Vestal 324ML Cast Iron Fireplace Grate, 24"

I burn a fireplace all the time and wanted a sturdy grate that wasn't going to melt and this is it! Fantastic value and durable enough for the hottest fire you can make. I have used this grate since last year and it has held up extremely well. I definitely recommend it.

This unit was purchased to replace a thinner, round stock unit that came with the original firebox some 10 years ago, that began melting away. This unit is proud, standing nearly twice as high as the unit it replaced (my large fist, turned on its side, fits easily under the base of the grate. This poses no issue for me, but it is something to be aware of. The possible con is that it steals some space between logs and the top of the fireplace, but the pro is that your fires will receive more air beneath the logs, and you may be able to go a little longer between ash removal. I have been using this unit for a few months and have burnt through many logs in long burning and some very hot fires. The steel is still true in dimensions and in finish. I have zero doubt that I will get more than 10 years out of this grate.

As I am right now enjoying a cozy fire, I remembered that I had planned to write a review. This grate is great! :-)The previous grate had been used for years and the center had warped and several bars had oxidized and 'gone away". To be fair, I fireplace grate goes through some pretty intense temperature differentials, but that means you need some mass if it is going to last. This grate very heavy and well made. 1.5 seasons (about 2/3 of a cord) in burning hardwoods including some high temp hickory, and I can see no sign of any warping or weakening. No iron will last forever in fireplace conditions, but this seems to be made to last.

Tired wasting your hard earned $ on "Chineseum cast iron", aka "extruded garbage steel" grates? You know, the $40 units, with junk steel bars that are cut to length, then welded into something passed off as a bonafied fire grate. The ones that slowly MELT, and sag in the center until it completely falls apart by the end of the season. Yeah, those. Well, THIS AIN'T ONE OF THOSE!I've been using this is my wood stove since Oct 2021, with temps averaging between 450 to 600 degrees. And this grate is laughing about it. You get what you pay for. This grate is no joke. Spend the $, and stop crying.

You can't expect top quality for the price but it is pretty good. I didn't want to spend $80 for a replacement grate and this has done the job so far. I have fires occasionally, maybe 2/month in the cooler months and it hasn't warped yet. Arrived in a completely beat up 2nd rate box, but no shipping damage to the grate. There are areas where the casting has divots and what appears to be a very small crack on the top of the back riser, but it's still holding up. For the price, I'd buy it again.

Purchased this to replace the lousy andirons and grate in an old fireplace. Been burning on it for at least two months, and it’s awesome! I chose it because it has a tighter ‘weave’ than other ones out there, so it holds the logs and ember chunks in the grate - instead of letting them all fall through. It’s also nice and low - so you’re not building a fire up in the air with nothing under it to keep it going. My only issue, which really isn’t an issue, is that it’s super heavy! Wrangling it around to do a good clean-out can be a challenge - but I’m working out a system. Totally happy with this purchase. Just make sure you measure and get the right one to fit.

Update....We've had several fires now and it's still in great shape. I'm guessing that other folks build huge, raging fires and destroy their grates. We're building reasonably sized fires in our fireplace and have had zero warpage/deformation.This thing fits perfectly in our fireplace. Make sure you measure the front, back, and depth of your fireplace before you order. This one appears durable and is good looking. I've used it 3-4 times so far and have had no issues with it (no warping or cracking). I recommend this product

Bought this several month before the big freeze hit in Feb 2021. With no power for several days, the fireplace was our main source of heat. This grate stood up to the 24/7 burning of wood without warping!! The main thing I noticed about this grate was we weren't having to stoking the fire as much like we did with the old grate. It kept most of the coals on top vs falling to the the bottom of the fireplace, which created better and long heating.