We have quite a old stove/range at home, and unfortunately the gas controls just aren't that precise. There isn't much of a 'low' end, making it nearly impossible to simmer something for a long time. With a few minutes on a water jet cutter and a slab of steel, I made this trivet to raise our saucepans and provide more distance from the flame source.

Step 1: Measurement and Layout

I wanted to create the trivet to fit the smaller saucepan, figuring the larger ones would then also easily fit. Also, I wanted to make sure that the supporting ribs of the trivet weren't sitting directly over the ring of flame to try to mitigate the heat absorbed by the steel.

Based on these measurements, an outline file was created in CorelDraw and joined as a solid object.

Step 2: Cutting the Steel

I chose a 1/2" sheet of mild steel for the trivet, figuring it would make a good thermal mass and wouldn't deform from the heat of the flame. Stainless would have been better, but too pricey for something that is just going to sit under a saucepan.

The OMAX made quick work of the file, cutting it in about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Finishing and Testing

Finally I gave the steel a quick sandblasting and took it home to test. Being mild steel, I'd imagine it will need occasional sandblasting to remove any rust that forms. There are also high-temp rust inhibiting spray paints that could be used, but I didn't really want any of that stuff in our kitchen.

We tried a test fitting and whipped up a recipe with a nice long simmer, and it works perfectly!

One addition that may be nice is to add grooves in the bottom so that it captures the existing range burner grate so that it can't slip.