I am in the middle of setting up my experimental data acquisition board
on my Linux system. I purchased one pressure sensor, and a variety of
temperature sensors.  Most of the temperature sensors I purchased were
the cheapest I could get (LM19 @ $0.76) and they are spec'd up to only
about 250 degrees F, which is good enough for my test project I guess.
However I also gambled and purchased two other sensors from a company
called Meritline... I've purchased quite a bit of junk from these folk
in the past year. They send out an email every couple of days with their
"daily specials" and I often cannot resist spend a couple of
bucks on some high-tech gadget.

A while back they had digital-thermometers listed at less than $3 each
with free shipping.  I bought two of them.  One of them is destined for
the kitchen and used for cooking purposes.
The other I intend to sacrifice for the good of R&D in my computer project.
This inexpensive digital thermometer is rated to 300C (572F) and has a 6"
stainless steel probe. They are quite accurate, show that water boils
at my elevation at 211F, which is about correct.

I might just keep the second-copy of this thermometer in my shop for
various experimental measurements, else I will cut it open and see if I
can hack into the system and interface it with my computer system. I
wish I had bought another one or two; I see that the regular price is
now $7 (incl shipping)

http://www.meritline.com/digital-thermometer-lcd-display---p-28321.aspx

Here is another neat item that I really like.  A mini-propane/butane torch.
I bought a couple of these and really like them, paid sale price of about $3 each for the one's I purchased.
I probably use the one I carry around in my jacket pocket every day.
For years I used to carry those big old wooden strike-anywhere matches but our Nanny_State has
basically regulated those things out of existence too; they are still labeled "strike-anywhere"
but they are now so "safe" they should now be labeled "wont-strike-anywhere"

http://www.meritline.com/hand-butane-pocket-gift-flame-torch-lighter-hot-jet-gf-827---p-60295.aspx

R Berglund