BBQ Grille Grates

[Larry4406]

I needed new grates for our Wolf BBQ362-2. I refuse to pay near $700 for new grates.

Welded only the end rods and the middles all float. Used 1" bar stock for the end rails and 3/8" rod for the grate, all hot rolled A36. Supplier only sells 20' sticks. Used 3 sticks of grille rods and have almost 14' leftover of bar stock. Rods were $7 each and the bar $47. Then taxes, a $15 handling fee(?!), and $88 later...

Split the grate in two to make it easier to handle. Cut the rods and bars to length, beveled the ends, sanded one edge of the bars free of mill scale, used black Sharpie to show layout lines, used Starrett spring punch for the first time, drilled pilot holes followed by final hole size, scrubbed parts in hot water with Dawn soap, thru all parts into blast cabinet to remove all mill scale, fitted assembly and checked for overall dimensions and square, then welded the end rods, and lastly put it on the grille with vegetable oil to season.

Now to put the grille back into proper use.

[Larry4406]

More pictures

[John T]

Looks good
I built something very similar for my smoker only because I hate the look of expanded metal for cooking surface.

If I ever do it again I will use stainless.


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[frieed]

I make charcoal baskets for my Big Green Egg cooker. The first couple were 3/16 mild round bar and didn't last too well.
The latest is stainless and is unharmed after 2 years of heavy use.

[shortfuse]

Good job on the gas grill grill

[Larry4406]

Thanks for the replies.

I toyed with the idea of stainless for about 2 minutes, but then did not want to fool with proper MIG gas, wire, etc.

I have a Lincoln ProMig 175.

The expanded metal was a band aid that limped thru for around 4 years.

[BrooklynBravest]

Looks good. Nice job.

[davec]

Came out nice! I was in a similar boat with my Weber and didn't want to spend $100+ on replacing the rusted out grills...but I also had leftover 304SS rod from an earlier project, so pull out the TIG and voila! I also had them electropolished as it was the same $75 min charge for EP or just passivating

[albrightree]

I make charcoal baskets for my Big Green Egg cooker. The first couple were 3/16 mild round bar and didn't last too well.
The latest is stainless and is unharmed after 2 years of heavy use.

304 or 316 stainless steel ?

[John T]

I also had them electropolished as it was the same $75 min charge for EP or just passivating
.

That came out great.... Ima need to do the same thing soon.

Did you also make the "flavor bars" ? Those look new also....

[frieed]

304 .

[motolife313]

more ideas for anyone

[MinnesotaDave]

Grills came out great - nicely done

[davec]

That came out great.... Ima need to do the same thing soon.

Did you also make the "flavor bars" ? Those look new also....

Yeah I forgot about those. That was leftover 14ga 304. It was way too stiff for me to bend with my limited equipment, so I had a shop with a bigger press bend them.

Rods were 5/16" for the main grate but the cross bars below are 3/8" The 2 smaller grates are 3/16"

[albrightree]

304 .

I have quite a bit of leftover 304 I'd like to use for something similar. At first , before I read the caption, I thought it was a fryer basket.


Thanks

[bigb]

Finally a SS project I can do to practice with my lift tig. I need grates for my old Turbo grill and for SS they want a lot of dough. Now to look for some 304.

[geezer]

OP and all. I will keep this in the archives for later. All nice work.