Jump to content
I Forge Iron

Civil War cooking grates


Recommended Posts

I am making two Civil War cooking grates today. 3 ft. by 2 ft. I will post pictures later.
How should I finish them? If I use oil, I would have to have a rather large tub, and it would a very large amount of oil. Paint, untraditional and unsafe for cooking on.
Thoughts?

The kidsmith,
Dave Custer

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can also get Pam in olive oil.

You can wipe oil on with a cotton rag or brush. Make sure the brush isn't a synthetic or it'll melt.

Something else occurred to me after I sent it. Why not put olive or whatever kind of oil in a pump spray bottle? If you give it a try before I do let us know how it works.

Frosty

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are making cooking grates for over a campfire. All you really need to do is paint it with a high temp black paint. The grates will be used to cooking pans to do the cooking and most chances will not have the food cooking on the iron itself. The one I have used for years has been rained on and has yet to rust. It seems to have something to do with the heat from the fire.

cooking_grate_1-01.jpg

This is the normal grate that I make for re-enactor in different sizes.

firegratepan02.jpg

This grate is was made for a living history area that could have open fire but not on the ground.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use olive oil in a cheap trigger sprayer simular to what cleaners come in quite often. The nozel is adjustable from mist to stream so I don't waste much oil to the ground. All the ones I have had eventually give out from the oil but for $1 and the fact they last a year or two seams to make it ok. Pampered Chef sells a pump sprayer for oils that works well, but the wife won't let me take it out of the kitchen.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just a note. I let fire grates and tripods and many other items destined for the fire just go ahead and rust. I then tell customer that if they wish they can use some PAM or Olive oil. Saves time for me and I don't have to keep up with something else. Cooking utensils and a few other things never get wet while I still own them. I spend enough time cleaning them up and finishing them. I will paint the occasional tripod for Mrs consumer to hang flowers from and also dinner bells. Ace wrought iron spray paint seems to last as good as any. I WILL make items neat and tidy and clean ( similar to utensils ) for demanding customers. All in the need. I would not paint grates simply because some folks plop frozen hamburger patties on mine. These folks got the grates in as forged condition and oiled themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It'd be easy to make one that would work with or without the fire pan AND make the pan's height adjustable.

Lastly if you made two pans a little wider than the longest rod (except maybe the two main horizontals which could be handles or something clipped to the outside) they could be a carrying box.

Frosty

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you take a piece of 3/8 about 12-15 inches long and flatten it out for four or so then coil it around one of the up-rights then make a coil that looks like a burner on a stove ...makes and adjustable holder for a coffee pot or frying pan. it will jam on the up-right and stay in place

Edited by jimbob
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Paint for that time depending if it was made in a field or shop is not untraditional. Though the paint they had did not come from a spray can, it was more like house paint.

As far a fire grate, I will paint them if it is for a customer. It looks alot nicer and gives the apperance of more time and care being put into its' being made.

Use krylon high heat paint. The campfire will never reach the temp to burn it off and does not affect the safety of cooking. After the continual use of the grate in the fire will help protect the grate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Jayco,

Here is my new cooking apparatus for re-enactments. You wanted one that you could use for family cook outs. This one also breaks down flat for easy storage.

It is an 1860 period field cook stove. about 35H x 35L x 20W not counting shelf.

DSCF1063.JPG DSCF10651.JPG

Made this for the wife. Fire was the number 1 killer of women in the 1800 and before, due to the flowing dresses and hoop skirts getting too close and into the fire.

Kinda the first BBQ grill.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah Reb why dont ya do a bp on the grate (I know its pretty simple looking but I think Glenn is in need of bps) and on "First BBQ grill" .

They both look Great I`am thinking of building one or both of em for camping and when we go riding.

Thanks,Chris

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...