Popular Mechanics - USA (2021-03)

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DIGITAL HAND TOOLS

1. BEST THERMAL CAMERA
   Bosch GTC400C $1,200
   The 12-volt Bosch infrared cam-
   era captures an accurate image
   of the heat (or lack thereof ) com-
   ing off whatever you point it at.
   But our favorite feature is how it
   superimposes the infrared view
   in a rectangular frame, onto a
   real-world view. This helps with
   interpreting what’s happening
   in the infrared spectrum rela-
   tive to its surroundings.


2. BEST BASIC THERMAL IMAGER
   Klein Ti250 $250
   Maybe all you need is a basic
   thermal picture. You get
   10,000-pixel resolution and
   a choice of three color pal-
   ettes with the Ti250, and it will

accept a separate micro SD card

for storing images. That’s a lot

of capability in its small frame.

3. BEST CROSSLINE LASER
   Klein 93LCLG $200
   We used this crossline laser to
   place and install a room full
   of wall standards for shelving,
   one standard on each stud. And
   boy was that job a lot faster for
   having used it. The 93LCLG
   projects a horizontal green line,
   a plumb line, or a plumb dot.


4. BEST WALL SCANNER
   Zircon Superscan K3 $81
   Regarding that shelf stan-
   dards project we mentioned:
   This is the tool that found the

studs, accurately locating all

28 of them. We appreciate its

icons that alert you to signal

strength, wiring, in-wall metal,

and the direction to move the

scanner. Call the K3 a digital

bloodhound.

5. BEST VOLTAGE TESTER
   Klein NCVT-3PR $27
   For electrical work, it’s crucial to
   safely and quickly check that the
   power is indeed off once you’ve
   thrown the circuit breaker.
   That’s where this non-contact
   voltage detector pen comes in.
   It beeps and its light will signal
   you if you move it into the ener-
   gized field around a live wire.
   Our tests of residential wiring
   with it were fast and accurate.

68 March/April 2021