Talk me out of it.

[G$]

Convince me NOT to drill a couple holes in the bowl of my 26 in order to add a probe grommet and stoker blower hole.

[jcnaz]

Do it.

[kendoll]

What vintage is the 26er?

Ken

[Duke]

You can if you really want to, but it's not really needed in a kettle. I just run it over the lip and it runs perfect.

[Heyjude]

The stoker can be ran through a bottom vent. How many hours are you trying to get out of a 26?

[With a K]

I wouldn't but I am not the right guy to listen to on this.
1) Look what I did to my 26er
2) I have never reaped the benefits of an ATC

Screw it! If you jack it up, we'll find another!

[pbe gummi bear]

You can if you really want to, but it's not really needed in a kettle. I just run it over the lip and it runs perfect.

While this works, I wouldn't recommend this for plastic coated wires. I did this for a while on my older stoker probes and they got chewed up pretty badly over time. I wouldn't hesitate drilling a current gen kettle. Vintage, then maybe. Good luck with whatever you decide, G$.

[pbe gummi bear]

The stoker can be ran through a bottom vent. How many hours are you trying to get out of a 26?

Not for a one touch like G$'s

[G$]

Like Lawrence said, it is a current style 26.

It is MUCH nicer on the probes to run them through a grommet than to crimp them with a lid.

My plan would be to drill the stoker hole pretty low-below grate level but above the sweep assembly/exterior ash pan. 

Still need to give it some thought.

[saxart]

No, I wouldn't pinch the wires under the lid either.  I've always just ran my thermo wire through one of the holes in the lid vent damper.  If you're careful, you can even lift the lid by tilting to the side without messing up the location of the probe inside the grill.  It's not 'ideal', but I'm somewhat of a purist, and don't like drilling extra holes I can't later close up with the welder. 

If that's not good enough for you, then get out the drill...   

[G$]

Sax, I have used a lot fo different probe wires for a long time on a lot of different smokers/grills.   Running through the vent works marginally for me, on smaller smokers like an 18 WSM.  It is an entirely untenable solution for a 26er, IMO.

I am usually a purist too, but this new 26 has me intrigued with some tweaks.   

[AZ_MIKEY]

Do it!!!! Let the mods begin!!!! Show us all what can be done. It's not a vintage kettle so have fun experimenting.

[Duke]

Then drill on! Everyone knows I don't mind cutting up grills.