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Hello friends,

For those that do use them, what do you guys and gals use as surface thermometers? StewMac has one, is that the only game in town? Anyone using one of those cheap infrared gun types?


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

I have used both the bimetal one like stewmac’s and the electronic one. The bimetal curl thermometer seems to report close to the correct temperature (at least of the air near the surface) but I have never calibrated it against something known like boiling water. The electronic one with the laser pointer reflects off of anything metal so it won’t give accurate readings of my bending iron. While I was curious to see what temperatures I was bending at, I still go with how the bend feels to know if the temperature is sufficient. I rarely use either thermometer in my shop although I have them.

I'd primarily use it to unglue fingerboard and lifting bridges, and I'm typically using a clothes iron or light bulbs, so metal temp is not a strong concern for me.


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

Anyone else has experience with surface thermometers for my intended purpose?


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

IR thermometers will read the surface temperature of just about anything. We used them at work for years to check for hot spots in our machines; I use one in the shop primarily when removing bridges and fretboards with a heatlamp.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Steve. So those cheap IR units will do the job, I suppose?


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

They're not dependable for high accuracy but they'll give you a good general idea of the temp in an area.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Great, thanks.


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

Steve, Do you think they would be +/- 10 degrees ? THANKS

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

It's been 7 years since I retired, but my company performed infrared scans of various things. We used hand held scanners for many things, and the small pistol grip infrared thermometers for others. The small ones you can by locally, like this one

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Digital-Temperature-Meter/3028851

were within about 1.5 degrees of accurate. You have to understand a little about infrared, but generally it depends on the surface you are scanning. Metal and glass don't register accurately, but things like wood, plastic, drywall, paint are pretty close. Just don't get the laser aiming light anywhere near metal and you should be OK

And things may have changed in the last 7 years.

Ed

Like Ed said, within a few degrees. The cheap one I use in the shop I figure is within 5 degrees. Main thing to keep in mind is what you are measuring is the temperature at the surface.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"