Finally got a moisture meter

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mywaynow

Minister of Fire
Dec 13, 2010
1,369
Northeast
My curiousity got the best of me and I broke down and got a MM. Split a Beech and Red Oak log that is around 3 years (at minimum) css. Both metered 19%. I was not surpised at the reading, but was at the fact that both are the same. I guess 19% is the minimum I will attain with exterior stacks in my area. That would seem to be a reasonable assumption as to why they are both the same.
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Must be since three years is plenty of time for both. How big were the splits? That makes a big difference as well as exposure. Did they see much sun or wind?
 
I have the exact MM and believe it to be a good one.
 
It will be interesting for ya to play with that new toy. Hmmm. Did you split that one open and see what it was inside? It may be a little higher inside. It sounds like some good BTUs though. I think you may find some variation from splits depending on where they were outside as well.
 
As posted, I split both a beech and a Red Oak. These were 5x5x6 or so splits before I split them to meter the water content.
 
It will be interesting for ya to play with that new toy. Hmmm. Did you split that one open and see what it was inside? It may be a little higher inside. It sounds like some good BTUs though. I think you may find some variation from splits depending on where they were outside as well.

I have the same MM. I am very new to the wood burning game, so I figured it was the best way to make sure that I don't burn a bunch of green stuff. I have a question though. I metered some Oak that I split about a month ago (rounds were bucked up about a year ago) and got 19-22%. Then I metered some wood I had delivered today to make sure it was good (it was ash and oak) and it came out about the same, but it was MUCH denser. I ran the meter with the grain on the face of a fresh split with the grain, so I think I did it right. Also the denser wood was a lot lighter colored, but my old wood was much drier to the touch. I am a little nervous about burning the new stuff just because I am new to this and I am not sure that it is dry regardless of what the meter says.
 
As posted, I split both a beech and a Red Oak. These were 5x5x6 or so splits before I split them to meter the water content.

Ooops. Missed that.
 
I have the same MM. I am very new to the wood burning game, so I figured it was the best way to make sure that I don't burn a bunch of green stuff. I have a question though. I metered some Oak that I split about a month ago (rounds were bucked up about a year ago) and got 19-22%. Then I metered some wood I had delivered today to make sure it was good (it was ash and oak) and it came out about the same, but it was MUCH denser. I ran the meter with the grain on the face of a fresh split with the grain, so I think I did it right. Also the denser wood was a lot lighter colored, but my old wood was much drier to the touch. I am a little nervous about burning the new stuff just because I am new to this and I am not sure that it is dry regardless of what the meter says.

I am surprised at the moisture content of the Oak. If it was just split and it dried that fast, that is pretty low for Oak that was just split.. Ash will dry fast. I would burn the Ash first and let the Oak dry as long as you can. If you are around 20%, you are good for burning.
 
Gas- I guess I am not being clear on my posts. My splits are css for what I thought was 3 years. I have found out in the last hour that this stuff is 2 years 3 months css. Buddy of mine that had the tree come down on his property confirmed the age. So css for 2 years, then split and tested for moisture content.
 
Just to throw another variable into the equation, different species of wood will have different electrical resistance for a given moisture content. All these MM's do is measure resistance (ohms, k-ohm's or megohm's) but display the result in percent moisture content. If your MM does not have a "species correction", it is only calibrated for the average of all wood species. For example, red oak is 2.09 megohms at 20% MC where white ash is .89 megohm for the specified probe spread and depth. My chart does not include beech, but we can assume that your beech and oak are really a bit different in MC. The 'lil meter is doing the best it can. Either way, both those splits are VERY GOOD and ready to burn. The meter told you what you already knew.
 
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I have the exact MM and believe it to be a good one.

Where did you guys get that one? I looked around for one thurs and didnt have any luck, I wasnt near a Lowes as I understand they sell a decent one.
 
Where did you guys get that one? I looked around for one thurs and didnt have any luck, I wasnt near a Lowes as I understand they sell a decent one.
Ebay
 
Just to throw another variable into the equation, different species of wood will have different electrical resistance for a given moisture content. All these MM's do is measure resistance (ohms, k-ohm's or megohm's) but display the result in percent moisture content. If your MM does not have a "species correction", it is only calibrated for the average of all wood species. For example, red oak is 2.09 megohms at 20% MC where white ash is .89 megohm for the specified probe spread and depth. My chart does not include beech, but we can assume that your beech and oak are really a bit different in MC. The 'lil meter is doing the best it can. Either way, both those splits are VERY GOOD and ready to burn. The meter told you what you already knew.
I think they can be maybe 3% off on some types of wood, but the meter is still a pretty decent indicator...
 
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