Anyone here drill the thermometer hole larger to fit a tel tru on their 18.5"?

[Claude M]

I have a nice glow in the dark tel-tru thermometer I used on a 2820 (gave that smoker away) and would like to install it on the new WSM. The tel tru has to be better than the stock one (although I've been using the stock with the Maverick and it's been fine) plus it's larger and can be seen at night from a distance (I set 225 at 12:00 o'clock). That little slot over the current thermometer hole is scaring me a bit. Will the drill bit catch the slot and wreck the lid?

 

[S.Six]

Have you seen tel tru 1.75" temp? It should pop right in. I'm thinking of getting one. I'd try drilling your hole nice and slow,high drill speed, but low pressure on the drill.

 

[Clark "Harbormaster" Hodgson]

I would think if you used a step bit and were really, really careful you could pull it off.
Every time I have drilled a WSM dome (all pre-2009) I taped over the whole area and start with a tiny drill bit to get a pilot hole then use a step bit at pretty low speeds and have never had an issue. Of course, there are no notches to catch on.
Good luck!