We have been using steel fire bars\ grates in sentinel " vectis knight " for several years
Same grade as used to make log burner baskets
Last about 4 to 5 years and they do get BL....dy hot in sentinel boilers
Last set I made last winter
New steel unit with original cast unit as pattern
http://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pic...ictureid=34655

Under construction
http://www.tractiontalkforum.com/pic...ictureid=34654

Works out one third cost of new cast set
Cheers Martin

What sort of thickness & depth are those with larger engines running with?
I was thinking along the lines of 15-20mm thick & 6" deep for my f type? Thats just a guess imagine they want to be fairly deep to aid cooling.

I replicated the cast bars in steel - so I think they are 20mm thick with 3mm tabs welded to them. I know some who have gone thinner so that the bars themselves are lighter when trying to remove and re-fit but have increased to number of bars in the grate.

Just bought some steel 10mm x 100 mm deep enough to make four bars initially, no need for more at present as the other cast ones are good. Will cut to shape & weld spacers on in the next few weeks.