Steam Gratings

[barkeater]

I'm building out the deck furniture on Unite as refit by the British dockyard 1797. The plans call for steam gratings above the stove. Every other grating is marked as just grating on the plans. I can't seem to find if there was a difference or not in construction between steam gratings and regular cargo gratings. Does anybody know the answer? Thanks.

Richard

[Keith Black]

  Guessing they were made of iron for the obvious reasons. 

[barkeater]

I would also guess that they would be iron as iron gratings replaced wood ones in the next century. I would like to verify if anyone knows. Thanks.

Richard

[allanyed]

Looking at contemporary models at Preble Hall and RMG for late 18th century ships, all of the gratings are wood.  One example is below.  Does this mean it is the same on Unite?  Not necessarily, but you cannot be faulted for using wood as this is at least one example that shows wood gratings were used.  For Unite, it sounds like you have the contemporary plans (ZAZ3183) and as refitted (ZAZ3184) from RMG.  Kudos on doing the research!!  

Allan

 

 

 

 

[Gregory]

Allan,

It looks like that model builder didn't follow good practice with the joints on those coamings. 

 

[allanyed]

Gregory

Good catch!!  I don't recall ever seeing mitered joints on the head ledges and coamings on a contemporary model.   Could it be these are replacements from some later date?    Either way, they do not seem to be made using accepted practice for that time.

Allan

Edited July 29, 2022 by allanyed

[druxey]

It could just have been a convenient short cut. Something none of us ever do, right?

[allanyed]

Druxey

LOL!!!!   I needed a good laugh, many thanks for that!!!

[wefalck]

Could it be that such gratings above the stove were clad on the under- and inside in sheet-metal of some sort to protect the wood from heat and the steam? You wouldn't see this from above and modellers would not (haved) reproduce(d) it.

[barkeater]

As a follow-up, I simulated iron gratings.

Richard

[Keith Black]

 That looks great, Richard. 

[jud]

Wood clad in sheet metal would encourage rot, so I suspect it was not the practice. Cast Iron or bronze gratings would withstand the heat, steam and greasy smoke they would be subject to and also be reasonably easy to remove for cleaning.