Are these thermometers junk? UDS

grilling24x7 · 01-14-2013, 11:32 AM

I was ready to pull the trigger on a $40 Tel Tru. Then I was thinking about it. I'm going to do a 2.5 inch stem, mounted into the side of a UDS. I can't have the stem longer b/c the charcoal basket will nick it when removing. I do not want to have a removable 10" turkey fry thermometer through a grommet. I want one mounted to the side.

Clearly i'm not expecting a dead accurate temperature reading. This is just for a quick glance from the house to make sure its not at 50 degree or 450 degrees. I'll have digital probes in the UDS as well, which will let me calibrate any thermometer I put in the side and will let me know exact temps if I need them.

I found this on amazon. Anyone ever seen them? 2 for $30 with free shipping. Any thoughts?

My gut tells me "made in China" junk. But I'm wondering if it really matters.

jrn · 01-14-2013, 12:30 PM

Have you checked out the ones from Spicewine?

Pappy · 01-14-2013, 01:02 PM

We have some 3" ones that look like that. Bought them from River Country. I think they were free shipping at the time. Haven't used them yet, still building the smoker.

Triple T BBQ · 01-14-2013, 02:42 PM

Have a couple river country glow in the dark units on our comp rig. Thy work well but we did have to recalibrate them after towing out to Worthington mn via I90 last year. Really rough and bouncy hiway. Took about ten minutes to tweak them back to reading normally. They ended reading about twenty degrees low after being bounced around for several hours. Notices it when I put the digital temp units in the meat and hooked up the grate level probes.

Bbq Bubba · 01-14-2013, 03:39 PM

Yes. Made in Taiwan.

NRA4Life · 01-14-2013, 05:59 PM

Buy the Tel-Tru.

kevine · 01-14-2013, 06:01 PM

I found similar looking ones, two for about $12, on Ebay, within the past six months. I bought them, and they work fine.

J'ville Grill · 01-14-2013, 06:12 PM

A lot of therm others of that type can be calibrated.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Skidder · 01-14-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbq Bubba

Yes. Made in Taiwan.

yup junk

Skidder · 01-14-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRA4Life

Buy the Tel-Tru.

true buy once/cry once. they will be with u forever

Dalton · 01-14-2013, 07:57 PM

I bought one for my mini WSM. My Maverick read 255. This thing read 200. Put it in my 22.5" WSM. Same problem. I'm throwing it away as soon as my Tel Tru shows up.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

BobM · 01-14-2013, 08:00 PM

I bought two, cheap, Chinese made thermometers for a mod I did to my WSMs, the pair was $20.58, delivered.

They passed a boiling water test, and after 3 or 4 cooks, are still working fine.

The ones I bought.

Amazon.com: F&C 2" Barbecues BBQ SMOKER PIT GRILL THERMOMETER TEMP GAUGE: Patio, Lawn & Garden

On my WSM.
http://imageshack.us/a/img204/584/thermometer04.jpg

martyleach · 01-14-2013, 08:09 PM

The problem I have had with most in drum thermos is that you really need to keep them clean. Like with steel wool. Apparently the patina that gets on the needle doesn't conduct heat as well or something ?? So, they work great the first 4 cooks and then start to wander until you clean them.

woodbutcher1 · 01-14-2013, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grilling24x7

........... I do not want to have a removable 10" turkey fry thermometer through a grommet. I want one mounted to the side.
My gut tells me "made in China" junk. But I'm wondering if it really matters.

Looks like you made up your mind of what you DON"T want, then there is no need to tell you why and how to install a thermo that will give consistent curate readings is there.?

peppasawce · 01-14-2013, 08:33 PM

Get that Tel Tru

01-14-2013, 11:32 AM	#1
grilling24x7 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-17-11 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Are these thermometers junk? UDS I was ready to pull the trigger on a $40 Tel Tru. Then I was thinking about it. I'm going to do a 2.5 inch stem, mounted into the side of a UDS. I can't have the stem longer b/c the charcoal basket will nick it when removing. I do not want to have a removable 10" turkey fry thermometer through a grommet. I want one mounted to the side. Clearly i'm not expecting a dead accurate temperature reading. This is just for a quick glance from the house to make sure its not at 50 degree or 450 degrees. I'll have digital probes in the UDS as well, which will let me calibrate any thermometer I put in the side and will let me know exact temps if I need them. I found this on amazon. Anyone ever seen them? 2 for $30 with free shipping. Any thoughts? My gut tells me "made in China" junk. But I'm wondering if it really matters. __________________ Weber Performer 18.5" WSM UDS build: http://grilling24x7.com/UDS1.shtml http://www.grilling24x7.com

01-14-2013, 12:30 PM	#2
jrn Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-30-12 Location: Quitman, Ms Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Have you checked out the ones from Spicewine? __________________ UDS, mini wsm

01-14-2013, 01:02 PM	#3
Pappy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-09-11 Location: Granite City, Illinois (Near St. Louis "GO CARDS") Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We have some 3" ones that look like that. Bought them from River Country. I think they were free shipping at the time. Haven't used them yet, still building the smoker. __________________ Performer, UDS, 1983 WSM, Frank-in-Weber, 120 Gallon Offset, IQ-110, ET-732

01-14-2013, 02:42 PM	#4
Triple T BBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-20-11 Location: SE, Minnesota Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Have a couple river country glow in the dark units on our comp rig. Thy work well but we did have to recalibrate them after towing out to Worthington mn via I90 last year. Really rough and bouncy hiway. Took about ten minutes to tweak them back to reading normally. They ended reading about twenty degrees low after being bounced around for several hours. Notices it when I put the digital temp units in the meat and hooked up the grate level probes. __________________ Triple T BBQ - CBJ 2012, 2013, http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=123061

01-14-2013, 03:39 PM	#5
Bbq Bubba somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-07 Location: New Baltimore, Mi. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yes. Made in Taiwan. __________________ Pitmaster @ Lockharts BBQ Beer Snob I cook the best brisket north of Dallas. Get over it. Northern midwest director for OBR www.operationbbqrelief.com

01-14-2013, 05:59 PM	#6
NRA4Life is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-07-09 Location: Newark, OH Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Buy the Tel-Tru. __________________ - Kevin Team: Smitty's Real Pit BBQ KCBS CBJ 2 Custom Built Reverse Flow Stickburners 22.5" WSM Weber 26.75" OTG Weber 22.5" OTS Weber Blue 2000 Stainless Performer

01-14-2013, 06:01 PM	#7
kevine Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-28-10 Location: Valencia, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I found similar looking ones, two for about $12, on Ebay, within the past six months. I bought them, and they work fine. __________________ Green OTG; Black OTS; UDS; mini-WSM; Weber Genesis Silver; USMC 86-94

01-14-2013, 06:12 PM	#8
J'ville Grill is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-18-10 Location: Jacksonville, Fl. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	A lot of therm others of that type can be calibrated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Rick 18.5" Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5" Weber OTG with Cajun Bandit Conversion Kit Char-Griller Akorn with side cart 1999 Weber Master-Touch - bent but not broken 14.5" Weber Smokey Joe Silver

01-14-2013, 07:57 PM	#11
Dalton Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 12-20-12 Location: Killeen, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I bought one for my mini WSM. My Maverick read 255. This thing read 200. Put it in my 22.5" WSM. Same problem. I'm throwing it away as soon as my Tel Tru shows up. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

01-14-2013, 08:00 PM	#12
BobM is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-16-12 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I bought two, cheap, Chinese made thermometers for a mod I did to my WSMs, the pair was $20.58, delivered. They passed a boiling water test, and after 3 or 4 cooks, are still working fine. The ones I bought. Amazon.com: F&C 2" Barbecues BBQ SMOKER PIT GRILL THERMOMETER TEMP GAUGE: Patio, Lawn & Garden Amazon.com: F&C 2" Barbecues BBQ SMOKER PIT GRILL THERMOMETER TEMP GAUGE: Patio, Lawn & Garden On my WSM. http://imageshack.us/a/img204/584/thermometer04.jpg __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin \| Weber 18 1/2" & 22 1/2" WSM, 22 1/2" & 26 3/4" OTG, Genesis S-330 \| \| BBQ Guru CyberQ WiFi \| Maverick ET-732 \| Last edited by BobM; 01-14-2013 at 08:24 PM..

01-14-2013, 08:09 PM	#13
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The problem I have had with most in drum thermos is that you really need to keep them clean. Like with steel wool. Apparently the patina that gets on the needle doesn't conduct heat as well or something ?? So, they work great the first 4 cooks and then start to wander until you clean them. __________________ Large Big Green Egg, Cold smokehouse, UDS with hinged lid, Santa Maria pit 26.75" Weber OTG, Weber Performer, WGA MAK One Star General Pellet Pooper Hasty Bake Gourmet Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) www.amlwoodart.com

01-14-2013, 08:33 PM	#15
peppasawce is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-08-09 Location: Columbia, Mississippi Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Get that Tel Tru __________________ Getting A smoke Ring is were it's at Yall