I dropped $300 on a fancy infrared thermometer and it was a total waste for my shop.

I bought one of those high-end units with a laser pointer and a digital screen, thinking it would be a game changer for finding hot spots on turbos or checking for a dragging brake. Used it maybe three times in six months. The problem is, by the time you get the thing aimed and read the number, you could have already felt the component with your hand or used a simple temp stick. It's too slow for the pace of a real shop day. The only time it came in handy was checking a customer's AC vent output, and that's not why I got it. Now it just collects dust on my top box. For the same money, I could have gotten a good set of line wrenches I actually need. Has anyone found a real, daily use for these in diesel work, or are they just a shiny toy?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.elizabeth18d ago

Yeah, the "too slow for the pace of a real shop day" is the whole problem. You're right, your hand is faster. I keep mine for one specific thing, checking exhaust manifold temps on a cold start to see if an injector is dead before it even smokes. But that's like a once a month use, max. It's a solution looking for a problem most of the time.

luna89113d agoMost Upvoted

My shop teacher in high school swore by the spit test. He said tools should save you time, not cost you time. That thermometer is a perfect example. You spend more time messing with the settings and aiming it than just getting a feel for the heat. It's a cool gadget that looks smart, but it doesn't help you turn wrenches any faster. I'd trade it for a good pry bar in a heartbeat.

gray618d ago

Mine's basically a really expensive way to tell if my coffee is still hot. I pulled it out to check a thermostat housing, fumbled with the buttons, and my buddy just spit on his finger and touched it. He had an answer before I even got the laser dot steady. It's great for impressing people who don't know any better, but for actual work? Forget it. That thing lives in a drawer now.