The Ford Barn

Lawson Cox · 05-30-2018, 10:06 PM

Hey. Kids are asking for father's day gift wish list. I would like to get a nice infrared thermometer. don't have one but would like to have one. Just a good accurate one, not a Cadillac, but maybe a LaSalle. LOL Recommendations??

Kurt in NJ · 05-30-2018, 10:28 PM

I got a mastercool that has a "K" type thermocouple input too --can measure liquid, exhaust, melted babbitt, up to 2000 degrees

chap52 · 05-31-2018, 07:04 AM

E-bay, less than $15. I have one and it does what I need. Chap

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nubee-Tempe...QAAOSwKtlWi2L4

corvette8n · 05-31-2018, 07:09 AM

I have one from Harbor Freight, bought about 5 years ago, seems accurate enough.

V8COOPMAN · 05-31-2018, 09:01 AM

Available in the tool section of any Lowes Store....reasonably affordable, and as accurate as any. DD

Tim Ayers · 05-31-2018, 09:06 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I got a Ryobi from Home Depot that has been dead nuts accurate. I think it was under $30. I use it at my school to prove to my maintenance guy our HVAC isn't working. LOL!

G.M. · 05-31-2018, 09:17 AM

Harbor freight works good but check it in the store. Aim it at the counter
top and other objects in the store. It should read the air conditioner temp
of around 78. G.M.

34PKUP · 05-31-2018, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.M.

Harbor freight works good but check it in the store. Aim it at the counter
top and other objects in the store. It should read the air conditioner temp
of around 78. G.M.

And what if the store that it is being checked at has their system set to 74 degrees, should it still read 78 degrees?

tubman · 05-31-2018, 10:41 AM

How about aiming it at yourself, pressing the "HOLD" button, and see if it reads around 98?

V8COOPMAN · 05-31-2018, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

How about aiming it at yourself, pressing the "HOLD" button, and see if it reads around 98?

NOTE: If you aim it at your EYEBALL, it's gonna feel like 1,000 degrees, and you won't be able to read the temperature ANY MORE!

DO NOT AIM AT EYES!!!!!!!!!! DD

countrysquire · 05-31-2018, 12:05 PM

I've never seen one that doesn't work well, but I would assume that some will last longer than others. Also, even if they are off a few degrees, they are fantastic diagnostic tools.

revkev6 · 05-31-2018, 12:50 PM

I just bought one to diagnose a bad ground believe it or not. right temp gauge was pegging out in 5 minutes at idle and the left wasn't moving. put the cheapo harbor freight unit on the heads and they read within 3 degrees. bang on the high reading gauge and it drops 30 degrees... that was AFTER I swapped out thermostats a couple times....

my4dv8 · 05-31-2018, 03:49 PM

We have a harbour fright infrared one and have tested it numerous times against various temp gauges and thermometers and its close to spot on. The hold feature is great. Quite often they are used to check for temp variations so spot on accuracy is not so critical. But the HF red ones seem accurate enough.

Lawson Cox · 05-31-2018, 10:33 PM

Thanks for the come backs fellows. I certainly appreciate the comments. Lawson

Ford Freak · 06-01-2018, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corvette8n

i have one from harbor freight, bought about 5 years ago, seems accurate enough.

x2 !!

3twinridges · 06-01-2018, 06:42 PM

The HF unit is cheap and close enough for hand grenades. Save your money for something good for the engine, like a Merc crank!

JB

05-30-2018, 10:06 PM	#1
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. Hey. Kids are asking for father's day gift wish list. I would like to get a nice infrared thermometer. don't have one but would like to have one. Just a good accurate one, not a Cadillac, but maybe a LaSalle. LOL Recommendations?? __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

05-30-2018, 10:28 PM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,158	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. I got a mastercool that has a "K" type thermocouple input too --can measure liquid, exhaust, melted babbitt, up to 2000 degrees

05-31-2018, 07:04 AM	#3
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,776	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. E-bay, less than $15. I have one and it does what I need. Chap https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nubee-Tempe...QAAOSwKtlWi2L4

05-31-2018, 07:09 AM	#4
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,949	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. I have one from Harbor Freight, bought about 5 years ago, seems accurate enough.

05-31-2018, 09:01 AM	#5
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,111	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. Available in the tool section of any Lowes Store....reasonably affordable, and as accurate as any. DD __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

05-31-2018, 09:06 AM	#6
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,178	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I got a Ryobi from Home Depot that has been dead nuts accurate. I think it was under $30. I use it at my school to prove to my maintenance guy our HVAC isn't working. LOL!

05-31-2018, 09:17 AM	#7
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. Harbor freight works good but check it in the store. Aim it at the counter top and other objects in the store. It should read the air conditioner temp of around 78. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

05-31-2018, 10:41 AM	#9
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. How about aiming it at yourself, pressing the "HOLD" button, and see if it reads around 98?

05-31-2018, 12:05 PM	#11
countrysquire Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: League City, TX Posts: 220	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. I've never seen one that doesn't work well, but I would assume that some will last longer than others. Also, even if they are off a few degrees, they are fantastic diagnostic tools.

05-31-2018, 12:50 PM	#12
revkev6 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: western Mass Posts: 365	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. I just bought one to diagnose a bad ground believe it or not. right temp gauge was pegging out in 5 minutes at idle and the left wasn't moving. put the cheapo harbor freight unit on the heads and they read within 3 degrees. bang on the high reading gauge and it drops 30 degrees... that was AFTER I swapped out thermostats a couple times....

05-31-2018, 03:49 PM	#13
my4dv8 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,111	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. We have a harbour fright infrared one and have tested it numerous times against various temp gauges and thermometers and its close to spot on. The hold feature is great. Quite often they are used to check for temp variations so spot on accuracy is not so critical. But the HF red ones seem accurate enough.

05-31-2018, 10:33 PM	#14
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. Thanks for the come backs fellows. I certainly appreciate the comments. Lawson __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

06-01-2018, 06:42 PM	#16
3twinridges Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 547	Re: Recommend an infrared thermometer for me. The HF unit is cheap and close enough for hand grenades. Save your money for something good for the engine, like a Merc crank! JB