Measuring heat tape?

[T Folts]

How are you guy's who use heat tape measure your setup. I am second guessing myself on how I do it. Currently I wrap the excess sticking out of the end of the form and have a themometer stuck in it and run it up to 205-210. When I first got my strips I put a few thermometers along my strips and did a dry run and saw that it I measured at the tip and 210 it was 160 about mid limb. What do you guy's do?

[JamesV]

I use a heat box, 180 degrees for 5 hrs. Was thinking of going to the heat strips but was told they didn't last very long before burning out.

[Thadbow]

I bought a cheap thermometer gun at harbor freight and I check top and bottom limbs from end to end. I do not have much heat strip overlap sticking out the end of the form to check temp because my form is 72", the same as my heat strips. If you are checking the temperature of the part of the heat strip that is sticking out remember that you are not insulated there and you will read a bit hotter!

[matts2]

I use a cheapo surface therm also.  I got the little one that looks like a key fob.  I don't take them any higher than 170.