suggestions for 22.5 grate replacement


 

GGross

TVWBB Pro
I cooked chili on the kettle last weekend and quickly noticed a weight issue with this setup, any suggestions on grates? I have seen all cast iron and cast iron inserts.

 
As Bill said......Craycort will do better.

If you're looking for a more budget friendly fix, what about measuring the distance between the top of the charcoal grate and and the bottom of the (unloaded) food grate and then cutting a few fire bricks that could stand on end between the grates under the CI pot. The charcoal grate is not as wide as the food grate and therefore should not deflect as bad under load. Now the load will be some what shared between the 2 but most of pot's weight in the centre should transfer down. Just my 2 cents.
 
Not as nice as the Craycort, the Stok grate is about $35

imagevuu.jpg
 
Unfortunately, the Craycort kettle grates would be a major pain in the butt for me. I think one prerequisite is that the grate has to be easily removed for fire starting/arranging. The cross bar on the Craycort directly over the LP starter on the Performer is just all wrong, as is having to use a tool to lift any part of the grate. My procedure is to remove the grate. Pile up all the used charcoal. Add new charcoal to the pile. Light the gas ignition. Arrange the fire and/or baskets and/or wood chips. Put the grate back on the grill. Let it preheat. Start cooking. Not being able to easily remove the grate is no good.

One option would be something like the Stok above or this Charbroil, and then use some stainless u-bolts to add two handles.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B009LHILCM/tvwb-20

Another option would be to see the price tag/availability/Weber fit on one of these Napoleon Grills hinged kettle grates. This thing looks really nice:

napoleon_nkck22-c-charcoal_kettle_grill_grids_open_300pix.jpg


Failing that, I'd probably get either the Weber BBQ system nickle grate and put a cast iron grate on top of it (it's the only one where the hinged covers are far enough apart to lift while the cast iron is on top. Or spring for the stainless steel Weber charcoal grate and just use that by itself.
 
Or if it's just weight. Buy a nice shiny new Weber grate (either nickle or stainless steel), but keep your old grotty one in reserve. For a heavy pot of chili, put the old grate on first (handles down towards the fire) and put the new grate on top of that. Double grates, double weight-bearing capacity....
 
Following on frm Harold C post, I have the craycorts and find it a pain to have to keep removing a segment then lifting the whole thing out so I can put the Weber chimney in to light fuel, besides getting greasy removing the whole thing you then have to find somewhere to put it down, has anyone found a way to easily remove the whole grate without all the mess ?
 
If I had the Craycorts, I'd turn it kittycorner so that two opposite sections can be lifted to add briquets to the charcoal baskets. Using the grate tool to do that would be OK since you don't do it very often.

Then, I would treat the remaining pair of sections as permanent and figure out some way of attaching handles on opposite sides that allow lifting the entire grate -- some kind of angle bracket or strapping that slides down the side and under the outer frame? Give me a couple of hours in a Home Depot and I'd come up with something. You could even fashion handles out of very heavy copper grounding wire wrapped around the outer frame.
 
The Craycort looks like a very nice CI grate system....probably the best for the kettle.
And then factor in all their accessories....for instance, the drop-down chicken rack is just plain cool.
 
this grate is interesting because I use the briqs trays and like to reload with hot embers

Unfortunately, the Craycort kettle grates would be a major pain in the butt for me. I think one prerequisite is that the grate has to be easily removed for fire starting/arranging. The cross bar on the Craycort directly over the LP starter on the Performer is just all wrong, as is having to use a tool to lift any part of the grate. My procedure is to remove the grate. Pile up all the used charcoal. Add new charcoal to the pile. Light the gas ignition. Arrange the fire and/or baskets and/or wood chips. Put the grate back on the grill. Let it preheat. Start cooking. Not being able to easily remove the grate is no good.

One option would be something like the Stok above or this Charbroil, and then use some stainless u-bolts to add two handles.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B009LHILCM/tvwb-20

Another option would be to see the price tag/availability/Weber fit on one of these Napoleon Grills hinged kettle grates. This thing looks really nice:

napoleon_nkck22-c-charcoal_kettle_grill_grids_open_300pix.jpg


Failing that, I'd probably get either the Weber BBQ system nickle grate and put a cast iron grate on top of it (it's the only one where the hinged covers are far enough apart to lift while the cast iron is on top. Or spring for the stainless steel Weber charcoal grate and just use that by itself.
 

 

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