Moisture meter...got it

[jj3500]

Ordered it...now I have it.

Went through my split pile out of curiosity. There were splits that I have smacked together and heard the nice high pitch "ping" sound. I figured I was in great shape for the coming season. I measured it from the exposed end...18%. Then I split it. I got 36% in the center on new surface. Wood is definitely dry.

There were new rounds that I just picked up. I did the same routine. These rounds that were just dropped less than a week ago were showing 38%. Do these two readings between the old split and this new split compare? Shouldn't there be more than 2% difference between

(meter seems to be working accurately. I checked some really old splits I had laying around. They were really dry. 11%. I know that is on target)

 

[wendell]

I got 36% in the center on new surface. Wood is definitely dry.

Is that typo? 36% ain't even close.

 

[LLigetfa]

There were splits that I have smacked together and heard the nice high pitch "ping" sound... I got 36% in the center on new surface. Wood is definitely dry.
...
Shouldn't there be more than 2% difference between

Well, there you go... the more info you have, the more questions. I've never owned a moisture meter and have no desire to. Overall weight, the knock, and knowing how long ago it was spit and where it was stored is all the info I need.

This is going to sound like a Boss Hog (Dukes of Hazard) answer. Was that 36% of your 50% or...

Wood doesn't dry evenly. The good knock sound is the outer 50% that is dry. The inner 50% is still 36% so not quite the same as your benchmark known dry wood.

 

[jdinspector]

I have many moisture meters that I use for work. (at least 4-5) I mess around with them with my firewood, but I agree that knowing how long the wood has been split is the best way to KNOW that they're dry. Just tonight I re-split some ash that was split in March '09 and had 12% on the exterior and anywhere from 21% (on the ends) to 26% in the middle of the newly opened wood. It had been covered since the day it was split. Then I did the same with some Oak and Cottonwood. The Oak was split in December '08 and has been outside stacked but uncovered. It read 16%/31%. Same for the cottonwood (uncovered) The cottonwood read 14%/20%. It seems that cottonwood dries faster than oak (duh) and that ash, indeed does dry quickly. I have LOTS of ash for this winter and lots of oak for next.

BTW, all but the cottonwood had been freshly cut live trees when I split them. (I sold the cottonwood at our church auction, but the people haven't returned my call to have it delivered) I would like to get rid of it!

 

[DiscoInferno]

If you bought the one that was linked to previously, it doesn't max out until 40%. So the 36% is probably accurate. Some species (notably red oak) can stay wet in the middle for a long time. From the outside you'd never know - they feel lighter and make a nice clink. They'll even burn well at first, but that moisture is coming out eventually.

Also, initial moisture content is very species dependent. I have the cheapo HF meter which maxes out around 37%, and most wood starts off higher than that. Ash is one of the lowest.

 

[HittinSteel]

I bought one last season and to my dismay, found my wood was not seasoned to a desirable %. Burned all winter with no problems and very little creosote buildup. The moisture meter is in a drawer somewhere collecting dust.

 

[stee6043]

There were splits that I have smacked together and heard the nice high pitch "ping" sound... I got 36% in the center on new surface. Wood is definitely dry.
...
Shouldn't there be more than 2% difference between

Well, there you go... the more info you have, the more questions. I've never owned a moisture meter and have no desire to. Overall weight, the knock, and knowing how long ago it was spit and where it was stored is all the info I need.

This is going to sound like a Boss Hog (Dukes of Hazard) answer. Was that 36% of your 50% or...

Wood doesn't dry evenly. The good knock sound is the outer 50% that is dry. The inner 50% is still 36% so not quite the same as your benchmark known dry wood.

This is an excellent point to make - illustrates why smaller splits will season faster. Split the living crap out of your rounds and you should see some lower numbers more quickly...