If you've been searching for the best Weber Kettle smash plate, Weber griddle plate or a flat top cooking plate for a Weber BBQ, you've probably noticed there's no shortage of options. But not all smash plates are created equal.
At CLD Fabrication, our Weber Kettle Smash Plate and Grill Plate wasn't designed just to look good on paper. It was designed from years of real-world cooking, testing and refining to create a product that's practical, durable and built for serious barbecue enthusiasts.
Where It All Began
Hi, I'm Rob from CLD Fabrication.
Long before CLD Fabrication existed, the humble Weber Kettle Smash Plate was actually the product that started the whole journey.
Around eight years ago, I obtained my first Weber Kettle and immediately started looking for a quality smash plate. At the time, I couldn't believe how expensive they were. They seemed incredibly expensive for what looked like a simple piece of steel.
Back then I wasn't working in fabrication. I hadn't learnt SolidWorks and I didn't have access to laser cutters or local manufacturing.
Fortunately, I had a mate working in aerospace engineering, designing and manufacturing aircraft dashboards. I sent him a photo of a smash plate design I liked and within just a few days I had my own custom-made plate, laser cut by a local fabricator (Thanks Glenn!).
It quickly became my favourite Weber accessory.
I seasoned it properly, cooked countless smash burgers, made fried rice, breakfast eggs and plenty of grilled vegetables. The dual design gave beautiful grill marks on one side while providing a flat cooking surface on the other.
Looking back now, that simple plate unknowingly started the path that would eventually become CLD Fabrication.
Four Years Later... We Built It Better
Fast forward several years and we finally designed our own Weber Kettle Smash Plate and Grill Plate range.
Rather than simply copying what already existed, we looked at everything that frustrated us during years of cooking.
The biggest improvement?
Handle Placement That Actually Makes Sense
This is one of those features you might not notice immediately, but once you've used it, you'll never want to go back.
Our handles are positioned and sized so they fit over the genuine raised handles on almost every Weber cooking grill.
That creates two major advantages.
Easier Storage
Instead of removing your cooking grill every time, our smash plate simply sits neatly on top of your existing Weber grill.
No awkward storage.
No removing hot cooking grates.
No wasted space.
Safer To Use
Anyone who's cooked over hot charcoal knows how intense the heat can be.
Many smash plates require you to reach through the handle openings with gloved hands to lift the plate out.
With our design, you simply hook onto your Weber cooking grill handles using barbecue tongs or a grill hook and lift everything safely.
It sounds like a small detail, but it's exactly these kinds of practical improvements that separate a thoughtfully designed product from a generic laser-cut plate.
Designed By People Who Actually Cook
Today, almost anyone can download free CAD software, sketch a circle with a couple of handles, upload it to an online laser cutting company and have a smash plate delivered to their door.
But good barbecue gear isn't just about getting something cut from steel.
It's about understanding how it's actually used around hot charcoal, how it stores inside your kettle, how it performs over hundreds of cooks, and how it holds up years down the track.
That's where experience matters.
Why We Chose 5mm Steel
Our standard smash plates are made from 5mm mild steel and that thickness wasn't chosen by accident.
After years of cooking and testing, we found that 5mm offers the ideal balance between:
- Excellent heat retention
- Fast heat recovery between batches
- Resistance to warping
- Manageable weight for everyday use
Too thin and the plate can warp or develop hot spots.
Too thick and it becomes unnecessarily heavy while taking much longer to heat.
For us, 5mm is the sweet spot.
Don't Want To Season Mild Steel?
Some people love seasoning steel.
Others would rather avoid the maintenance altogether.
That's exactly why we offer multiple material options.
304 Stainless Steel
Our standard stainless option uses food-grade 304 stainless steel.
It's corrosion resistant, easy to clean, and perfect for people who don't want to continually maintain a seasoned cooking surface.
Premium 3CR12 Stainless Steel
For those wanting something truly special, we also manufacture our smash plates in 3CR12 stainless steel.
This isn't your everyday stainless.
3CR12 is a specialised cooking-grade stainless steel originally developed for demanding commercial applications. It offers several advantages that make it an exceptional barbecue cooking surface.
Benefits include:
- Outstanding resistance to corrosion
- Excellent thermal absorption and heat distribution
- Exceptional dimensional stability to help keep the plate flat
- Designed specifically for cooking applications
- Long service life with minimal maintenance
We personally use 3CR12 griddle plates on our gas barbecues as well as one on our own Weber Kettle, and it's become one of our favourite cooking surfaces.
Because this material is specially imported from South Africa and manufactured to order, it does carry a higher price and longer production lead time. However, if you're looking for a premium cooking surface that combines performance with minimal maintenance, it's an option we'd happily recommend.
What Can You Cook On A Weber Smash Plate?
A quality smash plate turns your Weber Kettle into a versatile outdoor flat top.
Some of our favourite meals include:
- Smash burgers
- Fried rice
- Bacon and eggs
- Breakfast wraps
- Cheesesteaks
- Smashed tacos
- Fajitas
- Stir fry
- Vegetables
- Seafood
- Pancakes
- Hash browns
Having both a flat plate and grill section gives you the flexibility to cook multiple styles of food without needing a separate barbecue.
Built Tough. Designed With Purpose.
Every product we make follows the same philosophy.
Rather than adding unnecessary features, we focus on solving the small problems that make cooking easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
It's those small design decisions, from the handle placement to the material selection and thickness, that make a noticeable difference every time you fire up your Weber Kettle.
If you're looking for a Weber Kettle smash plate, Weber griddle plate or a heavy-duty BBQ cooking plate that's been designed by people who genuinely use them, we think you'll appreciate the difference.
At CLD Fabrication, we build products that are Built tough, Aussie made and engineered for serious BBQ, helping you get better cooks, better results, and more enjoyment from every barbecue.
