Expanded metal top for sculpture?

[marlinharwell]

I am planning on recreating the "Wallace" sculpture http://www.aleiens.com/profiles/blogs/wallace-the-weldless-brew with some modifications.

I would like to add a sheet of expanded metal to the top so I never have to worry about kettles of boiling wort not resting securely on the crossbeams. Does anybody have any experience with expanded metal being subject to constant direct flame from three burners? Will it hold up over time?

FYI: I will have the BK sitting over a high pressure burner while the HLT and the MT will sit over low pressure burners.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[outside92129]

for what it's worth i know a guy who made a "sculpture" out of one of these and it works out reasonably well.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11646657

The pots go on top of a shelf, the burners below, and the flames go right though. There is some distortion/wilting and the shelving area exposed to flame are rusting, but it seems to work fine for him.

For your expanded steel, as long as its there for insurance purposes i wouldn't worry. The crossbeams are the structural bits, you just might have to replace the expanded steel every few years, depending on your usage and tolerance to rust.

 

[marlinharwell]

for what it's worth i know a guy who made a "sculpture" out of one of these and it works out reasonably well.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11646657

The pots go on top of a shelf, the burners below, and the flames go right though. There is some distortion/wilting and the shelving area exposed to flame are rusting, but it seems to work fine for him.

For your expanded steel, as long as its there for insurance purposes i wouldn't worry. The crossbeams are the structural bits, you just might have to replace the expanded steel every few years, depending on your usage and tolerance to rust.

Good deal! Thanks

 

[Junkster]

Anytime I've applied a direct flame under expanded metal, it had expanded & contracted with the heating / cooling cycles and has gotten twisted & bent out of shape, it oxidizes very quickly from the flames and generally just becomes a mess. I would skip it and rely on the frame tubing or angle material to provide the support near the edge of the vessels. If you're concerned with them being moved out of place then provide a simple means of keeping them captive with additional angles, stop blocks, stop bolts or studs or something similar.

 

[dutchoven]

I agree with Junkster ... I'm imagining expanded metal bbq grills ... rusted and sagging.

 

[marlinharwell]

Anytime I've applied a direct flame under expanded metal, it had expanded & contracted with the heating / cooling cycles and has gotten twisted & bent out of shape, it oxidizes very quickly from the flames and generally just becomes a mess. I would skip it and rely on the frame tubing or angle material to provide the support near the edge of the vessels. If you're concerned with them being moved out of place then provide a simple means of keeping them captive with additional angles, stop blocks, stop bolts or studs or something similar.

Ok. Yea, it's really just a over-cautionary thing. Might just save the money and leave it out.