WSM Temp Question

[blinddogsmoking]

I just got my WSM last week and fired it up for the first time yesterday to smoke some chicken. I clipped my temp probe to my Maverick 732 on the top grate. After the smoker was warmed up the Maverick was reading 25 degrees higher then the WSM temp gauge.

So later that day I pulled out the WSM gauge and tested it and the maverick in boiling water. Both were dead on. So I'm wondering what temp should I go by? I smoked my chicken at 300 on the mavrick probe and the WSM gauge was reading 275. I wasn't sure if the maverick would be reading higher since it was attached to the grate. Thanks for the help!

 

[lght]

I noticed the same thing when I used my WSM for the first couple of times.  I figured because heat rises and the heat reflection of the new smoker from the lid (not seasoned) is why the temp on the smoker was much hotter. 

I used a can of pam to season the lid and sides faster and noticed the temps on the my grill attached probe where a lot more in line with the smoker temps. 

 

[joeyj]

I just picked my WSM on Friday and smoked a Brisket.  I do not have a fancy Maverick, but feel the same thing was happening to me.  My brisket got to temp much faster than anticipated.  It still tasted AWESOME!!!  On a very positive note the WSM hung at 225-235 range for about 8 hours without any moving of the vents.  It probably would have held on way longer as I put in way too many bricketes than I needed...

 

[tank]

I noticed the same thing.  My suggestion is to pick one and stick with it.  For me I stick with the maverick on the top grate.  Either way you are good to go.  A slight range isn't going to hurt anything.

 

[ahakohda]

  I figured because heat rises and the heat reflection of the new smoker from the lid (not seasoned) is why the temp on the smoker was much hotter. 

Right on. Temperature is always higher at the top. Try to attach Mav's probe to an exhaust hole.

 

[cricky101]

Food's on the grate so that's where I try to take the temperature.