Materials guide
Steel, corten or stainless steel: which material for your barbecue?
Selinger Barbacoas makes Argentine barbecues in steel with Selinger anti-rust paint, in Corten or in 304 stainless steel. Painted steel withstands sun and rain. For restaurants and seafront homes we recommend 304 stainless steel, which is easy to look after.
Which should I choose?
Three materials, one way to order them
Choose painted steel if your barbecue is going in a garden or on a terrace. Choose Corten if you want a stable rust finish. Choose 304 stainless steel if it is going in a hospitality kitchen.
Painted steel
The base option
For a garden or a terrace. Steel with Selinger anti-rust paint (heat-resistant on request); it withstands sun and rain and, with a PVC cover, lasts more years.
It is the base price of each model
Corten steel
Stable rust
For those who want a rusted, stable look, with no paint. We work it with material and products specific to this finish.
Quoted separately
304 stainless steel
Hospitality kitchens
For professional kitchens. Stainless steel body with no paint. A one-off piece made to measure in the photo.
Quoted separately
All three are made to measure and ordered in the same way, in the “Finish” step of the configurator.
Comparison
Steel, Corten and stainless steel, side by side
| Painted steel | Corten steel | 304 stainless steel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Selinger anti-rust paint (heat-resistant on request) | Stable rust, no paint | No paint |
| Where it fits | Garden and terrace; withstands sun and rain | For those who want a rusted, stable look | Hospitality kitchens |
| Approx. lead time | 2 months for the home | 3 months | 3 months |
| Price | Base price of the model | Quoted separately | Quoted separately |
Corten and stainless steel are quoted separately, according to the model and size.
Thickness
How thick is a Selinger?
Body
3 mm steel on most of our barbecues. Steel stands up well to the high temperatures of firewood and charcoal.
Hood and doors
The sheet for the hood and the guillotine door is 1.5 mm.
Firebox for hospitality use
Up to a maximum of approx. 1 cm, for the demanding use of restaurants and steakhouses.
Outdoors, coast and wear
How they stand up to time
Does it withstand sun, rain and cold?
They are designed for outdoor use. Selinger anti-rust paint protects the steel and, with the waterproof PVC cover we recommend, lasts more years. With any material, if it stays outdoors, it is a good idea to cover it.
And if I live on the coast?
Salty air speeds up the corrosion of painted steel. For restaurants and seafront homes we recommend 304 stainless steel, which is easy to look after. How to care for it
What wears out first?
The firebox, the grill and the paint wear out first, as they suffer direct heat and the weather. Wear from use is replaced or touched up on a quote; a manufacturing defect is covered by the 3-year legal guarantee. Built to last a lifetime.
Care
How do you care for each material?
- Steel. Oil the grill after cleaning it. If surface rust appears, gently sand the area, clean it and season the grill again. Touch up the paint when the heat wears it, using the same paint as your barbecue.
- Corten. It leaves the workshop with the finish already done, so there is nothing to do to keep the colour. Clean it with water and a soft brush, with no metal scouring pads or harsh products, and avoid standing water at the base. In the rain it may release some rust and stain the floor around it. If it has paint with a Corten finish, treat it like a painted barbecue.
- Stainless steel. Clean with warm soapy water and rinse well to avoid limescale marks. Do not use carbon steel scouring pads: they can leave particles that cause rust.
What is the firebrick for?
It is a brick that withstands fire. It goes on the back and sides, protects the metal and retains heat. It is optional: you choose it in the “Cover” step of the configurator. It can be fitted in steel, Corten or stainless steel.
By model
Which material can I order each model in?
All models can be made in steel, Corten or stainless steel.
In step 7, “Finish”, of the configurator you choose steel, Corten or stainless steel. Or tell us the material when you ask for a quote: we show it on the drawing you approve before we make it.
Which material should I choose for a barbecue on the coast?
For restaurants and seafront homes we recommend 304 stainless steel, which is easy to look after. Salty air speeds up the corrosion of painted steel.
Does steel rust?
If the paint is damaged or it is left damp, surface rust can appear. It is sanded, cleaned and touched up. Paint wear from use is touched up on a quote; a manufacturing defect is covered by the legal guarantee.
What stainless steel do you use?
304 stainless steel. For restaurants and seafront homes we recommend 304 stainless steel, which is easy to look after.
How much more does stainless steel or Corten cost?
It is quoted separately, according to the model and size.
What is Corten?
It is a steel that forms a stable layer of rust on its surface, orange or brown in tone. We work it with material and products specific to this finish.