Uvalco Blog

The holiday season is a great time to deep fry a turkey.  The concept of deep frying a turkey hit about 15 years ago and has been increasing in popularity ever since.  We sold many turkey fryer kits during the Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas should be even better.  Uvalco Supply sells both turkey fryer kits with the burner and turkey fryer kits without the burners.  We even sell just the basket for those who have stock pots and burners and need only a basket to fry their turkey.

Before tackling the project of deep frying a turkey there are a few things to know.  The first of which is the proper equipment.  The turkey frying kit shown to the right has everything you will need.  It includes the burner, pot, turkey rack, seasoning injector and thermometer.  All you need now is a full propane bottle and you will have all you’ll need. 

The fryer pot has a 32qt. capacity so you will need to find a turkey at probably no more than 14lbs., 12lbs. would be better.  The selection of frying oil is very simple but important as you will want to select one that has a high smoke point like peanut, canola or corn oil.  Your local grocery store carries oil in large quantity containers so getting 2-4 gallons at a time should not be a problem.  The kit shown includes a marinade injector for your favorite marinades before yo fry. 

The proper way to gauge how much oil you will need.  To do this, put the turkey in the frying basket or on the turkey rack and lower into the pot.  Then add water to cover the turkey leaving plenty of space between the surface of the water and top of the pot.  Mark the water level, drain the pot and thoroughly dry before adding oil.  The best place to fry is on a level patch of dirt or gravel away from all structures.  Avoid frying on a deck or in a garage as hot oil is flammable.  Children and pets should never be near the turkey frying area.  Another good idea is to have a fire extinguisher handy just in case.  Forget the garden hose.  If you spray water on an oil fire you will have an instant inferno.  Remember that oil will stain concrete surfaces.

Heat the oil to 325-350 degrees F and slowly lower the turkey into the pot.   Cooking time is 3 minutes per pound.  Do not over-cook or the turkey will be black on the outside.  It may, however, still be edible on the inside so don’t panic if there is a little bit of char here and there.  If you fry the turkey at too low of a temperature the turkey may have a tendency to be a little greasy but a properly fried turkey will be moist but not a hinty of grease.  Temperature of the breast should be no less than 170 degrees and 180 degrees and the thigh.  Order yours online today at uvalco.com.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.

With cold wet weather approaching it is time to outfit your truck with a tool box from Uvalco Supply.  We stock truck tool boxes for full size domestic trucks from the top brand manufacturers of RKI and UWS.

RKI, formerly Rawson Koenig, manufactures a vast array of truck tool boxes made from 14 gauge steel featuring stainless hinges and steel paddle latches.  RKI boxes are available in steel with a black or white powder coat finish and aluminum bright, black or white powder coat.  All RKI truck boxes feature sealed gas shock lid supports.

Most RKI boxes are available in deep and or wide dimensions to fit almost any application.  See RKI’s unsurpassed warranty for details on their lifetime warranty.

Uvalco also carries aluminum boxes made by UWS.  UWS features a lower profile lid design that opens a full 90 degrees to the box allowing it to be loaded with larger items than the competition.  All single lid boxes come equipped with two super-duty lift cylinders that raise and hold the Structural Foamed Lid open.  Also check out the popular drawer slide boxes.  A great investment for field service trucks.  These had been a great seller here at Uvalco.

Tools are a big investment so make sure you have them well protected with a tool box from Uvalco Supply.  We have many boxes in stock but if we don’t have what you need we can get it on the way with just a phone call.  See us for your fuel transfer tank needs as well.

It doesn’t seem possible but Christmas time is rapidly approaching and it is never too soon to do your holiday shopping for the outdoors-man on your list.  Uvalco Supply has a huge variety of gift items for anyone on your list.  Before I list any suggestions for gift ideas, I feel it is necessary to mention that Uvalco makes strides to make sure we have the most durable, well built products on the market.  Many of our suppliers have a very short customer list and you will find products here that you will not find at a big box retailer or outdoor outfitter. 

One of the benefits of living in the southern part of the U.S. is that we can enjoy the outdoors for the better part of all twelve months.  Winter is especially enjoyable in Texas where the days are warmer and the nights are just a little chilly.  Nothing feels quite like a camp fire on a cool night.  Uvalco fire pits or disk grills as we call them are perfect for a cozy fire in any outdoor setting.  The pots are made from 1/4″ steel and they are hand crafted right here at Uvalco Supply.  They are available in 24″, 30″, 36″ and 48″. These are not the flimsy units that are mass marketed by the big retailers.  A great gift for anyone who enjoys cooking outside or enjoying a glass of wine around the fire.  All cooking grills are removable to make an open firepit.  Visit Uvalco Supply online to purchase yours today and have it shipped right to your door in time for Christmas.

If shrimp & crawfish boils and frying are more up your sportsman’s alley, choose from one of our many handmade propane cookers.  All of our propane cookers are built from 1/8″ hot rolled flat and round steel and include a 5′ hose and propane regulator so they are ready to cook.  Select from 1 burner, 2 burner or 3 burner units that can be used with or without legs which are included and stow easily on the side of the frame when not in use.  Don’t forget to add side tables (sold separately) to one or both ends of the cooker to add food preparation space.  Also available are cooker carts that have 2 burners with a preparation area in between and a set of wheels attached for mobility.   All of our propane cooker units are made here in Texas and built to last a lifetime.

As long as you’re getting your cooker you should pick up your cookware as well.  Uvalco Supply carries a large selection of Lodge brand cast iron cookware, deep fryers, aluminum stock pots and handmade griddles the will compliment any of our propane cookers.  Remember, Uvalco Supply specializes in large, durable hard to find items to feed the largest crowds and last forever.

Uvalco Supply also has one of the largest selections of Bar-B-Que pits and grills in south Texas.  Choose anything from a tabletop grills all the way up to our trailer pits and anything in between.  All of the Bar-B-Que pits we stock are made from the best materials and display fine craftsmanship.  All of our items are able to be shipped either UPS or common carrier so get your gifts today at Uvalco Supply.

Wild hog destruction in the southern U.S. shows no signs of getting any better and all indications are that they are getting worse.  Much to the hog’s delight, urbanites are moving to the country and bring their landscaping with them.  Nothing is more inviting to a hog than a cool, damp yard full of St. Augustine grass.  As a number of folks will tell you, hogs can destroy an entire yard in a matter of hours if not minutes.  The damage does not just entail replanting the yard but in most case doing extensive dirt work to smooth the furrows.

If you are looking for a cost effective deterrent, a high tensile 4-point barbwire with 3″ spacing may be your answer.  Unlike conventional barbwire, high tensile is made with a smaller but much stronger wire.  Therefore, the barbs are much more effective as they are more aggressive and with 4 points every 3″ there is much more coverage along the run of wire.  At just pennies per foot and virtually no maintenance it is an excellent alternative to traps and snares.  Uvalco Supply keeps a large supply of high tensile fencing products at all times and tools to go with it.  Call one of our knowledgeable staff today!

Here at Uvalco Supply we hear a lot of requests for solutions to problems.  One of the most frequent is “what can I buy that the wild hogs won’t destroy”.  As one of the most destructive creatures ever, it is every farmer’s, rancher’s and hunter’s quest to find ways to keep hogs from tearing up their equipment.  Every year wild hogs destroy thousands of conventional waterers that are expensive for the land owner to repair, not to mention the loss of thousands of gallons of water until the damage is discovered.  With Texas being in the worst drought in decades, now is the time to conserve the most precious resource we have–WATER!!   Therefore, in addition to other hog control related items such as hog traps, hog snares and hog proof fencing we have added a hog proof wildlife waterer.

Weighing in at an impressive 480lbs., Uvalco Supply’s new hog proof wildlife waterer makes a formidable adversary for even the biggest wild hogs.  It’s tapered concrete base makes it nearly impossible to move without lifting and steel reinforcement will keep it from cracking under tremendous amounts of weight.  The reknown Fluidmaster fill valve is completely encapsulated in SCH 40 PVC, surrounded by concrete and is inaccessible by hogs yet convenient for humans to access for plumbing and water level adjustment.

With an adjustable fill valve, the hog proof wildlife waterer can be adjusted to nearly any water level making it perfect for deer, quail and turkey thus eliminating costly multiple water sources.  Also with sealed concrete construction it is almost maintenence free.  Contact Uvalco Supply to reserve your’s today.

Have you ever been searching for a product to purchase and had the thought that you need a bigger one or a more durable one?  Most of our customers have.  The remoteness and adverse weather conditions  of South Texas require that a product holds up whether it is a tool or a toy.  When we add a product or product line, whether we manufacture it here at Uvalco or buy it from a supplier, we do all we can to make sure it will meet the expectations of our customers.

3000# "Grandote" Protein Feeder

We also think that size matters when it comes to farm and ranch supplies, outdoor cooking equipment, bbq pits, cattle guards, game feeders and protein feeders just to name a few.  People in and around Uvalde like big items to serve big crowds of hungry people, supply big ranches and feed big whitetail deer so we buy as big as we can as often as we can to accommodate our customer’s needs.

******** 24" Portable Smoker ********

You can come to see us in person at 2521 E. Main St. in Uvalde, TX or visit us online at Uvalco Supply to see and buy our products.   If you have any questions, our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you.  We are just a phone call away at 866-300-4141.

When selecting the proper knife for your purpose there a few variables to consider. Among these variables are size, style, application and price. Will you be skinning a deer or opening envelopes? Are you set on a certain brand or are you open to change? Is your knife purchase going into a collection or into your pocket as soon as you get it. No matter what you need, Uvalco Supply can help.

When making your selection it is important to know a few things about the elements in knife-grade steel that cause knives to perform the way they do. A few of the important elements used in most knives are carbon, chromium and vanadium.

Some older knife enthusiasts insist that their knives have a high carbon content because they remember the early days of stainless steel knives and their reluctance to get sharp and hold an edge. Carbon is in all steels and adds strength but also decreases toughness. These knives tarnish and rust easily but are known to hold an exceptional edge.

Chromium is added to many modern day knife steels to resist wear and increases hardenability. Steel that is at least 13% chromium is considered to be “stainless steel” but remember all steels can rust if not properly cared for by cleaning and oiling. Stainless steel means just that. It stains less.

Vanadium not only adds resistance to wear and hardness but also adds the contribution of toughness to the steel. When added with chromium, vanadium allows a knife to accept a razor sharp edge. These blades are deemed “chrome vanadium” or CV and can hold an edge and look good doing it.

We suggest doing some research of your own before making your knife selection and then come to see us or visit us on the web at Uvalco Supply. We carry a wide variety of name excellent name brand knives such as Case, Kershaw, Gerber, Boker, Moore Maker, SOG, Puma, Eye Brand and Colt in both folding and fixed blade styles. If we don’t have what you need we can get in just a couple of days.