Would like some input on a small mod.

neens

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Feb 14, 2008

149

10

Orange, CT

• May 15, 2008

• #1

After destroying another heat probe by accidentally dropping the door on my lang I got tired of placing the probes through the door. I took some bolts to my metal lathe and hollowed them out. The next step I was going to do would be to drill 3 holes spaces evenly in the back wall of the cooker. I was then going to put in the bolts and weld some nuts into the interior of the cooking chamber to hold the bolts in place but also allow the hollowed bolts to be removed and replaced with solid ones to reduce heat loss. What I am unsure about is heat loss from the extra holes and weather I should weld the nuts in place or use a high heal silicone to form a more air tight seal. I am hoping that some of you guys that have more experience tinkering will weigh in.

 

smokeys my pet

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Sep 25, 2007

1,080

11

Havre de Grace,MD

• May 15, 2008

• #2

Try Using A 3/4" Watertight Electrical Connector From Your Local Homedepot Or Lowes. You Can Easily Pass 3 To 4 Probes Thru It And You Only Need To Drill 1 Hole And Install . Sorry I Do Not Have A Picture But Someone Will Be By With One. Good Luck!!!!!

 

kookie

Master of the Pit

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Mar 27, 2007

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Mandan North Dakota

• May 15, 2008

• #3

I remember seeing someone had a pic posted of the connector on here......They used it on their cher-griller I believe........But that what I would use too........I would just search the posts on the char-griller mods.............Might of been capt dan...........

 

richtee

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Aug 12, 2007

10,682

29

N. Oakland County, MI

• May 15, 2008

• #4

How bout just some .5 in. black pipe..a "nipple". You can buy them pre-threaded at HD 2" or however long. Then get a cap for it. Onlyest tricky part is drilling a hole in the smoker and threading it for the nipple.

Just ya already got the "tube" tho. If it was standard sized you can still use a cap to close it, and have the end and smoker body threaded.

 

smok'n steve

Smoking Fanatic

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SMF Premier Member

Jan 11, 2008

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14

Maine

• May 15, 2008

• #5

That works--I have a threaded hole like that on my warmer"baby" on the Lang. You can use a cork, oak dowel drilled, or even steel wool to seal it up when you have the wires in there, and plug or cap it when not in use. If you use a pipe coupling welded, then the threads will be female receiving a plug. A nipple would receive a cap because of the male threads.

The easiest solution is to file some notches below your cooker door to give your probe wires some more space?

Steve

 

capt dan

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Nov 2, 2007

3,357

11

• May 15, 2008

• #6

I don't know, I use a folded up chunk of tin foil and it sits right werever I want the wires to come out. I bring them around each side of the foil"wad" and never have a problem, unless someone drops the lid from a couple feet away!

Won't mention any names here!

If you want to drill a hole into the cooker, I really doubt that a 1/2 inch-3/4 inch hole is gonna make all that much difference, remember that black thing that sticks up from the chamber and is always open like 3-4 inches!

here is a pic of the highly scientific aparatus!


I guess you could make up 2 of them and keep the wires in between!

 

neens

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 14, 2008

149

10

Orange, CT

• May 16, 2008

• #7

Dropping was the problem Dan. I have lost a few thermos that way. I got bored today after work today, made one up and put in it. I will let you know how it works and weather or not I have to patch it over or something.

 

travcoman45

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jan 19, 2008

4,118

34

A Holler in North Iowa

• May 16, 2008

• #8

Here's what yall be lookin fer:

3/4 inch (or 1/2 inch) watertight fittin:

You drill out the center ta give ya more room fer probe wires.

 

neens

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 14, 2008

149

10

Orange, CT

• May 16, 2008

• #9

thats pretty much what I made trav. Just no washer

 

shooterrick

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Jan 13, 2008

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South Louisiana

• May 24, 2008

• #10

Tried it last week for quick fix. Works great and the simplicity cant be beat! I am not saying it is elegant but hey if it works why bother with the mod. Just my opinion and we all know about opinions and holes, in the smoker I mean**