Fixing warped grates

mudnut wrote:Ok while 4 of the 5 are sagging they will still work, I'll end up losing a little more coal than I would like during shake down but that's much better than breaking one or more of these things and being screwed. I'll replace them after this season. Temps are falling here so I'll burn wood tonight and get a fire going for coals tomorrow, once all that is left are the hot embers I'll start tossing in some nut and get the black diamonds going again. No more 2 AM feedings LOL.

Thanks guys gang

Kevin

You can heat in a vise of some sort and try to bend the warped area back (it will require getting the warped area red hot), if it brakes, you can successfully braze it to repair so dont be to fearful about trying... (google brazing cast iron for some lessons on how to do this).

If I were to attempt this I would first acquire a couple of full thick insulating fire brick. these bricks are very light and when heat is applied they glow red hot very quickly. With the grate laid on the brick with the warp side up and heat applied you will in effect be applying heat from both sides as the brick prevents heat loss to the air on the bottom side by reflecting it back. The effectiveness of the torch is multiplied many times as opposed to heating in the open air. The grate may very well sag back to straight by itself. It will also allow slower cooling as you gradually reduce heat to prevent cracking.

Short of using a furnace it is the best way and only way.

Double post