Cutting "Notch" In WSM Drum For Temp Probe Wires

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squatch

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Jul 15, 2013
160
52
Northern California
 I like the idea of being able to remove meat from the smoker without having to remove the temp probe from the meat so I am planning to cut a notch in the top edge of the center section on my 3 week old 22.5" WSM, but the thought of messing it up does make me a bit skeptical!

Has anyone here done this mod? I am curious what tool would do the best/cleanest job... ?
 
It's a porcelain coating, so it's not likely to peel, but rust is a small concern. It also might "shatter" leading to a larger area of the porcelain than the notch coming off. This won't spread, but it'll look bad and would bug me. If you are going to do it, I'd tape over the are with masking tape and use a Dremel tool with a diamond wheel at the highest speed setting. To be clear, you'd be cutting your notch through the tape. A dab of a rust inhibiting paint like POR15 on the cut edges would keep rust at bay, as would seasoning it with oil and heating to 350˚.
 
Thanks for the replies... but I already went ahead and did it!

copied and pasted from my "first fatty" thread found here - http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...heese-buffalo-burger-fatty-qview#post_1053054

As the chimney full of coals were getting ready I decided to do a quick mod I had read about and really wanted to add to my setup... it involved some tape, a 4.5" grinder, and some liquid courage! Up until now my 2 previous smokes required me to feed the temp probe wire through one of the holes in the lid vent which worked out okay, but was a big pain in the @$$ every time I needed to lift the lid (2-man job)! Well, 45 seconds with a grinder fixed that issue. Now I can pull the lid and even remove the upper or lower racks with temp probes still installed into the meat or grill rack if I need to! 
rolleyes.gif

http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4551_zpsafd1b490.jpg.html

http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4555_zpsbee2426d.jpg.html

Close up of "notch" viewed from the inside
http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4562_zpsca5d0f77.jpg.html

A couple quick light passes with a file and I was in business... just in time to add the chimney full of coals which are now ready
http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4573_zpsae845d69.jpg.html

WSM assembled and coming up to temp
http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4577_zps7f6dcda7.jpg.html

Once temp stabilized @ 225* I threw the FATTY on along with a rack-o-ribs
http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4584_zpsa033a35a.jpg.html

Here's a shot of the new mod with 2 probe wires run through and the lid in place. Works great and I still have plenty of room for another pair... wish I had done this right away before my first smoke!
http://s258.photobucket.com/user/BodiBuilt/media/SmokinGrillin/IMG_4587_zpsc4770046.jpg.html
 
 
I would spray those exposed metal edges with high temp grill paint to prevent rust.  After that, a normal buildup of smoke should keep it sealed up nice and tight.  That's what I did when I drilled my old model WSM dome for a thermometer.  The old ones did not come with a thermometer and you had to mod your own.  Did it 2005 and nary a sign of rust on the formerly exposed metal edges. I would put some tape along the outside so the paint would not over spray onto the body of the smoker.
 
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either that or some of that liquid rubber "tool dip" painted on to the exposed metal will seal it, and also provide some padding for the wires.
 
Ohhhh..... Just had a McGyver idea.

Spray it to prevent rust and then head to the local pet store.  They make black silicone air line tubing that would make a great bumper for the edge.  Cut a piece longer than what you need, then take a razor and slit it down one side. Slip it over the edge of the notch and trim to length.  Silicone should handle the temps with no problems and it's black. A McGyver grommet to prevent wire chaffing.

 
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BBQ Guru makes a grommet you can install in place of one of the screws. No drilling, no cutting installs in minutes. I put it on my WSM
You can put two probes thru it.
 
Why folks insist on cutting notches is beyond me. Grommets or 3/8" threaded lamp pipe works even better.  Per a suggestion on another WSM website, I used a drilled-out, double-female coax connector that replaced one of the bolts that holds the top rack in place. A buck or so at HD or radio Shack. 
All of my temp probes (straight and curved) fit through just fine. A much "cleaner" way to do things than cutting a notch!  
 
I used a 4" angle grinder with grinding wheel. I wasn't concerned with the cosmetics on my 20 year old Brinkmann  electric. It made a nice clean notch about 3/8" wide. The cable from my Maverick and the thermocouple from the Auber fit nicely through the same notch. Ernie
 
The main reason I decided to go with the notch mod instead of using grommets is simple... It allows me to temporarily move my entire upper rack off the smoker (with meat still cooking and temp probes still installed) in the event I should need to access items smoking on the lower rack. Thumbs Up

Looking at Bama BBQ's photo I think a person could likely fit 6 probe wires through the single, easily accessible notch. That could allow a person to cook 6 good sized pork butt's (or any variety or combinations of items) at the same time, each with their own temp probe installed, 3 per lower rack and 3 on the upper rack. Now imagine one of the butts on the lower rack is the first one to hit your targeted I.T. and you need to pull it off the smoker before the rest are finished... :grilling_smilie:

Several months have past since I decided to do this mod, and I am very happy I did, no regrets whatsoever. I would (will) fearlessly do it again with any other future WSM I may acquire without hesitation :yahoo:
 
Noooo! drill a hole for probes(one above each grate), use black engine paint to seal, use a brass threaded grommet (sized to fit your probes) seated with Red High temp silicone.
 
This eyelet assembly is what you wanna' get from BBQ GURU.

And for modifications may I suggest this website dedicated to the WSM.  It is THE website for questions, modifications and recipes for that unit.

And see post #13 why the notch is a miles better way to go. I have a grommet on my WSM and once the wire is trapped in the grommet , you are out of options. The notch allows the probe wire to come out and be removed with the rack and set aside with no disturbance to the meat probe. Not trying to cause an argument , just saying that thru painful experience the grommet is more trouble than help. Is that too harsh?
 
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