moisture meter makes/ models/ satisfaction?

[pybyr]

Hello all-

I've done some searches, but to my surprise, have found only scattered remarks, not any run-down

I know I can get some ElCheapoGrande from Harbor Freight or off of eBay- which I doubt will be very accurate and I also tend to think, based on prior experiences with cheap tools/ electronics, may not last long.

The cheapies also seem to have a limited range of moisture % that only covers the range between almost seasoned and well seasoned-

I'd like something that also can tell me where I start with fresh cut wood, so I can grow to understand how the different species of wood progress towards full dry, and how fast, under different storage/ weather.

I also do not need and cannot afford any kind of lab/pro grade unit.

Any nominations for something that can fit the above bill for a serious amateur?

Thanks, as always, for all the help and camaraderie around Hearth

 

[Gooserider]

You'll get lots of different opinions, but all the discussion I've seen suggests that the cheap e-bay / harbor freight units are reasonable for use on fire wood - I have one of the cheap HF units and it's far from perfect, but it does a reasonably decent job far as I can tell... Goes in two ranges 7-15% and 16-35% which is not great but adequate - if you peg the 35% you know it's to wet to burn...

Construction is not great, but seems adequate to the task.

Biggest single point seems to be a preference for the meters with two point sensors rather than four point... You need a very flat surface (like a board) for a 4 prong sensor to work, which can be a problem on splits, while the two prong sensors work on anything, albeit with slightly less accuracy, but again adequate to the task.

Gooserider

 

[fossil]

I have an Extech M0220, which is a two-pin. Wasn't particularly cheap, but I'm very pleased with it. I bought it from this outfit:

http://www.professionalequipment.com/wood-moisture-meter/?CMP=KNC-Google

 

[Wet1]

You'll get lots of different opinions, but all the discussion I've seen suggests that the cheap e-bay / harbor freight units are reasonable for use on fire wood - I have one of the cheap HF units and it's far from perfect, but it does a reasonably decent job far as I can tell... Goes in two ranges 7-15% and 16-35% which is not great but adequate - if you peg the 35% you know it's to wet to burn...

Construction is not great, but seems adequate to the task.

Biggest single point seems to be a preference for the meters with two point sensors rather than four point... You need a very flat surface (like a board) for a 4 prong sensor to work, which can be a problem on splits, while the two prong sensors work on anything, albeit with slightly less accuracy, but again adequate to the task.

Gooserider

Agreed. I have the same el cheapo meter from HF. I'm not big on cheap tools, but for what I need it to do, and the frequency I use it, the cheap HF meter is well suited. I can't see spending a lot of money on one of these. If it's something you'll use daily, I guess I can see spending the money, but this is not I tool I use very much... just a couple times a year to see how my wood is progressing.