ECB - Modifications, Page 3

Modification 4 - Improve temperature indication

Again, "no-brainer" which simply states "The ECB thermometer S-U-C-.....uh...., leaves much to be desired" so spend another $3.00 and get an oven thermometer next time you buy beer. (well, something like that anyway) You have a couple choices here.

You can really cheap it out and "calibrate" the ECB therm (there's a nut on the backside you can adjust it with).
You can do the $3.00 fix mentioned above. (works fine but gets in the way sometimes).
My favorite fix is to buy a Remote-Probe Digital Thermometer w/timer and temp alarm. (commonly known as a Polder, shown below) These are made under many names, including Polder, RadioShack, Pyrex or Timex or one of those "ex"'s. This one goes on the "YOU GOTTA GET THIS THING" LIST. It will cost you about $20, but you won't have to lift the lid of your cooker to see what temp you are at. Also, it's pretty accurate (+/- 4° usually). I think the new one, below on the right, also has a low-temp alarm along with the high-temp alarm that both have. This would help tell you when your fire is going out.

Modification 5 - Vent the Lid

This is something I did because I didn't trust the "stale" smoke that would bounce around under the lid to hopefully exit around the rim. Also, I wanted to make it more airtight so I fill the space around the edges of the lid with foil when I cook, and open the top vent so the smoke can exit.

Remember those holes we drilled in the firepan? Same deal here. I even show you a high-tech drill guidance device that you can make in your own home. Tape it to the lid and drill away.... Pivoting cover is made just like the firepan one, with pie tin bent to shape and stainless steel bolt, nut, and washer.

OK, that's it, we're done, I'm beat.....how 'bout you? It really only takes part of an afternoon for these mods, and most of it is in the planning of where you're going to drill and what you're going to cut. Total cost of the mods comes out to like $10-$15....not bad considering you only paid about $25 bucks for the cooker. (took me longer to build this section of the website then it did to make the darn mods)

Great, now how do we cook on this thing? (next)

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