Tuning Plates Prop 65 Warning - California

626smoke · Mar 6, 2017

Hello Good People,

First post here. My name is Chris and I am kind of a newbie when it comes to a stick burner smoker. I am looking to add some tuning plates to my Oklahoma Joe Longhorn. I was looking at some plates at Home Depot; 6 in. x 18 in. 16-Gauge Plain Steel Sheet Metal. It says 'plain finish' in the description but it also comes with a California Proposition 65 Warning:

California's Proposition 65 entitles California consumers to special warnings for certain products that contain chemicals above certain threshold levels.

The general Proposition 65 notice is as follows: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Proposition 65 notice for wood products is as follows: WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products generates wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Use a respirator or other safeguards to avoid inhaling wood dust.

Should I look for a different metal?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-6-in-x-18-in-16-Gauge-Plain-Steel-Sheet-Metal-801467/204225705

Thanks,

Chris

SmokinAl · Mar 6, 2017

First off, welcome to SMF!

When you get a chance swing by "Roll Call" & introduce yourself.

Then we can all welcome you to the forum.

As for your question, I'm no builder, but isn't that what smokers are built with?

Most would be thicker metal, but it's still steel.

UNLESS it's galvanized.

Hopefully one of the builders will be along shortly to give you a better answer.

Al

gr0uch0 · Mar 6, 2017

626SMOKE said:
Hello Good People,

First post here. My name is Chris and I am kind of a newbie when it comes to a stick burner smoker. I am looking to add some tuning plates to my Oklahoma Joe Longhorn. I was looking at some plates at Home Depot; 6 in. x 18 in. 16-Gauge Plain Steel Sheet Metal. It says 'plain finish' in the description but it also comes with a California Proposition 65 Warning:

California's Proposition 65 entitles California consumers to special warnings for certain products that contain chemicals above certain threshold levels.

The general Proposition 65 notice is as follows: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Proposition 65 notice for wood products is as follows: WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products generates wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Use a respirator or other safeguards to avoid inhaling wood dust.

Should I look for a different metal?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-6-in-x-18-in-16-Gauge-Plain-Steel-Sheet-Metal-801467/204225705

Thanks,

Chris

Welcome, Chris. Regarding your California concern above, I don't know if there's anything that CA doesn't slap that disclaimer on. From lawnmowers to Christmas lights, it seems that verbiage is quite commonplace with with products I've run across. I often wonder if it isn't somewhat akin to the "Caution: Hot Coffee" warning on McD's joe cups. Second, the metal you're looking at is rather thin for plates, imho. It's only 0.060" thick: you'd be better served with something about 4 times that thickness, around 1/4" for the plates to realize the best effects. My $0.02.

626smoke · Mar 6, 2017

Thank you for the warm welcome, Al.

I will be sure to do a proper introduction soon and hopefully contribute some good stuff to this board.

Yeah, steel is steel, correct? It's not galvanized or plated. It's plain steel.
I think the warning is one of those "California" things but I thought I would ask here since I am sure there are good people here with more knowledge than me in this department.

Chris

626smoke · Mar 6, 2017

gr0uch0 said:
Welcome, Chris. Regarding your California concern above, I don't know if there's anything that CA doesn't slap that disclaimer on. From lawnmowers to Christmas lights, it seems that verbiage is quite commonplace with with products I've run across. I often wonder if it isn't somewhat akin to the "Caution: Hot Coffee" warning on McD's joe cups. Second, the metal you're looking at is rather thin for plates, imho. It's only 0.060" thick: you'd be better served with something about 4 times that thickness, around 1/4" for the plates to realize the best effects. My $0.02.

Hi gr0uch0,

Thanks for the welcome. I am thinking the same there here.....

As long as those plates are ok to use, I will look for ones a bit thicker. Good tip!

wimpy69 · Mar 6, 2017

With some of the strictest material guidelines those California's Proposition 65 stickers are on just about everything you buy. From faucets to kitchenware. Read any instructions or packaging next time you purchase something, they'll be listed somewhere. California even has its own carburetor specs.

626smoke · Mar 6, 2017

wimpy69 said:
With some of the strictest material guidelines those California's Proposition 65 stickers are on just about everything you buy. From faucets to kitchenware. Read any instructions or packaging next time you purchase something, they'll be listed somewhere. California even has its own carburetor specs.

Yeah, I see them everyday. I guess I was just a little worried because these sheets will be exposed to 300* temps.

Sounds like I don't need to be too worried. I'll go take a look and see what I can find. Thanks

wimpy69 · Mar 6, 2017

Only brick and mortars in my area that carry thicker steel plates is Lowes. They carry 3/16" and 1/4" x 4" in various lengths.

gr0uch0 · Mar 6, 2017

wimpy69 said:
Only brick and mortars in my area that carry thicker steel plates is Lowes. They carry 3/16" and 1/4" x 4" in various lengths.

Also check with local body shops, machine shops, and junkyards: all you need is some scrap that they may have laying around for a fraction of what HD/Lowe's/Menards/etc. will charge.

crankybuzzard · Mar 6, 2017

It's California BS...

ALL steels will have some level of carcinogenic materials in them. Chromium, cadmium, arsenic, etc... They are bound up in the molecular structure of the steel itself and will not become airborne unless you grind it and/or flame cut it. At normal smoker temps, you'll be ok.

Now, I do recommend respiratory protection when you grind or cut it. Heavy metals are cumulative and will build up over time in the fats and organs of the body. A dust mask will do fine for incidental work. If you plan to go into business, or work with metals on a regular basis, you'll need a good filtering facepiece with HEPA cartridges.

626smoke · Mar 6, 2017

Thank you all for your help.

The HD sheets were way too thin. I then checked Lowes and they had 1/4" thick plates but they were either too long or too short.

Quick google search and found a metal fabrication shop near by so decide to make a stop. At first they said they didn't sell scrap but I told them what I needed and they went in the back and cut me 5 sheets 1/4" thick for $5 each. Way cheaper than the big guys!

I am all set. Thanks for the quick replies.

You all have a great community here.

Chris

gr0uch0 · Mar 6, 2017

626SMOKE said:
Thank you all for your help.

The HD sheets were way too thin. I then checked Lowes and they had 1/4" thick plates but they were either too long or too short.

Quick google search and found a metal fabrication shop near by so decide to make a stop. At first they said they didn't sell scrap but I told them what I needed and they went in the back and cut me 5 sheets 1/4" thick for $5 each. Way cheaper than the big guys!

I am all set. Thanks for the quick replies.

You all have a great community here.

Chris

Outstanding. Pay it forward, and maybe take some samples of an upcoming cook over to them as a thank you for their help. You never know when you may need them again, and it sure won't hurt. Best of luck to you.

pitbulmom · Mar 7, 2017

I have found and ordered my Tuning plates from a place called BBQSmokerMods,com. For $85 they are measured for the Smoker (Chargriller SmokinPro) and seem to be pretty nice! They will be here in the next 2 days.

http://www.bbqsmokermods.com/product-p/ok-tune-31.htm

I do believe this is the one for your Smoker

Hope this helps!

If that isn't the right one, here is the page for all the stuff for OkJoes

http://www.bbqsmokermods.com/category-s/1834.htm

geezer · Mar 7, 2017

In California everything kills you.

gr0uch0 · Mar 7, 2017

PitBulMom said:
I have found and ordered my Tuning plates from a place called BBQSmokerMods,com. For $85 they are measured for the Smoker (Chargriller SmokinPro) and seem to be pretty nice! They will be here in the next 2 days.

http://www.bbqsmokermods.com/product-p/ok-tune-31.htm

I do believe this is the one for your Smoker

Hope this helps!

If that isn't the right one, here is the page for all the stuff for OkJoes

http://www.bbqsmokermods.com/category-s/1834.htm

You may want to re-read the thread, Mamma: he got fixed up yesterday for $25 at a machine shop around the corner from him. Heavier gauge and better ability to adjust on the fly.

pitbulmom · Mar 7, 2017

Oh, okay! Was just trying to help! Glad he got such a deal!

Tuning Plates Prop 65 Warning - California

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