Bending heavy duty fireplace grate legs?

[CrystalRiver1]

Hey Studs,
Need some feedback/advice on how to make this fireplace grate fit into my current fireplace. I'm a tad on the frugal side. After looking at the stout cast iron grates online for north of $80 plus I decided to make this one work.
Basically it will work if I can get the back legs bent in about an inch on both sides!
The right leg is bent out about 3/4 of an inch more than the left.
Here are the specs:
Front - 27 1/2 inches
Back - 24 1/4
Depth - 15
Here are some pics. I have no welding torch or vise grip, but I do have a 12 lb. sledgehammer that may do the trick.
Any ideas?

 

[mdavlee]

A sledgehammer will do it but a torch setup would be much easier to get it hot and hit it once or twice and not risk breaking more welds with it all cold

 

[CrystalRiver1]

A sledgehammer will do it but a torch setup would be much easier to get it hot and hit it once or twice and not risk breaking more welds with it all cold

I guess I could take it to a machine/welding shop & they should make quick work of it right?

 

[mdavlee]

I guess I could take it to a machine/welding shop & they should make quick work of it right?

That would be what I would do if you don’t want to buy new tools

 

[Wilhelm]

Take @mdavlee 's advice, heat the legs well prior to bending!

If that is genuine heat/fire resistant steel You don't want to try bend it cold.
I had the interesting experience trying to do that once, the oval shaped bar ended up cracking at the bend.

Nice grate!
I should consider making one for my cast iron fireplace, then again it works just fine without one.
Those are turkey oak embers, excellent firewood.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Take @mdavlee 's advice, heat the legs well prior to bending!

If that is genuine heat/fire resistant steel You don't want to try bend it cold.
I had the interesting experience trying to do that once, the oval shaped bar ended up cracking at the bend.

Nice grate!
I should consider making one for my cast iron fireplace, then again it works just fine without one.
Those are turkey oak embers, excellent firewood.

View attachment 204955

Thanks!
Great council indeed.
That ember bed looks crazy!
BTW...are those cast iron fireplace andirons?

 

[CrystalRiver1]

That would be what I would do if you don’t want to buy new tools

Yeah, I was looking at some cheap can operated torches and some handheld propane rechargeable torches that the Chefs use for their food...just didn't know if that would throw enough heat.
Lost as a goose in high wind on this kinda stuff!

 

[Canadian farm boy]

A hand held propane, map gas, butane torch won’t come close to making things hot enough.

oxy/acetylene torch would be my choice. You want the area of the bend to be glowing red hot

 

[CrystalRiver1]

A hand held propane, map gas, butane torch won’t come close to making things hot enough.

oxy/acetylene torch would be my choice. You want the area of the bend to be glowing red hot

Don't say that!!!!

 

[blacksmith]

Yeah, I was looking at some cheap can operated torches and some handheld propane rechargeable torches that the Chefs use for their food...just didn't know if that would throw enough heat.
Lost as a goose in high wind on this kinda stuff!

I don't think that will get it hot enough. You need more of an oxy/acet torch. Hot it hot enough that it's glowing. The best would that you have a vise that you can clamp the grate in then you can use a pipe wrench or adjustable wrench to tweak the legs as needed after it's all heated up. This way it will keep the welds from breaking as long as the welds are good.

 

[blacksmith]

Sorry @Canadian farm boy, you must have posted while I was typing.

 

[Lightning Performance]

Bonfire with charcoal and BFH.
A hairdryer and piece of pipe will help this game.

Case closed

@CrystalRiver1

 

[CrystalRiver1]

I don't think that will get it hot enough. You need more of an oxy/acet torch. Hot it hot enough that it's glowing. The best would that you have a vise that you can clamp the grate in then you can use a pipe wrench or adjustable wrench to tweak the legs as needed after it's all heated up. This way it will keep the welds from breaking as long as the welds are good.

Thanks Blacksmith!
Hmm...the old vice grip is a goner, but I do have a, "Paul Bunyan" type neighbor who stands about 6'10 and goes about 450 lbs and has hands like a backhoe bucket!
He probably could hold the opposite end with welding gloves...maybe....lol
I've seen the man literally swat embers around in his smoker with his his bare paws!!
Dude use to get drunk for the sole purpose of fighting 5-6 cops...until they blasted him in the left hoof!

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Bonfire with charcoal and BFH.
A hairdryer and piece of pipe will help this game.

Case closed

Big Fat Hammer or Hoe??

 

[Lightning Performance]

Big Fat Hammer or Hoe??

Both

 

[Wilhelm]

Thanks!
Great council indeed.
That ember bed looks crazy!
BTW...are those cast iron fireplace andirons?

My cast iron fireplace does not feature andirons, air inlet is from the sides left and right.
What You see is an door guard which prevents firewood to fall onto the doors and out when opened.
Technically the whole fireplace is cast iron, with steel mounting bolts and nuts, and my own design four corner stainless steel reinforcements.
Whatever fireplace part You see in that picture is cast iron, the thing is about 30-35 years old.

Seasoned turkey oak makes excellent long burning firewood.
A knotty or big piece coals great when choked down and gives off heat all night long.

In regards to heating steel, use bricks to accumulate and reflect the heat of a propane/butane torch and You can get the steel orange colored hot.
It may take a while though considering You are also heating up the bricks.
My dad does this all the time when brazing copper and brass.
We only have a propane torch.

 

[Homemade]

Try a weed burner. It hooks up to a 20lb propane cylinder. I know the heat isn’t real focused like a cutting torch is, but it’s cheap btu’s. They are like 500,000 Btu’s

 

[mdavlee]

Here’s the weed burner. We use them at work to pre heat piping before welding. They’ll get 2” thick stuff to 250-300 degrees in a few minutes.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Forney-500-000-BTU-Uni-Flame-Weed-Burner-1723/205694686

 

[beaglebriar]

Bonfire with charcoal and BFH.
A hairdryer and piece of pipe will help this game.

Case closed

@CrystalRiver1

He ain't wrong^^^... l forged my own fire place tools for the syrup evaporator in my wood boiler. Works in a pinch and easier than digging out the torches.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

He ain't wrong^^^... l forged my own fire place tools for the syrup evaporator in my wood boiler. Works in a pinch and easier than digging out the torches.

Yep, I can see it.
ManBeast suggested I just load up the barrel smoker with wood & charcoal covering the legs of the grate and let it heat up in there an hour or so.
I'd have to dig out my old vise & steel pipe to hold and bend the legs into desired place.