Hi Robert,
To expand on what Chris mentioned and to provide further info...
1) As Chris said any link to Amazon on the Virtual Weber Site will provide him credit when ordering. Now don't go off the site to another site and come back in as that will typically lose the link. I goto Virtual Weber and go directly to the Amazon site.
2) I own both Polder and Taylor units. and I am putting together a page on my web site for digital thermometers (its not done yet) but here is my site:
PrestonD's BBQ Smythe site...
I use 3 units...one for internal meat temperature and one for top vent temperature and one for grate temperature. Actually I use one unit I just swap out the probes. You can order spare probes for just $2.50 from Taylor.
My take on these units based on my research. They are all made by one company in China named ETL. Where it differs in how each company negotiates their contracts for manufacturing and quality of the units:
a) Taylor
Long known for quality thermometers I have discussed with Taylor engineering department regarding their digital thermometer units.
Taylor is always responsive on any questions I have ever asked them, I mean real responsive and very nice to deal with. They negotiated and set up more stringent quality control standards on the probe to improve the probes made by ETL as they were very prone to failure due to the way they attached the inner conductor wire to the metal probe tip.
There is an additional tubing at the crimp where the wiring enters the probe which lends itself to the sealing aspect, other manufacturers do not have this extra feature. They also negotiated to ensure that they have matched sensing unit (thermistor) in the probe, this helps ensure repeatability and interchangeability and accuracy. The $15 Taylor unit does not have a clock feature, but it does have a timer and alarm setpoint and an on/off switch. The case design will prevent you from breaking the hinge.
b) Polder
No on/off switch, does have a clock, no extra seal on the probe crimp. More complicated instructions on setting alarm setpoint and timer (do not lose the little manual). My inquiries (both letter, phone calls and e-mail) were left unanswered even after several attempts over a 2 month period. Their accuracy is not as good in my tests (I have 2 Taylors and 2 Polders...the Taylor wins out in accuracy on my particular units (+/-2F vs. +/-4 to 6F).
C) Pyrex
Similar in features to the Taylor unit but no extra crimp seal. I have no information on whether they have negotiated more comprehensive quality control aspects with their probe.
D) Remote Wireless Units
I have had no experience with these units but they allow you to place a base station in the house and have remote sensors at the smoker outside transmitting temperatures to the base unit. I think you can have multiple sensors. I have not seen these devices on Amazon for sale yet.
In regards to the gloves, I bought the Eastman Outdoors 38212 19-Inch Gauntlet Cooking Gloves.
Get the Weber charcoal chimney, it is the best!
I think a very nice shopping list that you can place with Amazon is as follows:
1) Weber Smoky Mountain Smoker ($159)
2) Weber Charcoal Starter Chimney ($11)
3) Taylor Digital Thermometers (qty 2 - $15 each)
4) Grilling/BBQ gloves ($15)
5) Weber Rib Rack ($12)
All the shipping for the above items if placed at the same time on one order will have free shipping.
Regards,
PrestonD
