Recommendation for a good affordable IR thermometer

[Oro_O]

Really could use a reliable IR thermometer gun. Something with enough range to read turbo housings, exhaust, as well as coolant hose temps. If ones that can do temps in the exhaust/cat range are too expensive, I guess that's negotiable.

Does not need to be commercial quality or any brand, but something decent enough. I see a wide range of prices and name and no-name brands so don't know precisely what to select.

 

[billt460]

These things are all in much the same category as digital calipers and scales. In that the readers themselves are an electronic generic product, that are most all produced in China or Taiwan. When I worked in the aerospace machining trades, we were required to have the company calibrate all of our tools every 6 months. (Using a tool who's calibration was out of date was reason for termination).

I had several sets of cheaper digital calipers that calibrated just as accurately as my expensive Starrett and Brown & Sharpe calipers did. It's no different with these IR thermometers. The electronical guts are all much the same.

I have a "Cen-Tec" model from Harbor Freight. (I think I paid around $20.00 for it with a coupon). One of the guys at our gun club is an electrician, who has a Fluke IR thermometer. We fooled around with both, taking readings on exhaust manifolds, radiators, even gun barrels after a round of Trap. We found all but identical readings. (They all fluctuate by several degrees the hotter the target is).

I put all this stuff in the same category as flash drives, and other electronic computer data storage devices. It doesn't matter much what the brand is, because most all of them will give satisfactory results, due to the fact most of the guts came out of the same factory somewhere in the Pacific Rim.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

Based on the few I've had there was no 'real world' accuracy difference for most uses, but if I needed another one I'd focus more on the emissivity capability as some devices tend to deflect readings more than others.

 

[charbaby]

I always refer people to Harbor Freight for the affordable stuff, especially for products that we won't be using very often.
How long with the item last? Who knows! That is both the good thing(price) and the bad thing(quality/durability) about HF tools.

 

[Trav]

Really could use a reliable IR thermometer gun. Something with enough range to read turbo housings, exhaust, as well as coolant hose temps. If ones that can do temps in the exhaust/cat range are too expensive, I guess that's negotiable.

Does not need to be commercial quality or any brand, but something decent enough. I see a wide range of prices and name and no-name brands so don't know precisely what to select.

I recently bought this one, the reasons other than the cheap price is the 30:1 distance (nice for checking cat temps) and the high temp rating which is more than anything you will ever need on engines and cats and the adjustable emissivity . It seems accurate enough and simple to use, if it holds up I say good enough.
When it is delivered you need to let it settle for a few hours before it reads accurately if you are in the cold winter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085ZX1ZTF?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Emissivity table.

https://www.optotherm.com/emiss-table.htm

 

[Oro_O]

Alright, good to know and appreciate @billt460 taking a moment to explain in depth. I've noticed the same things with calipers, etc. so often lean that direction.

I like the one trav pointed out and may go that route if that high heat I deem really necessary, or maybe a cheaper one if I can live with 600 to 800F.

 

[paulo57509]

I purchased a Raytek MT6 because I needed a high upper temperature limit. At the time, there weren't many options on the market.

 

[bobdoo]

I've got an Eteckity Lasergrip 630. It has two lasers, so you know exactly how far away to hold for a pin-point reading. It's about a 13" distance, and the aim is accurate for the IR chip.

The lasers don't do the measuring, there's a digital chip very similar to a digital camera, inside the housing.

You'll want to read up on emissivity, and buy a unit that allows you to adjust it, if you anything close to accurate.

 

[TnT_M]

I always refer people to Harbor Freight for the affordable stuff, especially for products that we won't be using very often.
How long with the item last? Who knows! That is both the good thing(price) and the bad thing(quality/durability) about HF tools.

I have 2 of the pistol grip ones from HF. They are very affordable for what I need. My son uses one for his 1/8th scale nitro buggy and I use the other in the garage.

just my $0.02

 

[walterjay]

I recommend a Klein IR10. It is a very nice tool made in the USA. Manufactured for professionals but affordable. They also make a model a step below this one which I suspect is also a quality unit. Got mine from Home Depot. It was around a hundred dollars. Superior to the HF one that I had which broke.
HD has the IR5 for $59.00 an excellent unit.

 

[Oro_O]

I thought it would be amusing to close this thread out. I got an inexpensive one for Christmas.

My first project I needed it for was actually curing some alloy wheels. I am refinishing some vintage Volvo Perfos and I do not have an oven big enough to put them in to really catalyze the paint like I need to. I can at least then use a heat gun to get them to the right temp without over-temping them, which would be great.

But until I get around to that in a week or two, this thing is really amusing. For example, I have used it to more accurately measure my Dachshunds exact indifference point to sitting next to me on the couch. Apparently it is right around 400F on the front glass of the gas stove.

 

[Oro_O]

So, Hey, new development.

In economic terms, it seems there's a "backward sloping" curve of how much my dog loves me.

If the stove's temp hits about 600F, she comes back to my lap to pretend to like me.

I love this thing. Best $20 you can spend this side of Bangkok. (joke)

 

[xmanjeff]

i have a harbor freight one , it does what i need it to do , and would believe it should for you also