Laser-cut mangal (BBQ grill), made to order

What steel thickness is a laser-cut mangal made from

We cut the body and base from mild steel — carbon steel, known in Georgian as შავი ლითონი — in sheet 2 to 4mm thick. That is enough mass for the metal to survive fire temperatures and years of use without warping. The decorative side panels carrying the cut pattern are thinner, 1.5 to 3mm, because fine detail lines do not come out cleanly in thicker material. Cutting is done on a fiber laser to ±0.1mm positional tolerance. A stainless version (inox, nerzhaveika, uzhangavi poladi are all the same material) is available on request, though the raw material price puts it above mild steel. A full thickness table by material is published on a separate page.

How the ornament pattern is chosen

We build the ornament three ways: from a catalogue of ready patterns (geometric, floral, or traditional Georgian motifs), from a vector file you supply in DXF, AI or PDF, or from a sketch our designer draws to your brief. A decorative mangal is not a purely cosmetic choice — the cut-out holes carry air to the coals and help the fire burn evenly. Minimum hole diameter depends on steel thickness and is generally equal to or greater than it. For personalisation we cut initials, a restaurant logo or a date, which is why the mangal is frequently ordered as a gift.

• Geometric and traditional Georgian ornament
• A custom pattern from your own vector file
• Initials, a logo or a date for personalisation

What sizes and configurations are available

We build mangals by skewer count — from 6 up to 12. The choice comes down to two practical questions: how many people the mangal serves in one load, and where it is stored. A 6-skewer model is portable and fits easily in a car boot, while a 12-skewer one is a stationary family or restaurant unit that stays in the yard. The larger the model, the thicker the steel used for the legs and frame, so the structure carries the extra weight without deforming. The base set includes the body, legs and one ornamental panel; skewers, an ash tray, a side shelf and wheels are ordered as extras. Exact length, height and firebox depth are agreed with you at order time and fixed in the drawing — there is no off-the-shelf standard model, every mangal is built to order.

How much does a laser-cut mangal cost and how long does it take

Price depends on three things: size, steel thickness, and ornament complexity, which in practice means total cutting length. The ornament is the most variable component — a bold geometric pattern produces far less cutting length than a fine, densely perforated one on a panel of the same size. Configuration moves the total too: skewers, an ash tray, a side shelf and wheels are costed separately, as is a stainless version, whose raw stock costs more than mild steel. We put the exact figure in writing within 24 hours of receiving your sketch and dimensions — that written quote is the binding price. Production — cutting, bending, welding and painting — takes 5 to 10 working days depending on ornament complexity. The full pricing formula is set out on our pricing page.

How do you look after a steel mangal

Mild steel oxidises; that is a property of the material, not a defect. This is why the assembled body is coated with heat-resistant paint, which shields the metal from direct moisture. In practice it is enough to keep the mangal out of open rain and to empty the ash after each use, since wet ash accelerates corrosion on the base. A mangal kept permanently outdoors needs a cover. Once a year, at the start of the season, touching up damaged paint is sufficient. A stainless version needs none of this maintenance but costs more up front — the choice comes down to whether the mangal is stored under cover or left in the yard.