I’m beginning to think there are reasons Weber doesn’t put thermometers on the Smokey Joe grills (other than cost/value), especially the smaller ones. It seems most folks use them for direct grilling and don’t really care what the temperatures are.

I got the parts from Ace Hardware. I used a “rope hook” which is a hook with a flat piece with 2 holes. The receipt says .236″x2.56″. It cost $1.29.

The hook was galvanized steel. I removed the zinc by soaking the part in hydrochloric acid (a.k.a. muriatic acid) for about one minute. The zinc dissolves very rapidly, and emits a lot of hydrogen gas in the process. It looks effervescent, like dropping an Alka-Seltzer into water. After several seconds, the bubbles stopped and the hook came out clean and perfectly free of zinc.

I didn’t want the hook to corrode so I decided to “season” it as if it were a cast iron pan. I coat the metal rope hook in lard and hung it inside my oven, set to 550 F. I let each coat cook for about an hour. After one coat, the hook looked reddish-brown. After several coats, it took on a polished hard smooth black finish.

I used stainless steel (round philips head) 10-24 hardware (2 bolts, 2 washers, 2 hex nuts, total cost: $1) to attached it to the lid. Although it was all stainless I decided to “season” it anyway to give it a black finish so it would resemble the black Smokey Joe lid I have.

I placed the screw holes under the handle, such that the hook itself is almost directly under one of the “struts” of the handle. I chose this location for 2 reasons: symmetry and the fact that when hanging, the lid was a little higher up. I had in mind that the lid might provide some wind-screen effect, like what the Platinum provides (albeit using a different mechanism). In retrospect I would have mounted the hook closer to the rim so that more of the lid hangs below the cooking bowl because the placement I chose ends up making some of the lid lean a little over the cooking area.

I drilled the holes using a cobalt bit. Just like the mod above, I put masking tape on the bowl and used a hole punch to dent the steel so the bit wouldn’t walk.

The round head goes on the outside under the handle so it doesn’t snag on your fingers.

I also used a tiny bolt cutter (actually a combo crimp/bolt cutter tool meant for electronics, which has a special 10-24 threaded “port”) to make both bolts exactly the right length; no excess on the inside of the lid. I figured that would keep the whole thing cleaner. Barely any thread is exposed.

The whole thing looks like it belongs there; it doesn’t look like a mod.

I’d recommend this mod to somebody who struggles with their Smokey Joe Silver lid. The only thing I’d change is the hook placement; should be nearer to the lid rim.

Hope this helps.

One of these days I’ll have some time to play around and try this; when I do I’ll be able to compare the temps at the top with those at the grate. I’ll be sure and post an update when I do.