Moisture meter and metal vac recommendations.

I have and use the PowerSmith PAVC101 (http://powersmithtools.com/portfolios/ash-vacuum/). It works fine, but tends to overheat after about 5 minutes of use. It does this even if everything I'm sucking up is completely cooled down. It takes about 30 minutes or so to cool down until it will run again. Not sure if this is normal, but it has been my experience. Othewise, it does fine and works much better than the old retired hoover that I had been using.

Firemountain said:

In the process of buying a new Hearthstone and the bride is looking to buy me a bday gift. I told her that a moisture meter and/or a metal vac would be good gift. Did some research and the mini-Ligno E/D pin type seems like a decent model.

When it comes to a metal vac, I have no idea....so any input would be great in this area.

While I can tell the difference between seasoned wood and green wood, I want to just use the moisture meter to keep track of how quickly my wood loses moisture, in a given area where I stack it. This way, depending on my readings, I can relocate an area of wood that is just not in an optimal location. Plus, I may have aces to some free Oak, and know that this takes a lot longer to season.

Any advice and input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.....

Dom

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My thoughts on a moisture meter everyone on here knows; a moisture meter is a useful and fun tool but, here it comes folks, "the best device for determining the moisture content of split firewood is a multi-year calendar! " All kidding aside, don't spend a lot on a meter unless you plan to turn you wood into lumber for fine furniture or gun stocks. A $29 meter from Lowes or Home Depot or Harbor Freight will serve you purpose for firewood. Meters are calibrated for Douglas Fur and for temps of about 70 degrees and some come with species and temp correction charts and some don't. Attached is a species correction chart, sorry I can't find the temp correction chart.

As for an ash vac, if ya find a good one let me know, I would like to have one myself!

A Lingomat is overkill unless you're running a cabinet shop. For firewood, you can do just as well for less than half the cost.

Firemountain said:

In the process of buying a new Hearthstone and the bride is looking to buy me a bday gift. I told her that a moisture meter and/or a metal vac would be good gift. Did some research and the mini-Ligno E/D pin type seems like a decent model.

When it comes to a metal vac, I have no idea....so any input would be great in this area.

While I can tell the difference between seasoned wood and green wood, I want to just use the moisture meter to keep track of how quickly my wood loses moisture, in a given area where I stack it. This way, depending on my readings, I can relocate an area of wood that is just not in an optimal location. Plus, I may have aces to some free Oak, and know that this takes a lot longer to season.

Any advice and input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.....

Dom

Click to expand...

Welcome Dom.

A reasonably accurate scale is much better at telling you how much moisture your wood has lost. A moisture meter can tell you the moisture content at a particular spot in the wood, but knowing its weight before and after will tell you how much moisture has been lost overall. I have a kitchen scale that reads in grams that I use for my science projects.

You also don't want to be moving your wood around the yard. The spot that gets the most sun will be the fastest, unless you stack your wood against a fence, hedge or building the air circulation will be the same. We are talking about a suburban lot here. So pick the sunniest spot and start there. Keep your stacks up off the ground and keep the rain and snow off it.

If you haven't figured it out yet you have all the free wood that you could ever burn, it just hasn't been delivered yet, not just some oak that you might have access to. We live in Bergen County. There are very few people that heat with wood so the law of supply and demand is very much in our favor. Just make friends with a few tree guys and they will deliver all that you could ever want, chunks or log length, take your pick. I've even had a guy knock on my door and offer wood. You just need to process it.

Lowes $30 does the trick, General tools.......

http://www.menards.com/main/heating...ssories/cleva-ash-vacuum/p-1715971-c-6845.htm

i bought this ash vac at menards, seems to work well and im happy with it. I think i got it on sale for $55, normally $70 or there abouts. Moisture meter i picked up at harbor freight for around $12 i think.

I'm with Ralphie Boy, you don't need all these fancy gauges and meters, just wait a 3 or 5 years before using your wood, then you'll know for sure it's dry. You don't need to be warm right away do you?

Firemountain said:

I have a cheap chainsaw that has been giving me startup problems lately. I may hit the wife up to buy me a new chain saw...something in the medium duty range. Any advice without breaking the bank?? I am definitely gonna start hitting up the local tree guys for free firewood.

Dom

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Start shopping for a Stihl MS290 and go from there. I have used an 029 (it's predecessor) as my primary saw for 20 years. With a 20" bar I've been able to cut everything that has been left in my yard. It might get slow with the nose buried but it gets the job done. I might 'want' a bigger saw but I don't 'need' it.

Firemountain said:

In the process of buying a new Hearthstone and the bride is looking to buy me a bday gift. I told her that a moisture meter and/or a metal vac would be good gift. Did some research and the mini-Ligno E/D pin type seems like a decent model.

When it comes to a metal vac, I have no idea....so any input would be great in this area.

While I can tell the difference between seasoned wood and green wood, I want to just use the moisture meter to keep track of how quickly my wood loses moisture, in a given area where I stack it. This way, depending on my readings, I can relocate an area of wood that is just not in an optimal location. Plus, I may have aces to some free Oak, and know that this takes a lot longer to season.

Any advice and input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.....

Dom

Click to expand...

I use a Delmhorst J-lite mm, seems to work pretty well. Got it on eBay for under a 100.

For ash duty, the ash dragon gets summoned. Works OK for a glorified scoop.