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How to measure heat..

MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
in Zocalo v2.0
How do you measure heat from sparks? My project this spring will be to make historical firesteels, from different kinds of steel, and see which steel is the best one to make firesteels from, and my thought was, the brighter the sparks, the higher the temperature. The problem is that various alloys give of different coloured sparks. For example, boron gives off brighter sparks, so..

My question for you is: How do I measure heat from those sparks?

Comments

  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    Would you be able to capture a tempurature using some sort of infared device?

    If you just go by light, you may be missinterpriting light energy as heat energy. As you correctly pointed out some metals become very bright when heated, while others do not (such as aluminum).

    Jake
  • Vorlons in my HeadVorlons in my Head The Vorlons told me to.
    Ehm, my guess would be with a laser thermometer perhaps?
  • EclecticonautEclecticonaut Elite Ranger
    Laser thermometers are costly and I don't know if those temperatures go off the scale...
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I would agree with Freejack that an infrared camera may be the best option. The sparks would likely be inaccurate at best. You can turn a cheap webcam into a cheap infrared camera pretty easily, but you might need something more accurate.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    I don't know if a webcam would be accurate for this task.

    However, an infrared thermometer should do just fine.
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    So... Where to get one?
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    hardware stores, home improvement shops, computer stores, auto parts stores...

    Anywhere that could possibly have any relationship to things that get hot. :p
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    Yep, you can purchase infared thermos for less than $100 pretty easily. Check a hobby shop, a lot of the R/C guys use them for tuning engines.

    Here's one that's less than $30: [url]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEMG5&P=ML[/url]

    Jake
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    Yeah, but I need one in the 1000 degrees Celsius scale..
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    Hmm, that will be a bit more that a simple hobby unit can do, even the automotive test units generally don't go higher than 1000ºF (those sell in the $150 range). Higher temp units are available, but they're costly.

    Jake
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    Yeah, I figured as much. Ill go look for one though, it would be interesting to see if I can get something out of it..
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