I'm pretty fond of this IR thermometer:

http://www.metrisinst.com/product_details.php?ID=43&sm_chart=0

Its nice, because you can connect a regular thermocouple probe to it to verify its accuracy. All materials have a different 'emissivity' which is the amount of energy it emits as infrared radiation at a given temperature. Copper is different from hamburger is different from liquid oil, etc. Most IR thermometers are preset to a common value, or let you set the value, but the one I posted, made by zytemp (who actually makes the electronics in many other brands of IR thermometers) has a thermocouple connection so you can connect a thermocouple to an object, check the same object with IR, and then generate the exact calibrated emissivity value for that object, instead of relying on charts.

Plus, its got a very wide temperature range (better than most), a good laser sight, and an attractive price at about 99$.

Oh, and NO, I don't work for any IR thermometer companies or retailers. I'm just a big fan of them.

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)