Fireplace Gratings

[sparks]

  I've lived in this home since '02. Burn about one cord a year. The first grating lasted about four years before it buckled and broke. I'm now on the fourth replacement. Sometimes I let the ashes get deep before cleaning. And burn a lot of oak. Am I doing something wrong? I get my gratings from Menards.   

[MountainDon]

Are they steel or cast iron. I suspect steel. Steel won't last forever, cast iron might.

[sparks]

Not sure Don. The current one appears to be a cast of some description. No welds.


sparks

[StinkerBell]

When you buy a new replacement, turn the item over and see if the "Made In China" stamp is on it.

[MountainDon]

Yep. There's cast iron and then there's Cast Iron. The grate in the Chinese chiminea has sagged a slight amount after many hot fires. The grate in our old VC stove was put through many cold winters and never had any signs of wear or stress. I expect the new VC stove to be good as the iron is still cast in Vermont.

[sparks]

When you buy a new replacement, turn the item over and see if the "Made In China" stamp is on it.

Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you Stinkerbell.

I never even thought to look!

And Thanks to you Don. From now on I'll be paying closer attention.


sparks