| The cast brass and cast stainless steel burners have | | | | Cast brass is similar to cast stainless steel when |
| the smallest burrs -- by far. This will mean less chaos | | | | drilled, leaving few, if any, burrs. This burner carries a |
| in the gas flow, fewer trapped particulate matter in | | | | lifetime warranty, including against rust and |
| the burner and a cleaner burning grill. The following | | | | burn-through. It is also interesting to note that Lynx |
| comparison shows how the ports are formed. | | | | does not offer a replacement burner for any of their |
| Why is port formation important? Several reasons. If | | | | grills: simply, you'll never need one. |
| the hole is punched into a sheet metal burner, it | | | | Orifice placement is not as good with this burner as |
| leaves a large tab inside the burner that will cause | | | | with the Fire Magic, but when you consider that you'll |
| more chaos while burning. It is more apt to hold | | | | never replace this burner, it probably doesn't matter |
| trapped food particles and grease, and is therefore | | | | all that much. |
| more likely to burn through. (Note the Alfresco | | | | Alfresco grill burner has punched orifices |
| burner photo below.) | | | | Punched ports like these create substantial ledges |
| Molded ports in cast burners seem like they would be | | | | where carbon particles and moisture can collect and |
| a good idea, but there is considerable difficulty in | | | | foster burn-through. This burner has a limited lifetime |
| making them uniform. Thus, it is quicker and less | | | | warranty that only covers manufacturer's defect. |
| expensive to drill. | | | | With this design, this burner *will* burn through, and |
| Drilled ports are the most uniform and the most | | | | faster than most other burners on the market. |
| precisely placed. They tend to leave a burr on the | | | | Further, notice the placement of the ports: at 10 |
| inside of the burner, which is more noticeable (oddly | | | | o'clock and 2 o'clock; if any grease were to drip onto |
| enough) in a sheet metal burner. Cast burners tend | | | | this burner, it is almost guaranteed to enter these |
| to have smaller burrs. | | | | ports, thereby compounding the rust and |
| Fire Magic grill burner has drilled orifices | | | | burn-through issue. |
| Notice (from the photo on our site) the lack of | | | | DCS grill burner has drilled orifices |
| extensive burring, allowing for a smooth flow of gas. | | | | At least DCS drills burner ports. The burrs, however, |
| Cast stainless leaves few, if any, burrs when drilled. | | | | are substantial when compared to cast stainless |
| This burner has a lifetime warranty, including against | | | | steel, and these will also collect particulates and |
| rust and burn-through. | | | | moisture, which will foster burn-through. This burner |
| Notice the placement of the ports: on the side, safely | | | | also has a limited lifetime warranty that covers |
| below the ridge. This placement will help prevent | | | | manufacturer's defects only, not rust or burn-through. |
| grease from dripping into the burner, minimizing the | | | | This burner has a thicker steel than the Alfresco, but |
| possibility of grease entering the burner. | | | | it also has a serious design flaw: the ports are drilled |
| Lynx grill burner is drilled | | | | directly on top. If grease were to drip on this burner, |
| Notice (from the picture on our site) the lack of | | | | it is guaranteed to enter the burner, compounding |
| extensive burring, allowing for a smooth flow of gas. | | | | the rust and burn-through issue! |