Stainless Kettle Grates?

Does anyone know of any manufacturer who makes a stainless steel 22 1/2" cooking grate that will fit a Weber kettle. I just recently got a new kettle and have had an old one for years. The only thing that really frustrates me is the chrome-plated cooking grate that rusts out after a while. Thicker bars would be a nice touch too, wish Weber would make something like this.

I cut a piece of expanded stainless-steel that I got at Home Depot for my charcoal grate. I just traced out a circle using my Weber charcoal grate and cut it out with a grinding wheel. When using briquets I still use my stock one but use the homemade one for lump.

Another way to improve the coal grate is to pick up a second one and lay it 90º on the other, creating a crosshatch. Remember that you don't want to make the passthrough too small, keeping a fire hot needs to have adequate oxygen passing through it.

It seems the wishes to have a stainless 22.5" grate available is about the same to have a cast iron grate to fit the kettle. When will one of use (with a welding shop, or a foundry (that rules out me)) step up to the plate?

baker wrote:

When will one of use (with a welding shop, or a foundry (that rules out me)) step up to the plate?

I've been pestering (nicely though) Weber for years to bring back the CI grates. I was hoping someone with the knowledge and equipment would have starting producing them 3rd party by now. I guarantee, whomever is the first will make boucoup bucks. Don't forget the hinged sides on mine, whoever you are

Aren't the bars on the hinged grates thicker than the one that comes standard. I have the standard grate on mine but I thought the hinged one was a little more heavy duty. Still not stainless but thicker bars. I sometimes just lay the cast iron grate from my Lodge grill on the Weber grate when I want a good sear or grill marks.

I like using the heat from the fire for searing and grill marks aren't as important as knowing my grate won't rust out eventually. I think the main thing that bugs me is that the Weber gassers have much nicer grates. I mean how hard is it to cut the same thing in a circle.