OT - recalibrating IR gun for covid-19 temperature screening

Canugghead

Just read Thermowork's info on covid-19 temperature screening, it says in a pinch you can recalibrate non FDA approved general purpose IR scanner to check body temperature (approximately?).
https://www.thermoworks.com/covid-19-screening

My Thermoworks IR-GUN-S pizza stone scanner has default emissivity of 0.95, followed above recommendation and user manual, changed emissivity to 0.78 for forehead scanning, also covered the laser beam with masking tape.




Edit: may not bother with changing back to 0.95, I can live with single (even double) digit error on pizza stone 

nolaegghead

Interesting 

frazzdaddy

hmmm, mine is a Fluke. I will see if I can do the same

Canugghead

nolaegghead said:

Interesting 

Indeed, glad it has adjustable emissivity.

nolaegghead

My dewalt has adjustable emmisivity.  Yay

nolaegghead

However that is spelled 

Canugghead

frazzdaddy said:

hmmm, mine is a Fluke. I will see if I can do the same

At triple or quadruple the price(?) I hope it allows recalibration. If not, just add 5 to the reading.

frazzdaddy

Canugghead said:

frazzdaddy said:

hmmm, mine is a Fluke. I will see if I can do the same

At triple or quadruple the price(?) I hope it allowed it to recalibrate. If not, justs add 5 to the reading.

I use all Fluke stuff for work. I have one from Snap On as well. That one was way overpriced.

nolaegghead

If you tape off the "laser", the cats get bored...

frazzdaddy

nolaegghead said:

If you tape off the "laser", the cats get bored...

My Boxers will trash the house trying to get that dot.

Canugghead

Duh, just realised I can toggle the laser on/off with combination of trigger and C/F key, no need for masking tape 

buzd504

If you read the link, you don't have to recalibrate it - just look for a temp 91-94 (for normal).  Add 5 degrees to get body temp.

Canugghead

buzd504 said:

If you read the link, you don't have to recalibrate it - just look for a temp 91-94 (for normal).  Add 5 degrees to get body temp.

Yes I read that but for me it's easier to remember one number (99) vs. three (91,94,5) 

HeavyG

One other tip is to make sure the forehead is dry - wipe off any sweat as the moisture will affect the reading.

paqman

That’s interesting, do you know what’s the recommended setting for cordierite stone? 

Canugghead

HeavyG said:

One other tip is to make sure the forehead is dry - wipe off any sweat as the moisture will affect the reading.

It is a factor, from article above...
Normal forehead skin temperature can vary several degrees depending on your environment (indoors or out), exercise, perspiration, direct heat or air conditioning, etc. It would be normal to read an actual forehead skin surface temperature between 91F and 94F if using a general-purpose infrared thermometer.

Corv

Thanks, this thread is helpful.

Canugghead

paqman said:

That’s interesting, do you know what’s the recommended setting for cordierite stone? 

Never looked into that. Did a quick google and found this, see if there's anything there, I'm kind of busy.
https://ennologic.com/ultimate-emissivity-table/

paqman

Thanks, seen values ranging from 0.67 to 0.95 🤷‍♂️

Canugghead

paqman said:

Thanks, seen values ranging from 0.67 to 0.95 🤷‍♂️

I just saw that on pizzamaking forum too:
https://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php?topic=7741.0#:~:text=Pure%20cordierite%20can%20be%20as,to%20as%20high%20as%200.96.

How about this, next time you fire up your RB, find the temp difference between 0.67 and 0.95 and see if it really matters 

Canugghead

At a mall entrance few months ago, they scanned my wrist instead of forehead. It was an isolated incident for me.