Bulding a charcoal basket

[brown274]

I just bought a 26" Weber kettle and was wanting to build a heavy duty basket like the Slow N Sear but without the water holder. The longest cooks I will be doing will be @ 2 hours for spatchedcocked chickens. I will be doing reverse searing burgers & steaks mostly. I have a cookshack smoker for butts/ribs/briskets.

Is ASTM A569 or ASTM A36 Hot Rolled steel ok to make it out of? I have some 4" flat bar that is 3/16 or 1/4 that I planning on making it out of. The back will not be perfectly circled but it will keep the coals off direct contact with the sides.
I do not have the welding set up for stainless. I used to see people make baskets out of angle/expanded a while back but it looks like stainless is getting used more since it will not rust and last forever.

I just want to know if hot rolled steel is good to go before I break the welder out.
Thanks

 

[dcecil]

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/breaking-in-the-vortex-on-the-kettle-questions.276559/
check this out before you make one. Not sure if this is what your after but its made for the kettle.

 

[brown274]

I actually have a vortex that I use for my 22" and it works great for fire in the middle and wings/legs around the edge. I am looking for something more like this but wider.

https://abcbarbecue.com/product/slow-n-sear-charcoal-basket/

Thanks

 

[dcecil]

I actually have a vortex that I use for my 22" and it works great for fire in the middle and wings/legs around the edge. I am looking for something more like this but wider.

https://abcbarbecue.com/product/slow-n-sear-charcoal-basket/

Thanks

Gotcha, I’ve seen those at the hardware store. Now I see what your after.

 

[Berettaclayshooter]

Some A-36 HRS flatbar would be fine, although unless you work in or know someone in a fab shop, rolling it isn't for a home fabricator. You could possibly make the curved section with a bunch of mitered cuts and then just a flat peice to form the front. I personally would just shell out the 30 bucks and I work in a fab shop. To me it wouldn't be worth the time spent verses what one could be bought for. You may feel differently.