BBQ grills - choice of steel / coatings

[twobecks]

Hi all,

Now that I've finished the build of my WFO, I'm turning my attention to building a bbq. Sadly, my 12 year old Brinkmann Smoke n Pit Pitmaster died last week (rusted through at the base), and now I've got over the shock of losing one of my constant summer companions, I want to get stuck into building something I can grill on.

I'm going way over the top with the build spec:

- Integrated gearing for various souvlas (skewers)
- Attachment for external motor to rotate the skewers
- Adjustable grill height
- Minimum 0.5m2 cooking area
- Integrated airflow system to assist with ignition and heat maintenance (maybe through copper brake piping, maybe using a miniature compressor?)
- Lid with temperature gauge to assist indirect cooking and smoking
- Insulated & firebrick lined base for heat retention
- Side attachment for smoker

The question I have is surrounding the choice of steel for the grill. I'm an engineer, so I'm well aware of the merits of 316 stainless. I've seen someone on ebay who can manufacture custom-sized grills, but he uses 304G "catering grade steel". I've not come across this grade before - does anyone have any experience in this matter?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPLACEMENT-CHARCOAL-BBQ-GRILL-MADE-TO-MEASURE-NO-RUST-/170604381300

It may be redundant anyway - I'm also considering enamelling the grills for extra protection, but it would be good to hear from anyone with knowledge of this subject. This is the company I'm considering using:

www.ellisoncoatingsystems.co.uk/

Cheers for any help in advance,

Steve

[johnaero]

i just use old mild steel mesh and work fine.

so long not galvo most will work fine.

[turkey]

I used that ebay seller, 3 years on and the grill is still shiny if and when I clean it ;-)

www.aalco.co.uk/datasheets/Stainless-Steel_1.4509-441_99.ashx

is a spec sheet for similar SS, still not sure what catering grade is, probably good enough not to rust so safe for food but not over engineered so too expensive.

[twobecks]

Brilliant, thanks for the feedback guys, and the spec too.

I'll get my order in as soon as I've worked out how massive the cooking area will be!!

[johnaero]

there are cheap ebay bbq units with full roatation units for skewers and work out cheaper than buying them seperately.

i was going buy one and butcher it and retrofit it into my bbq. thend ecided a dont have large gatherings too ofthen so smaller bbq will do.