Reversible Baking Steel / Griddle Thread

[mclaincausey]

This thread is to carry on conversations originating in the Random Questions thread about sourcing and fabricating a reversible baking steel / griddle, and then to figure out who wants one such that we can tally up an order. Baking Steel is dragging their feet and we are tired of waiting. This is only for you and your loved ones, we are not trying to undercut Baking Steel or sell these at a profit.

The item is simply 16- by 14- by 3/8ths-inch slab of A36 structural steel, corners radiused, edges chamfered, polished on the reverse (griddle side) and with a grease groove routed into the griddle side. Seasoning will be the responsibility of the owner.

More info
http://www.bakingsteel.com/blog/baking-steel-griddle-version-2-0-coming-june

http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/04/the-food-lab-the-new-reversible-baking-steelg.html

As a secondary objective of this thread, I think we will need to draft some safety best practices for this item, because it will weigh in at almost 30 pounds heated to 500F and can potentially be very dangerous in terms of burning you or starting a grease fire, and/or could destroy your range.

[mclaincausey]

So, my latest update is we found some 1/2" plate (a bit thicker) that could be laser cut, radiused corners, non-chamfered, no groove, polished on both sides, for $28 each. This would require a secondary routing job, but it seems like individuals could sand or grind down the edges. We have a few other quotes in flight on my side.

[jdl1279]

Wow, 1/2" would be roughly 6-7lbs heavier than the original 3/8" design. The price is obviously better per unit, but not sure how many would lay in the extra work.

[Chris]

Non-chamfered isn't a problem for me. I can grind sharp edges down. 1/2" inch is ok, too.  Definitely need the drip groove.

Shipping is going to be a bitch- probably 40-50 bucks.  On the plus side, you don't really need a box. It's virtually indestructible, even for the post office, do you can just also an address label on it and hand it over to them.

[mclaincausey]

@Chris:

Non-chamfered isn't a problem for me. I can grind sharp edges down. 1/2" inch is ok, too.  Definitely need the drip groove.

Shipping is going to be a bitch- probably 40-50 bucks.  On the plus side, you don't really need a box. It's virtually indestructible, even for the post office, do you can just also an address label on it and hand it over to them.

The poor fucking couriers!

Good point on the extra 1/8th of an inch depth giving us a deeper groove, though I wonder if it fucks up the physics in any way.

[urbanwoodsman]

I'm interested in one. Price sounds great but totally forgot about shipping, won't be cheap.

[mclaincausey]

Anyone living in Chicago or Detroit might be able to pick it up.

[jdl1279]

I'm smack between big D and Chi-town[emoji2]

[DanielAFC]

I'm in for one for sure, even with 50 bucks shipping it'll be cheaper than the baking steel one whenever it comes out

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mclaincausey]

Added a poll. You can change your vote if the numbers are too high or you change your mind later.

[Giles]

Please let me know final weight.  I need to work out what the damage across the sea would be…....

[mclaincausey]

Ok will do. At least 30ish pounds

[Giles]

Hmmmmm.

[jdl1279]

I did finally get he other quotes for this, nothing touches what is already on the table. Anything more on your end Mclain?

[mclaincausey]

Let me ping em. It may be better to get a plancha