Cut slot in Weber Kettle?

[saxart]

This may be considered sacrilege by some, but I'm thinking of cutting a small slot in the bowl of my "cooker" 22" kettle for therm probe slots like B-Man did to his WSM in this post:

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/wsm-cb-22-5-inch-stainless-steel-high-air-flow-coal-ring/

I've done this mod to the 18" WSM and love it.  It's a tiny slot, so it doesn't affect the performance of the cooker at all.  Is there any reason it wouldn't work on a kettle as well?  I can't see why not, just wanted to confirm before jumping into it.

Thanks!

[MINIgrillin]

Do it. Do the 26r while you have the grinder out.

[HankB]

Let us know how it goes. I would be concerned about compromising the structural integrity of the bowl, though I suppose it would still be strong enough. I've got a good supply of those little brass grommets so should I feel the urge to put a thermometer in any of my kettles, I'll go that route.

[Bman]

I recently put one in my 18" WSM also.  Matches the 22 & mini.  I haven't needed probes in the 26'er, but if I did - you can bet I'd whip the grinder out.

[225tostayalive]

I run my probes through the bottom vents like the guy in this video for indirect cooks




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkqZ0tes6HI

[Eapples]

This may be considered sacrilege by some, but I'm thinking of cutting a small slot in the bowl of my "cooker" 22" kettle for therm probe slots like B-Man did to his WSM in this post:

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/wsm-cb-22-5-inch-stainless-steel-high-air-flow-coal-ring/

I've done this mod to the 18" WSM and love it.  It's a tiny slot, so it doesn't affect the performance of the cooker at all.  Is there any reason it wouldn't work on a kettle as well?  I can't see why not, just wanted to confirm before jumping into it.

Thanks!

I checked with Webber about making modifications to the original equipment in order to accommodate after-market accessories.  I was told that any such modification would void the warranty.  Having said that, I didn't make any modification to my kettle, opting instead to run the wire under the lid, and deal with any air leakage that may result.

[saxart]

I checked with Weber about making modifications to the original equipment in order to accommodate after-market accessories.  I was told that any such modification would void the warranty.  Having said that, I didn't make any modification to my kettle, opting instead to run the wire under the lid, and deal with any air leakage that may result.

Good point, I never thought about that...

I wonder if that includes sandblasting an SJ and painting it RED?   LOL   

[MINIgrillin]

If your cooker isn't something "collectible" then cut a hole in it. Warranty my foot!

[Eapples]

MINI:  I agree with you, actually.  But I'm a geek when it comes to warranties and instruction manuals and the like.  Maybe one day, I'll jump into the fast lane and do something like that.

[MINIgrillin]

Ok. I feel ya. My brick red OTP that I paid just a bit under retail for at a store will be saved from going under the knife. But the black kettles I got on the cheap from Craigslist are just waiting for mods. If I mess up on a OTS I picked up for $5-10 than so be it. I will take that knowledge to the next kettle and do something different and better.

[mike.stavlund]

I hardly thought twice about cutting/drilling into my WSM, but couldn't imagine doing the same to any kettles.  I guess I'm weird that way. 

[mrbill]

I was on the fence for a while about drilling into Buddy's lid to add a thermo. Then I realized that it was built to cook and adding a thermo only makes it better at what it was made to do. So I drilled. After cooking w/and w/o the thermo, gotta say, I'm glad I drilled.

[GC8]

For those of you who run the wires under the lid, have you had any probes go out on your because of that?  I drilled into my old Happy Cooker with no care in the world but it's on it's last leg and have been on the fence about drilling into any of my Webers. 

[mrbill]

For those of you who run the wires under the lid, have you had any probes go out on your because of that?  I drilled into my old Happy Cooker with no care in the world but it's on it's last leg and have been on the fence about drilling into any of my Webers.

on my WSM, I've done wires under the lid twice using a clearance shelf thermo from walmart. didn't have an issue either time.

[einrej]

I drilled and put in a thermometer my Kettle.
I found that cooking before the thermometer was like driving a car with a blindfold on. Don't wait