Well I got the fire in my furnace a little hot today and melted the shaker grate into a u shape.

This furnace is so old a replacment would be impossible to find and I know if I try to bend the old one back it will probably snap.

My question is if I make one out of steel instead of cast iron will it withstand the heat?

 

If the steel is thick enough, probably. Basically all steel is just cast iron without the carbon. The fire was probably 1400+ degrees to bend it, so I would look at not firing it up that much any more or the chimney will be next

 

I figured steel would be ok Ill just half to keep a better eye on the fire from now on.