XL600 Stainless Steel Grates


 
M

Mike Goetzke

TVWBB Member
Weber has SS grates for the XL600 so I bought them. I was surprised when I took a magnet to them that it was as they are made of steel. I have aftermarket SS grates for my Genesis and the magnet does not stick at all. They were about $80 and the Weber's are $189. I did do a spark test on the Weber grates and mixed a brew that causes rapid rust in metals and I'm now convinced these Weber grates are SS but have seen maybe a 430 series and not the highly corrosion resistant 304.

Is it possible this is a special propritary stainless that is better than 304 or did they cheap out on us?
 
I agree it was probably a cost decision. Yet from what I could find the cost difference is not that big between 300 and 400 series rods.

I can still return these grates - would you?



Weber will not tell me the material grade. FYI (I'm guessing Weber uses 443):

GRADES OF STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel’s grade refers to the quality, temperature resistance, and durability of the metal. Therefore It’s important to consider the stainless steel grade of a grill to ensure that the finish, quality, and durability will meet your expectations. Let’s look at a few of the most popular stainless steel grades.

304 Stainless Steel. As noted in our WHAT IS STAINLESS STEEL section above, this stainless steel grade includes a mixture of chromium, nickel, and carbon. This durable, water-resistant alloy is smooth, sleek, and non-magnetic. 304 is the superior grade as it simply lasts longer and holds up to heat and corrosion much better than other grades. You will find all the grills at Wilmington Grill are made from this superior grade.
443 Stainless Steel. This grade combines chromium and titanium and a little carbon and has many of the same properties as the 304 however it has been found to be less durable.
430 Stainless Steel. 430 is not water-resistant and requires much more cleaning. This cheaper alloy brings down the price of the grill. But would not be a good choice for a high humidity area.
201 and 202 stainless steel. These two stainless steel options do not withstand moisture as well as 304. They were created to cut the cost of Austenitic alloys by replacing most of the Nickel with Manganese or Nitrogen. Neither Manganese nor Nitrogen is nearly as resistant to corrosion as Nickel. However, consumer low cost has made it more and more commonly used.
 
They're still FAR better than chrome plated grates IMO. Truth be told I HATE REALLY HATE chrome plated grates. IMO, it's totally el cheapo way to put "shiny" into the grill on the showroom but has no business inside a cook chamber. It flakes off, then you get gobs of rust, flakes of toxic metal in your food, and so on. Far better to simply do porcelain on the grates.
 
Here is a good, if sad, example of the use of cheaper grade stainless on a more recent Weber:

IMG_7036.jpeg
 
Last edited:
LMichaels said:
They're still FAR better than chrome plated grates IMO. Truth be told I HATE REALLY HATE chrome plated grates. IMO, it's totally el cheapo way to put "shiny" into the grill on the showroom but has no business inside a cook chamber. It flakes off, then you get gobs of rust, flakes of toxic metal in your food, and so on. Far better to simply do porcelain on the grates.
Click to expand...
Absolutely agree!👍
 
Mike Goetzke said:
I agree it was probably a cost decision. Yet from what I could find the cost difference is not that big between 300 and 400 series rods.

I can still return these grates - would you?



Weber will not tell me the material grade. FYI (I'm guessing Weber uses 443):

GRADES OF STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel’s grade refers to the quality, temperature resistance, and durability of the metal. Therefore It’s important to consider the stainless steel grade of a grill to ensure that the finish, quality, and durability will meet your expectations. Let’s look at a few of the most popular stainless steel grades.

304 Stainless Steel. As noted in our WHAT IS STAINLESS STEEL section above, this stainless steel grade includes a mixture of chromium, nickel, and carbon. This durable, water-resistant alloy is smooth, sleek, and non-magnetic. 304 is the superior grade as it simply lasts longer and holds up to heat and corrosion much better than other grades. You will find all the grills at Wilmington Grill are made from this superior grade.
443 Stainless Steel. This grade combines chromium and titanium and a little carbon and has many of the same properties as the 304 however it has been found to be less durable.
430 Stainless Steel. 430 is not water-resistant and requires much more cleaning. This cheaper alloy brings down the price of the grill. But would not be a good choice for a high humidity area.
201 and 202 stainless steel. These two stainless steel options do not withstand moisture as well as 304. They were created to cut the cost of Austenitic alloys by replacing most of the Nickel with Manganese or Nitrogen. Neither Manganese nor Nitrogen is nearly as resistant to corrosion as Nickel. However, consumer low cost has made it more and more commonly used.
Click to expand...
Then there is “marine grade” 316 stainless. I use a lot of that for nut, bolt and screw replacements on rehabs. I guess from my Florida salt air days…There is also at least one company that sells an all-316 stainless grill.
 
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