Metals that stand up to heat?

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My friend owns a bar/restaurant where there is a fireplace that the customers as well as the staff throw logs into and tend to overheat it. Over the years he had averaged a log holding grate a year where they had pretty much been destroyed by heat so he came to me to build a sturdier unit than could be had or store bought. I then built one out of 1 1/2 inch solid square bar mild steel possibly AW36 and said that will be the last one you will need and for 2 years it has held up but now is showing signs of deteriation, I know some is heat and some is from the acidity of the ash. Is there a better suited material that will hold up and also be able to be stick or MIG welded?"Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:316 stainless
Reply:Type 330 stainless or Inconel 600 would be the best for heat resistance, but not cheap. Plain 304 stainless would still be better than mild steel.Stick would definitely be the method of choice given the thickness and the fact that a roll of stainless MIG wire is big $$$, especially for the higher alloys.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Thick steel, but.............  YOU NEED TO DESIGN AND LINE THE INTERIOR WITH FIRE BRICKS to contain the heat better and insulate the fireplace better.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Those log holders are so cheap, I don't think it would be worth the time or material.  What is he paying for a replacement and what are its dimensions?TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcThick steel, but.............  YOU NEED TO DESIGN AND LINE THE INTERIOR WITH FIRE BRICKS to contain the heat better and insulate the fireplace better.
Reply:If the ashes are kept from building up until they touch the bottom of the grate the grate will last much longer, no matter what type it is. A heavy grate will of course last longer than a lighter grate under any conditions, but when the ashes build up and touch the grate the air flow that provides needed cooling will be blocked and the temperature of the grate in that area will rise, resulting in rapid deterioration. I learned this many years ago when burning coal. The ashes only needed to touch the cast iron grates a few times before the grates failed. Following this same principle with my wood stove has made the mild steel grate last for many years.CharleyCharleyMiller MM252Miller Bobcat 225NTMiller DialArc HF / DIY Cooler2 Victor O/A TorchsetsMilwaukee 8" Metal SawMilwaukee Dry Cut "Chop" Saw 5 Ton Wallace Gantry Various Grinders, Benders, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by tbone550He's talking about the grate assembly that holds the burning wood inside the fireplace.
Reply:Originally Posted by CharleyLIf the ashes are kept from building up until they touch the bottom of the grate the grate will last much longer, no matter what type it is. A heavy grate will of course last longer than a lighter grate under any conditions, but when the ashes build up and touch the grate the air flow that provides needed cooling will be blocked and the temperature of the grate in that area will rise, resulting in rapid deterioration. I learned this many years ago when burning coal. The ashes only needed to touch the cast iron grates a few times before the grates failed. Following this same principle with my wood stove has made the mild steel grate last for many years.CharleyCharley
Reply:Put the wood somewhere else not near the customers, that will stop the topping up on the fire.