Thermometer type and placement

I have a Lopi Endeavor stove and want to be able to tell if it is getting too hot. What thermometers do you guys recommend and where is the best place to put it?

 

Do you have a IR hand held temp gun? They are handy for locating the hottest stove top location. Good place for a Condar gauge.

Stove top thermometers (condar.com)

 

I use a couple Rutland Burn Indicators. And a probe thermometer in the flue.
It could be 50° off and not matter, it's just a guide.

 

One on the top of the stove, ideally near the center of the stove width & depth, and then one 14 inches up the flue. I like the ones Woodstock Soapstone sells.

 

I’ve got a question if anyone has some advice I’m open to feedback.
Been using the thermometer that came with my wood stove and just got a pretty cheap IR thermometer but the temp difference is pretty far off. Any thoughts?
A few pictures to show:

 

Based on some articles I've read regarding temp guages, none are really all that consistent or accurate. Doesn't seem to be cost based either. I'm not sure I trust the laser (or whatever the beam is) all that much either.

 

Ball park, huh?

You can always try that magnetic thermometer in your oven and see what it reads compared to the setting of the oven.



But then, maybe you'll wonder about the oven's thermometer too!


You're welcome........

 

Yeah I would wonder about the home oven too- mine swings around by 75F easily and the center of the movement is not the temp. the stove is set at.

Most mechanical temp. gauges that cover a lot of temperature range (the entire range that the thermometer can read) are lousy with quite a few being awful. And the bigger the range, the worse the information they provide. This is why catalytic temperatures read with a mechanical device are very often not even close.

To get even adequate readings (IMO of course) one has to use electronics; thermistor for moderate ranges, perhaps up to 550F or the usual cooking temps. (not measuring flames here) or thermocouples for higher temps. (to well over 2,000 F).

But the oven test mentioned by another poster should get wood stove thermometers to w/in 100F or better.

 

yeah exactly.

“what temp is your stove running at?”

-“oh, 500° plus or minus 100°… I think.”

“really?”

-“maybe.”

 

Seems the magnetic thermometer will also cause the spot it sits on to be a little hotter than the stove top nearby that is in contact with air.

 

I think I am going to go with an IR handheld model. What is the hottest any part of my stove should ever get?

 

Don't know but owners manual lists a "medium burn" at 400f and a "hot burn" as 600f

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