Instruction: Answer the given question by extracting information from the supporting document.

Input:
Question: I need something to measure the surface temperature of heating pads, or heating pads wrapped in a towel.  Will this work?
Document: I'm an automotive electrician,more accurately I work on cars from the 20's through the 70's. I use this thermometer to measure engine temps at the thermostat and then am able to dial in the temp gauge in the car. Saves time in diagnosing over heating problems finding hotspots i.e. clogged radiator and also misfires bc u can measure each exhaust tube and see which one is running cooler therefor indicating which cylinder is not firing all the time saving time in pulling the wrong cylinder head.
As someone else said, I never knew I couldn't live without one till I got it. I have measured the temperature of everything! From the fireplace to the stove, cracks around the doors, heating vents, temperature of the porch when a cold front came through to the freezer. I bought it for a specific purpose which I haven't tried yet but I know it will work great. Ordered a second one cause I  figured my dad needs one for Christmas too.
There isn't much to this device. You point the laser to the surface you want to measure the temperature of, then pull the red trigger, and the temp displays on the little window. The instructions try to explain the ideal distance to stand away from the object you want the temp of, but it's just not very clear to me. I believe the farther away you are from what you're measuring, the thermometer will take an average temperature of a circle around the laser.
I love the idea but after testing the calibration with boiling water at sea level I can't say much for the accuracy. I tried to use this several times for candy making and it was always off by enough to be a problem. I still use it for grilling but if you need to know within 10 degrees of accurate, use something else.
For cooking, this one's 1:12 view cone is great -- means when you point and shoot from a foot away, it's sampling a 1" circle. Some of the other inexpensive ones have cheaper optics and some are as bad as 1:1, which means to sample a 1" circle you'd have to hold it an inch away from the surface -- completely unfeasible when cooking something like caramel, if you value your skin.
To those of you that have read my other reviews, you would know that I enjoy cooking over hardwood charcoal chips - something that was introduced to me by my expert "braai-masters" (South African for BBQ). Anyhow, I bought the thermometer to put an end to the debate as to when the hardwood was the "perfect" temperature for grilling kebabs.
The problem is, you have to point it at something specific, like the wall next to the window, or the floor in front of the door, and the air coming in just doesn't affect the temperature of those immediate surfaces enough to tell. I'm hoping it'll be more useful for attic insulation, but I'm not too hopeful.It has been somewhat useful for cooking, and I expect it'll become more so as I learn better how to cook and learn more about the science of food.
I use this all the time for checking water temperature (different teas need different water temperatures to properly steep), oil temperature to fry food, and so much more. This is an essential kitchen tool for anyone who Ike's precision in cooking.
It is pretty accurate to measure the temperature and nicely made.Strong enough for multiple drops..I really recommend it !
I am doing some AC work as a homeowner and have been lusting after one of these tools, and when I saw the Amazon price and read the reviews it sold itself. Got it and within minutes was entertaining myself and kids by checking the temperature of various things using the laser. Appears to be accurate, as others have posted. Very simple to use, even the instructions are very brief as there isn't much to it.
Answer: Absolutely, that sounds like a great application.