Keep pieces of lump from falling through the charcoal grate

[austin87]

I'm getting tired of little pieces of lump falling through my charcoal grate. It seems like the two most prevalent options are getting a second charcoal grate and setting it perpendicular to the original, or cutting a piece of expanded metal to fit over the charcoal grate.

Has anyone tried both? It seems like expanded metal is cheaper but I would also need to buy a pair of tin snips (correct me if I'm wrong on that) to cut it down.

Any other options I'm overlooking?

[fedex]

I use another charcoal grate. Works great.

[WNC]

I think you're gonna come out about the same in price, especially if you need to buy a tool to cut the expanded metal. I just bought a sheet at lowes and I think it was like $10-12 bucks. I think the charcoal grate for the 22 is about the same price.

[Santo]

I use the SSP charcoal baskets perpendicular to the charcoal grate, same idea as another grate really.  If I'm lighting small pieces to start (end of a bag, all that's on hand at the moment, etc.), occasionally I'll line the inside of the bottom of the SSP charcoal basket with tin foil.  It doesn't stop every piece from falling through but it seems to get the majority. 

Thinner guage expanded metal can be bent or "molded" with little effort, i.e. find a 1'x1' square of expanded metal and just bend the corners up the side of the bowl.

[TexasOnion]

I use two grates  1 up 1 down

[Hell Fire Grill]

Two grates works just fine and in the future you can keep your eyes peeled for another option. With this hobby youll pick up spare parts periodically and in a few years or so you have a bunch weber junk laying around.

[mike.stavlund]

+1 for @Hell Fire Grill-- perpendicular grates still allows enough air flow and ash droppage, and you'll find some other grates/grills soon enough.  ;-)

[Troy]

2nd grate for sure. Don't buy a new one though, just go pick up a cheap craigslist grill

tin snips won't cut expanded metal worth a shit. expanded metal is steel (trust me, i tried)

[2mnygrills]

Price some expanded 1/2 or 3/4 inch steel at your local steel distributor.  I bought a scrap piece 24X48 inches of 1/2 inch for about $20 bucks and still have enough left over for three or four more grates.  I took one of my Weber grates for a pattern and they cut one for me free.

@Troy is right on.  Snips is not the way to cut it but maybe a angle grinder.  Also, you could use any extra metal for other projects.

[MacEggs]

I buy all my EM at Metal Supermarkets. Great prices and service.
If that is not an option in your area, then investigate a local metal wholesaler.
Better prices than the big box stores.

http://metalsupermarkets.com

I have made several baskets using EM, and it works grate.

I use an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to cut it.

[MikeRocksTheRed]

If you have a vortex or are planning to get one, there isn't enought space between the charcoal grate and the cooking grate to put a second charcoal grate.  I tried it over the weekend when using lump for the first time and had to remove the second coal grate for the vortex to have enough space between the grates!

[firedude5015]

Most Dollar Stores carry something like this pretty cheap...and they work good for that and other things.
http://www.amazon.com/13-Round-Disposable-Grill-Topper/dp/B005KDCL4U

[Jon]

If you have a vortex or are planning to get one, there isn't enought space between the charcoal grate and the cooking grate to put a second charcoal grate.  I tried it over the weekend when using lump for the first time and had to remove the second coal grate for the vortex to have enough space between the grates!

So maybe a smaller grate that would fit inside the Vortex?

[MikeRocksTheRed]

If you have a vortex or are planning to get one, there isn't enought space between the charcoal grate and the cooking grate to put a second charcoal grate.  I tried it over the weekend when using lump for the first time and had to remove the second coal grate for the vortex to have enough space between the grates!

So maybe a smaller grate that would fit inside the Vortex?

That would probably work as long as it fit inside of the vortex.  Maybe an expanded metal grate under the main coal grate would work good as well.  Bend some of the expanded metal so it can be connected to the main grate.

[Mozfan00]

@firedude5015 Yup - my local Dollar Tree has all kinds of good stuff like this

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