Chrome burning off cooking grates?

[vwengguy]

I have had 2-3 standard chrome cooking grates from Weber that have never seen a S’nS or Vortex and within 3-4 cooks the chrome was burned off above the coals.
By burned off I mean that the chrome layer is 100% GONE from the grate above the coals and I can easily see copper or brass under plating.
1st time I saw this it was really bad and not just a small spot. This was on my new 2011 22” Premium Grill with Weber flipper grate using the Weber charcoal baskets for indirect cooking and by the 3rd cook the flippers were yellow from the copper or brass. At the same time I could see the entire lid was covered with white/Gray dust? Chrome Smoke ?
I had this also with my smokey joe from about the same age.. but by that time I was being more careful about getting coals close to the grates, but it had the same results.
Since that time I have had many grills and most of them were older and none of them ever showed the same type of damage. Even my 1978 weathered warrior had the factory grate and was in better shape after so long.
I have since been lucky enough to score myself an assortment of SS Weber grates that I use 100% of the time so I don’t have this problem anymore.
I’m just wondering if anyone else noticed a problem with the chrome grates from around 2010-13?



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[hawgheaven]

Never saw that before. Sure, I've burned all the plating off over the Vortex... Hmmm

[kettlebb]

Pics would probably help a bit more here. I did see that with normal use the nickel plating did discolor and looked like brass or copper but with stock baskets I did not have it burn off or pit on me.


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[vwengguy]

The only burnt grate I have now is my SJ .. here is a photo of the under side where it’s burned off. The rest of the grate looks like new even with 1.5-2 years of hard use!

It’s not rusty, just thin chrome down to the copper plating.



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[kettlebb]

I'd call or email Weber customer service and send them the pics.  They might send you replacement grates.

[vwengguy]

I had my 22” flipper covered by warranty at a major Weber dealer here and at the same time paid $12 more and they upgraded me to a GBS grate.
That GBS was fine and did not burn the chrome. I had that until I got my SS GBS grate .. then I flipped a grill and the chrome GBS went with it.
When I asked for the warranty replacement , the dealer looked at it and ask me “what the hell happened to that?”



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[Mike in Roseville]

I have a grate or two with that same chrome stripping (not rust). Did weber replace it?


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[vwengguy]

Ja, my 22” flipper was replaced by a big Weber dealer here.
Other ones were placed in flip grills.


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[Lemans]

My gourmet grate on my 22 have loss all of its plating.. it happens to every grate..


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[Shanks Kop]

Out of curiosity, what is the material/coating of a standard issue grate, fresh out the box for all charcoal kettles?

Stainless steel grates are they that much more long lasting?

Stainless steel grates , do you buy the replacements direct from Weber for say a 22.5"?





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[Robert]

I had my 22” flipper covered by warranty at a major Weber dealer here and at the same time paid $12 more and they upgraded me to a GBS grate.
That GBS was fine and did not burn the chrome. I had that until I got my SS GBS grate .. then I flipped a grill and the chrome GBS went with it.
When I asked for the warranty replacement , the dealer looked at it and ask me “what the hell happened to that?”



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Please tell me more about the SS GBS grate.  Where did you find it?

Thanks,

Robert

[vwengguy]

Sorry @Robert , I’m not sure if Weber sells it in the states?



I hope this helps ;-)

Matt


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[SixZeroFour]

Euro part number only :/

[kettlebb]

Makes no sense.

[nolch01]

Europeans always get the cool stuff. [emoji6]


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