Infrared Thermometer suggestions to check pre-heated aluminum -- what do you use?

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Hey gents (and ladies)!  For those of you who pre-heat aluminum work pieces (~1/8" thick is the range for me), I've found that it does help to pre-heat work pieces to 180-200 f.  I'm curious about what recommendations there are from weldors for buying an IR Thermometer that has a female K-type insert.  A weldor friend loaned me his multimeter that accepts a probe stick with a k-type connector.  I already own a couple of temperature probe sticks with K-type male connectors, but I don't want to use my multimeter in a welding environment.  Any suggestions for brands/models that you've used to check out for my purposes?Agape GuyEverlast Power I-MIG 200 (dual voltage)Everlast SM200N Spool Gun (aluminum mig welding)Everlast PowerArc 200 stickHarbor Freight Titanium 125 Easy FluxHypertherm Powermax 30 plasma cutterWay too many power tools
Reply:Iv'e never had the need to preheat 1'8" aluminum.   I use a Dynasty 200 and generally use 3/32" tungsten.  Basically just set it at 135 amps and adjust with foot peddle. If I'm welding some thick stuff like 3/8" or thicker I warm it with a propane plumbers torch, when a little water dances on it, it go to laying a beads.It seemed like a good idea at the time!
Reply:Yea, I don't preheat anything under 3/8's - you look like you have 200A machines where I don't think you'd have any need when doing 1/8th...But,,, when I do, I use the little "red dot" IR thingy

(200/250F is all it takes)
Reply:My recommendation would be to use a temperature stick for whatever temperature you have in mind.  It's a lot cheaper and a lot more accurate.
Reply:A "Type "K" thermocouple" is not an infrared thermometer,,Infrared indicates a non-contact temp measurement.Type "K" is a bi-metal that requires contact.If you want a Type "K", order one off eBay,, I think you will be dissatisfied with attempting to determine temp by infrared.Aluminum can be highly reflective, the infrared will "see" the temp of surrounding objects, as easily as the aluminum,, sorta like looking in a mirror.
Reply:20$ now at HF.  But,,,, within this range i can pretty much come close enough with hand, drop of water is 212.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Preheating 1/8" aluminum? Sounds like you have way too small of a welder or to thick of a table acting as a chill block, or both.Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
Reply:TempiStickAs mentioned,IR temp guns don’t work well on shiny surfaces.They are good for a lot of other things though. I have a FlukeIR gun at work. Works very well but I wouldn’t be surprised ifa less expensive one would do just as well.Thermocouples (like type J or K) seem to be very accurateif they have good contact, like being clamped to the surfacebeing measured or inserted in a small hole.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite