[Stoves] Simple Grate

[Dan Metcalf]

----- Start Original Message ----- 
From: "Lanny Henson"

Finding a simple to make grate for cook stoves has been a problem. Most
grates require some king of complicated punching, welding or expanding.
Well I built a stove that uses a grate, the top lit stove is not remarkable
but the grate has promise.
It is a folded bar grate, using a metal strip that can be cut from a bucket
or a steel drum.
The grate is simple to build requiring only hand tools, simple enough to be
used as a consumable part. I have a grate made from 24ga that was fired 6
times. The zinc is gone but otherwise it seems no worse for the ware. An 18
ga grate cut from a thick drum should last quite a while. You could also use
strips cut from tin cans and just piece them together. Cans are free, you
need two pair of snips to make the no fastener splice. See the photos at
http://www.lanny.us/grate.html
What do you think?
Lanny Henson

----- End Original Message ----- 



Lanny,

That's a very nice, simple design.

I use a sheet steel grate with the edges turned up about 1/2" to give it 
stability, and then drill lots of 1/4" holes drilled in a checkerboard 
pattern.  It works pretty well, but I can see where drilling all those holes 
with a drill press would be difficult in some regions of the world - need a 
sharp bit and drill.

Your design looks like it would work pretty well for anyone with a pair of 
tin snips, but you might get added rigidity if you took a couple of strips 
and put them crosswise across your pattern.  You could notch cut the cross 
pieces *nearly* 3/4 of the way with your tin snips, and put corresponding 
1/4 way notches in your pattern at the matching spots.  (or you can go for 
1/2 & 1/2)  Then fit the pieces together and give them a good whack with a 
hammer at each joint to make them fit level.  That will give you a good lock 
between the 2 pieces and more rigidity in the overall grate.  My guess is 
that you'd probably be able to get twice the life out of this more 
stabilized grate.

Dan Metcalf