my new tel-tru's arrived today

[Pony Express]

They are nice and heavy. I see now why they cost so much.

Question: Its not going to be easy to drill such a large hole in 3/8 steel.
Can I weld a 1/2 pipe coupler on the door, drill a smaller hole for the stem to fit thru and screw the thermo in?

[ChileFarmer]

Pony I don't see why that would not work. Take the coupler and cut it in half. Weld one half for each temp. CF

[Pony Express]

Pony I don't see why that would not work. Take the coupler and cut it in half. Weld one half for each temp. CF

Yeah, thats what i was thinking, using a half of the coupler

[Bluz]

Not a problem at all.

[Pony Express]

Not a problem at all.

Not a problem to drill a big hole or not a problem to use a coupler welded on?

[BAR "G" BBQ]

Pony,
Small hole with half coupler will work fine although I normally torch a hole large enough for the half coupler then weld the coupler. By torching the hole and utilizing the half coupler I can adjust the gauge to an angle of my preference prior to welding. I think the tel-tru is the best gauge on the market although a small word of caution. If you ever max the gauge temp and I don't mean past max, just max; it's shot as for accuracy.