Are heavy grates good or bad for smoking

[Odysseus]

I was shopping for the LavaLock convection plate for my new OKJ Highland when I saw that they make 10 gauge stainless lasercut replacement grates. They look really nice and weigh about 17 pounds. At first I was thinking, the more thermal mass, the better. But then it occurred to me that when they get up to temperature, they are going to be a source of radiant heat and the meat is going to be laying right on them. Most expensive offsets have a comparatively low-mass expanded metal grate which means there really isn't a large source of radiant heat less than an inch away from the meat.

Any opinions on whether really high-mass grates are good or bad? (aside from considerations like rust, cleanup, etc.)

 

[JWFokker]

Stainless does not radiate heat the way cast iron does. However, using a thicker heavier grate will increase thermal transfer via direct contact with whatever you're smoking. Rather than 250F air heating your food, a 250F metal surface is heating it.

 

[Odysseus]

That makes sense. I think I'll stick with the factory grates until they get rusty, then find some regular mass stainless replacements down the road.

 

[Berettaclayshooter]

S/S and heat don't mix, unless you use something like 309 (it will rust, high carbon content) or 310 which is ridiculous expensive. Good old steel and grease will keep your stuff from rusting along with proper cleaning.