Aluminum charcoal grate

[ButtevilleBBQer]

I was thinking of having a guy at work router me out a aluminum charcoal grate.  A simple design that is round of the appropriate size and a bunch of round holes around 1" in diameter to allow airflow.  The choice on thickness is .080 and .125 gauge aluminum that is 5052 alloy and is used for road signs.  Would using aluminum as the charcoal grate cause any weird tastes or be harmful?  Would it melt?  I have a couple Old Smokey BBQ's and they are entirely made (except the top grill grate) of "aluminized steel" including the bottom charcoal grate.  What do you guys think?  Thanks.

[JEBIV]

It has a 1100-1200 deg F melting point, no other harmful attributes. Not sure whether it may sag over time from heat though

[Darko]

You should be fine.

[TD]

Isn't aluminum suspect in brain disorders? Seems I read that somewhere. I prefer stainless in cooking pans, so prabably have a buildup of chromium in my system.
Oh never mind , you said charcoal grate.

Weber char baskets are aluminized.

[blksabbath]

Everything was/is/might be suspect in brain disorders.


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[HoosierKettle]

Aluminized steel is steel with aluminum coating. So you can't compare it to solid aluminum in terms of strength or melting properties.

I wouldn't use aluminum for a charcoal grate. At .080 it will sag first use is my guess.

Is this for a 22 kettle?  Charcoal grates are only $11


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[hawgheaven]

Yup... not sure if aluminum is the way to go for a charcoal grate... not gonna last long me thinks. Just go get the real replacement...

[ButtevilleBBQer]

Thanks for the ideas.  If I go with the aluminum I'll keep you updated.  I just figured the grate would not rust in my Weber's and always looking to try something that might work better.  The stock Weber grates are cheap but rust and same with the aluminized steel ones from Old Smokey.

[Cellar2ful]

Killa Grilla makes a SS charcoal grate. Should be much less prone to rust and corrosion.  It is 17" and replaces the Weber charcoal grate #7441.

http://killagrilla.com/item/round-bbq-stainless-charcoal-grill-grate-kg-weber-replacement

[YardBurner]

If your charcoal grate is rusting very much
you're not using the grill enough!

[ClubChapin]

I would expect aluminum would warp, deform, and burn through faster and to a greater extent than the oem steel ones.

[Darko]

Isn't aluminum suspect in brain disorders? Seems I read that somewhere. I prefer stainless in cooking pans, so prabably have a buildup of chromium in my system.
Oh never mind , you said charcoal grate.

Weber char baskets are aluminized.

That has been disproven.

[TD]

If you say so, Darko. Aluminum will rust. Maybe oxidizes. Powdery white stuff. Stinks.

[Troy]

Isn't aluminum suspect in brain disorders? Seems I read that somewhere. I prefer stainless in cooking pans, so prabably have a buildup of chromium in my system.
Oh never mind , you said charcoal grate.

Weber char baskets are aluminized.

That has been disproven.

Link?
I had been researching aluminum in relation to dry herb vaporizers and the Alzheimers fear is strong. The supporting evidence seemed to match the arguments and I didn't see any clear proven winner.

[Darko]

Isn't aluminum suspect in brain disorders? Seems I read that somewhere. I prefer stainless in cooking pans, so prabably have a buildup of chromium in my system.
Oh never mind , you said charcoal grate.

Weber char baskets are aluminized.

That has been disproven.

Link?
I had been researching aluminum in relation to dry herb vaporizers and the Alzheimers fear is strong. The supporting evidence seemed to match the arguments and I didn't see any clear proven winner.

http://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease/Risk-factors/Aluminum