Next we are going to install the thermometer. Any probe style thermometer will - just be sure that the probe is long enough to penetrate both walls of the fridge and doesn't sit inside the insulation. I only installed one thermometer, so I put it in the middle of the smoke chamber. It is an option to install 2 thermometers, one in the lower chamber and one in the upper chamber but I didn't think it was necessary. Depending on the type of thermometer you get, you may need to both drill and tap the hole. In this case, use a high temperature thread sealant to seal the thermometer threads.
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| Loctite high temp thread sealant |
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| Exterior view of thermometer |
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| Interior view - notice penetration of probe |
Next we cut out our intake vents. Note that dependent on your heat source, you will want to vary the size of your intake vents. Because I had already decided to go with an electric burner which does NOT require air flow to produce heat, I cut mine fairly small - just enough to allow for some circulation of the air and smoke within the chamber.
I cut three 3/4" holes in the side of the fridge near the bottom, right around where my pan of chips would be sitting. If you are going to be using charcoal or some other form of combustion that DOES require air flow, you probably need at least a 4" hole (or a combination of holes that would result in the same surface area).
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| Intake vents - exterior view |
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After making the holes in both the exterior and interior walls, I pushed a piece of 3/4" conduit through the insulation in order to provide a semi-sealed path for the air to take. I then held the conduit pieces in place using lockrings. All of these supplies can be readily found at your local hardware store or electrical supplier.
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| Intake vents - interior view |
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| Side with thermometer and intakes |
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