Best way to add thermometer?

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ecto1

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Feb 22, 2010
2,131
28
Spring, Tx
Ok I am going to have to add a few thermometers to my new smoker.  What is the best way to drill a 3/4 inch hole in a 1/4 inch pipe to place the thermometers where they need to be?  Any help would be appreciated...
 
Am I reading this right - you need to drill a 3/4 hole in a 1/4 inch pipe 
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.  Are you sure it's not the other way around?  Kinda hard to drill a hole that is larger than the place it is being drilled . . .

Curt.
 
Sorry the pipe is 1/4 in thick 20 inch round.

Basically looking to drill through this.

30a75e85_009.jpg
 
ECTO, morning... Are you using dial therms with a stem and threads ??? If so, weld a coupling on the unit then drill a 3/8" hole for the stem... Then they can be removed for calibrating and transport, and they come in different length stems also....  Dave
 
I am not a welder but think I coule find someone to do that for me.  That is a great idea DaveOmark...
 
Step drill is probably the best way to go, or start with a small bit to get a hole started and work your way up, thats what I did when I decided I didnt want to buy a step drill haha
 
Ecto, set them up so you know the heat R-to -L and top to bottom :

278e165e_MyTejas2040CCwithextratherms001.jpg


Notice I have a therm. at my FB side to watch for hot spots , and one high the track rising heat  and one at the left to track from end to end. Get quality therms. and calibrate regularly.  Use your Maverick and keep it in the house and check it before each cook and you'll know what the other 'mounted' Therms. are doing and be able to track the Internal Meat Temp. (IMT) without opening the Smoker

Have fun and:
 
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Ecto, set them up so you know the heat R-to -L and top to bottom :

278e165e_MyTejas2040CCwithextratherms001.jpg


Notice I have a therm. at my FB side to watch for hot spots , and one high the track rising heat  and one at the left to track from end to end. Get quality therms. and calibrate regularly.  Use your Maverick and keep it in the house and check it before each cook and you'll know what the other 'mounted' Therms. are doing and be able to track the Internal Meat Temp. (IMT) without opening the Smoker

Have fun and:
On the topic of thermometers, anyone have any recommendations for the best thermometer for a sfb smoker?  Have taken a look at the Tel-Tru website but with so many to choose from it's hard to get an idea of what's the best model/stem length etc.
 
Pete,look at the Horizon Therms., a quality therm  and keeps us on our Forum , ( I think we advertize them)
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. However IMO I would kick the Mule and get a couple of Maverick-ET732. Quality and a very good businessman is Todd ; service oriented
biggrin.gif
.

23f56236_Frostyballs008.jpg


Her they are, #1 is at the SFB side and the #2 is 40" away, I had 2 big Briskets on that day.

Make sure you sit down and read the instructions well , or you'll be scratching you backside to get it fingered out
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.

Here's how I do-

f80115b1_Betty002.jpg


Then I can hold finished stuff @ around 150*f without losing my heat in the cooking area.

Have a very good day and...
 
stupid question, how do you calibrate a thermometer like this.

I have the probe type but will be adding a couple stem models like installed in the above pics.

For the probe it says do not let it touch water. Also in Jeffs e course, he mentions, do not let the probe touch anything metal as it will create issues.

This is one of my biggest issues right now.
 
stupid question, how do you calibrate a thermometer like this.

I have the probe type but will be adding a couple stem models like installed in the above pics.

For the probe it says do not let it touch water. Also in Jeffs e course, he mentions, do not let the probe touch anything metal as it will create issues.

This is one of my biggest issues right now.
Set your oven to 375° and use an oven thermometer to check it, adjust the knob to get accuracy or in digital whatever means to calibrate it.

Put the probe through a potato on the center shelf and see what your reading is, it should be within a few degrees of 375°.
 
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