How to Build a Grate for a Wood Stove

An economically efficient way to heat the home is to burn wood in the fireplace or wood stove. The grate holds the wood up above the bottom of the wood stove to allow the ashes from the burnt wood to sift down and not hinder further burning. An iron grate is the most cost-effective and safe type of grate to put under burning wood because it will not warp under the heat like steel will.

12-inch sections of hot rolled steel, 4 sections
8-inch sections of hot rolled steel, 5 sections
1-inch sections of hot rolled steel, 4 sections
Propane torch
Tongs
Anvil
Ball pein hammer
2-gallon bucket of water

Instructions

- 1
  Heat the ends of a 12-inch long section of hot rolled steel until they glow yellow-white, holding the metal with tongs. The color change indicates that the steel has been heated to 1,800 degrees. It will only stay at this temperature and mallable for 20 to 30 seconds.
- 2
  Hammer the heated ends of the 12-inch section to the ends of two, 8-inch sections of hot rolled steel, using a ball pein hammer on the flat top of an anvil. The two, 8-inch sections must be attached to the 12-inch piece perpendicularly.
- 3
  Heat the ends of a second 12-inch section until they are yellow-white. Hold the steel in the middle with tongs. Hammer this piece to the free ends of the 8-inch pieces of steel, using the ball pein hammer. This makes the rectangular base of the grate.
- 4
  Heat the ends of two 12-inch sections of hot rolled steel, holding the steel in the middle with tongs, using the propane torch.
- 5
  Set the two sections on the base, 2.5 inches from the ends, so the ends of the sections touch the 8-inch sides of the rectangle. Hammer the ends into the base, using the ball pein hammer.
- 6
  Heat three, 8-inch sections of hot rolled steel, holding them with tongs, until they are yellow-white, using the propane torch.
- 7
  Set the sections on the base, parallel with each other and perpendicular to the 12-inch sides of the base, with ends resting on the 12-inch edges of the base. Set the sections at 3-inch intervals from one edge. Hammer the smaller sections to the base, using a ball pein hammer.
- 8
  Heat the ends of four, 1-inch sections of hot rolled steel, which are the feet, using the propane torch. Set the 1-inch sections on the grate frame on the first cross of the bars diagonally inward from each corner. Hammer the feet to the base using the ball pein hammer.
- 9
  Insert the grate into a 2-gallon bucket of water, any temperature, to cool the metal. Hold the grate with tongs.

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