The Summer of Steel

The smell of summer is in the air. More specifically, the familiar wafts of charcoal and smoke are beginning to fill the air, as barbeque season officially kicks into gear across the country. But let’s be honest, it’s always barbeque season in Texas.

And that means it’s DIY (do-it-yourself) projects are firing up, with homemade smokers and barbeque pits and grills tops on the list of many makers across the Lone Star State.

Roughly one year ago, Bloomberg anointed the backyard BBQ as the backyard DIY (do-it-yourself) project of 2020.

Before you get cooking on that DIY grill, you need to know the metal that will serve you best. Of course, when one thinks about commercial grills, stainless steel is the metal that immediately comes to mind. But carbon steel has its place in the DIY BBQ world. Low or medium-sized carbon steel brings weight to the table, which is important when you consider the rapid fluctuations in temperature inside the barbeque.

The Main Ingredient

For most barbeque grills and smokers, the main ingredient is A36 plate or sheet. A structural quality carbon steel, A36 is most used in welded, bolted, or riveted construction of bridges and buildings. But it’s also ideal for general purposes due to some of these reasons:

• It is engineered with a minimum yield point of 36 KSI.

• A36 plates can be used to design lighter weight structures and equipment and provide good weldability.

The Full Recipe

Are You a Hobbyist?