Originally posted: 10/01/2002
Last updated: 04/11/2009

Wire Handles

John Ford of Decatur, Alabama wanted an easier way to remove the bottom cooking grate from his Weber Bullet after cooking, and handles seemed like just the ticket.

"I purchased about 3 feet of #4 copper ground wire at Home Depot and formed it into two U's about 5" tall and 4" wide. I bent 1" hooks on each end and attached to the sides of the bottom cooking grate by squeezing each hook together.

"This allows me to reach in (using welding gloves, of course) and just lift the grate with pork butts on it right out of the cooker."

Welded Handles

If you have a barbecue friend who is proficient in welding, you can weld handles onto each side of the bottom cooking grate. That's what Bill Hays from Western New York did with the help of his bulletin board friend/welder Bryan S.

Bill says, "Two handles made from 1/4" steel rod, bent 4" high by 4" wide, welded to the outermost rungs of the lower cooking grate. This mod also allows you to add a second lower cooking grate by using soup cans or similar at 90° for stability of the added grate."

Photograph of wire handles: 2002 by John Ford.
Photograph of welded handles: 2004 by Bill Hays.