Cast Iron Fireplace Grate (327ML)

I spent some time looking online for a cast iron fireplace grate and decided on this one. I've burned about 1/8 cord of almond wood on it so far, and it's working exactly as I'd hoped it would. One reviewer commented on the legs being too short, but they are just the right height for my needs. The legs raise the grate about 4 inches off the floor of the f/p, which was high enough to clear the gas lighter pipe. The grates are far enough apart to allow the fire to get air, but not so far apart for major pieces to fall through.Follow-up: I've been using this grate every winter since 2011, and it's still holding up quite well. Since we live in California, It doesn't get heavy usage, but I've burned about a cord+ of wood, and it's still in grate shape (pun intended!).

This is a great grate....many fires no decay of grid like others I have owned....I'm gonna buy another for back up......I burn 4 cords a year so won't hurt to have an extra.....highly ratedUpdate a couple of months later and a cold winter - this is a nice grate BUT back has eroded and now has a hole min the middle where the grate use to be I like it - good size and height but like another reviewer who sent pic mine has given way in the back and center. Don't know if I'll buy the backup as stated earlier - price is decent but I'd like it to last more than one season

2 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY. I buy one every 2 years and just plan on it as part of the cost of having nice fires. The flat grate vs sparse spike grate type are ALL made from cheap cast iron, and hot fires take their toll. Prefer flat grate that does not waste burning log pieces otherwise dropping into the ashes. Also don't like side (end) edges - makes clean out harder. We enjoy several fires/week during winter months and cast iron is cheap, so they warp and eventually crack and break. Get used to it.

Looks like great quality however the quality of the packaging job is comical. This review reflects this package job more than the quality of the grate. Who is dense enough to think that a cast iron grate with pointed legs won't puncture a thin cardboard box with nothing but some crumbled up news paper as packing? All four legs were protruding out of the box about three inches when I received it. I can see why so many people have received broken merchandise from Vestal. I'm going to have a chat with Vestal as this situation has has happened many times to a lot of people and is completely avoidable.

We replaced an older steel grate that went limp over the last couple of years. Seems to be the trend with those. The solid Cast Iron grate looks nice, holds wood securely in place and allows for ash to fall through the grate, keeping the word burning hot. We use our fireplace a lot, so I'll update on it next year as we have only had it a couple of weeks and only 2 fires.It sits much higher than our old grate and seems to provide more heat!!!

Used it on 5 fires, the back horizontal section melted and cracked in the center at 4 areas, deforming the rack. It was a hickory and oak fire started with fatwood. Cleaned the fireplace the following week and saw the cracks and deformed rack. It's been in the garage ever since and bought one from Lowe's for half the price. Im a metal fabricator and know the material used in this rack in not rated at 500 degrees. I use a infrared thermometer to check my for a and they're between 300-400.

Works like a charm. Holds a lot more wood that my earlier "wire" model. The flat bottom holds the embers much better than wire models with the large gaps between the "arms". Time will tell how it will weather the flames, but I'm starting with a lot more metal, so I'm optimistic.Of course, make sure you measure your firebox accurately before you order. Allow for the narrowing of the firebox towards the rear.*By wire I mean the type with "U"-shaped arms and bed made from welded 1/2" rods. The

From all of the great reviews on this I wanted to give it a try. We use our fireplace for supplemental (sometimes our only) heat, so I wanted something that would hold the coals longer and last longer than the usual couple of years that a typical welded-bar grate does. We have gone through two of those over the years. Something like this is what we usually have: Minuteman International FG6-27C 27-Inch Standard GrateThis cast iron fireplace grate holds the coals great, but after less than three months, the back side of it started sagging (read: MELTING) and finally the back rail broke in the middle of the melted area. We know how to build a hot fire and I was expecting a grate manufacturer to know how to build a grate that can handle it. I definitely won't be buying one of these again and unfortunately may go back to buying the cheap ones that we have to replace every couple years anyway.On a last note, if you just need a grate to build a pretty fire for ambiance, this would probably work fine, but if you need a hot fire for actually heating your home, I would pass on this one.I'm going to post a photo of the damage, if I can find out where to do it.