which infra red thermometer should i get?

[footprintsinconc]

i am looking to buy a infra red thermometer. it comes in handy some times around the house or when working on the car.

i was looking at the HF ones: 96451 or 91778. does anyone have any experience with either or heard of how they perform?

do you any other brand that i should look at as well? any suggestion would be helpful.

thanks for helping!

[footprintsinconc]

i dont know why the links are not working? but go to the harborfreigthusa.com website, because the 2nd model details are only available there for some reason. they both are for $39.99.

[LCHIEN]

I have a couple of different brands at the office and at home, neither is a HF.
I also have a HF $9.95 about the size of a keyfob, it has lmited range and the measuring spot is a bit large.

The one like you list are like the other ones i have, they have a narrow spot and a laser aiming dot. I think in general they work pretty good, its my opionion that for about 50 and up they are all pretty reasonable. Prices have been falling. I note the second one you list is $40. I think I'd take a flyer on it. in anycase you want a narrow beam (one says 8:1 which means a 1 ft sensing dia at 8 ft) a range up to several hundred degrees, a C/F switch and a data hold capability, laser aiming.
backlighting is useful, and the one I have at work from Omega engineering actually has a splitter on the laser and projects a dotted circle around the measuring area - neat!

[footprintsinconc]

thanks loring for the detailed answer. i too was interested in the 2nd model. however, the two stores close (10miles) by dont have it. so i will just have to wait.