/Meditation

10-19-2006, 08:58 PM	#3
midnight Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-17-03 Location: small town South Dakota Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Check with any welders in the area. They will usually cut it to whatever size you need for a small charge. __________________ Some people are like Slinkys, they are good for nothing but can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs. Down to one lonely ol' Bandera.

10-19-2006, 09:16 PM	#5
Brauma Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-04-05 Location: Goochland, VA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The local metal distributor in my area lets me go back and pick out whatever "drops" or scrap I want. Then they set a price. Always cash. And always a very good deal. __________________ Mark - part of Cat Sass BBQ Team. Community Development VP - Secret Squirrel Society (but we don't exist) Member: Mid Atlantic BBQ Association. Member: KCBS. CBJ # 31818 "Life's too short to drink cheap beer or eat crotchpot BBQ" NB Bandera - refurbished; Two Big Green Eggs: Poncho - Large, and Lefty - Small; Weber Kettles; 6' fire pit; Super fast Blue Thermapen

10-19-2006, 09:18 PM	#6
Q_Egg is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-06-06 Location: St George, UT Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	.... also, note thirdeye's pics ..... that is 'flattened' expanded steel. I live in a small town in southwestern Utah, and local welders have lots of different size expando, but none of the local stuff is 'flattened'. Cleaning my grates is a PITA and unless temps are right at removal time, stuff sticks. Apologies if you already knew this. __________________ Tom B. aka tommy_bandera ---------------------------------- GMG_Daniel Boone _ pellets only Big Green Egg _ Large _ need high heat Broilmaster D3 'natural' gasser CB Bandera .. hooked me Traeger Texas 075 spoiled me

10-19-2006, 09:27 PM	#7
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	the expanded metal is ALWAYS hidden inthe home depots. Find the isles where the work gloves, bungee cords etc.. in or around that isle, 1 or 2 up fom the lumber... There should be a small display with maybe a 4x4 foot footprint. It has steel rods, flats, angle iron in it, standing up. Directly above that display are 24x24" pieces of alminum, brass, decorative grate, AND...... Expanded steel... usually a flat white box with red or blue writing. Its always there cause no one else can find it either. :) __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

10-19-2006, 09:42 PM	#8
MilitantSquatter Moderator Join Date: 09-17-05 Location: soon to be in Mooresville, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here's a link for manufacturers and distributors for expanded metals - ton's of sources... quality and patterns vary along with price so shop around... just close off to Texas to find the locals in your area as freight will be less for you. http://www.thomasnet.com/nsearch.htm...ading=50550201 I'd recommend my company which is an industrial distributor, but we took it out of our offering a while back... I'm in the process of adding it back in to the next catalog... otherwise, check my competitors website... www.mcmaster.com and do a search for Expanded Metal... they have it. __________________ Vinny 22" WSM & Kettle Former owner: Jambo, Klose BYC, Med. Spicewine, Pitts & Spitts, XL & (2) Med. BGE's, (2) 18" WSM's

10-19-2006, 09:57 PM	#9
FatDaddy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-04-06 Location: Wichita Falls, Tx Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	one note about HD expando is that it only comes in small pieces. Not enough to really do anything major with. i bought a couple of pieces through the fireplace store here to put in my fire box. one or two cooks later it was warped all to hell. of course i didnt reinforce it or make a basket or anything. i just laid it over a couple of fire bricks. Recycling centers usually have a good source of expanded metal and pretty reasonable on the scraps. __________________ HALF DIAMOND RANCH BBQ Home made 5' reverse flow smoker Lg BGE WSM 18.5 WSM 22.5 Weber Kettle 22 1/2" silver series Weber Copper Smokey Joe Gold 14.5" GPS trackable RED super fast thermopen http://www.facebook.com/jtempleton2

10-19-2006, 10:01 PM	#10
smokinbadger Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-17-06 Location: Dexter, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You can find expanded metal at ACE hardware stores pretty regularly. Last time I looked they had both 1/2" and 3/4" flattened stock in various sizes up to 24x24 and 18x30 inches. In the case that you need bigger pieces, a steel distributor is a better bet. __________________ The Smokin' Badger Klose Widebody MasterChef * XL BGE * WSM * Weber Performer * La Caja China * Cookshack 055 * Big Stainless Gasser *

10-20-2006, 06:45 AM	#11
chingador Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-18-06 Location: Pearland,TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	thanks guys

10-20-2006, 01:22 PM	#13
soulman On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-23-06 Location: Northeast Kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The following is from KCquer: "I susupect you've read this already but I'll mention it just in case, do not use galvanized metal in you smoker. Toxic fumes, zinc poisoning, just bad news, don't use it." __________________ Bandera with 101 mods Weber Performer

04-01-2007, 04:49 PM	#15
ggriffi Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-23-06 Location: NW Indiana Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	After going thru about 4 pieces of the HD expanded metal as my fire grate, I am looking for something heavier gauge so that perhaps it won't warp quite so quickly. After going to the links that Vinny provided, I think I am more confused than ever about this stuff. When the measurement is in gauge, is that thicker than when give as decimal point? gary __________________ gary "BassAckwards Bar B Q Co." PCC 24"X48" Backyard Smoker Weber Q100 44 qt Bayou Classic Sears 4 burner gasser w/rotisserie Weber kettle Bookers and Coke I refuse to kiss anything that uses its tongue for toilet paper

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