Moisture Meter Testing...

[HybridFyre]

What should a douglas fir 2x4 (not one of the cheap 'green wood' ones) read at? All of my wood is rating very high with my moisture meter so I thought i'd try on some known woods. I have a Travis Industries moisture meter that I received with my insert so I can't check amazon reviews on it or anything like that. It has a low button that ranges from 1-15% and a high that ranges from 16-35%. Note the readings overlap as shown in the pic below so if it shows 35% that usually means it's over 35%.

When I poke it into a 2x4 it maxes out at 15% on the low reading but shows nothing on the high. I poked it into a cheap piece of ikea pine furniture and it gave no reading at all, and I poked it into a piece of outdoor wood furniture (unknown kind of wood) and it showed 27%. Seems like everything is reading high to me. Any thoughts? I have red oak that's been split and stacked since march and it still pegs out at 35%.

 

[tigger]

Go to lowes/HD and get a new one. Will be worth the $20. I think General is the brand that they stock.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

I have the same one. If it maxes out at 15 on low and shows nothing on high you're at 15%. The low button is for 1-15 scale and the high button is for 16-35 scale.

 

[HybridFyre]

I have the same one. If it maxes out at 15 on low and shows nothing on high you're at 15%. The low button is for 1-15 scale and the high button is for 16-35 scale.

Yeah I understand that part and how it works. I'm asking if mine is faulty. I thought Doug fir 2x4's would read more in the 10-12% range. All of my wood seems to read too high.

 

[gzecc]

Interior unpainted trim should be in the 10-15% area. Your palm should be low 30's,

 

[Woody Stover]

May be that the outside wood has absorbed some humidity, gotten rained on, etc. 15% on the Doug Fir doesn't surprise me if it's been outside, even covered. 35% on Oak doesn't surprise; It's one of the slowest-drying woods around. It needs two years split and stacked, maybe more if it's from a live tree. Did you re-split the Oak and test on a fresh face in the center of the split?

 

[HybridFyre]

The doug fir was in my basement. I didn't split it or anything though. Humidity is at 65% in my basement so it's not too damp. Oak was tested in center on fresh split. I tried some maples drying split and stacked off the ground since March and they are still 25-27%. I sure hope my meter is reading high or I'm screwed.

 

[Rickb]

If its sugar maple thats doing good to be down to 25-27%. If its silver its about right. Another couple months and it will be down to 18-20%

 

[Spletz]

Does anyone have a favorite brand of moisture meter? Need one soon, is there an accepted "best"?

 

[STIHLY DAN]

The oak readings sound right.

 

[Woody Stover]

If its sugar maple thats doing good to be down to 25-27%. If its silver its about right. Another couple months and it will be down to 18-20%

Yep, you have a little more time if that's soft Maple (Silver or Red.) The Oak doesn't have enough time. You may have to lay in a supply of Bio-bricks if you don't have enough of that Maple.

Does anyone have a favorite brand of moisture meter? Need one soon, is there an accepted "best"?

The good ones (used by woodworkers) are expensive, but the cheapies are good enough for testing firewood; Harbor Fright is probably the cheapest at about $15. The "General" I got at Lowe's was a little under $30. Or there is a sticky thread at the top of the forum with a method for using a multimeter. There may be a 2-3% correction factor on some species of wood.

 

[paul bunion]

You can test your meter with a resistor. After all it is just an Ohm meter. Mine came with a test resistor built into its cap. A 1 MΩ resistor should read in the low 20% range based on the chart in the multimeter for moisture content thread. (Assuming your tines are spaced as specified in the chart.)

 

[Spletz]

Thanks. Got a cheapy from Harbor Freight. Have 8 cord standing. Had 2 delivered today. My wood tick didn't claim it to be seasoned (he's a neighbor, and won't oversell me). Last years oak 18%. This delivery, 28%. He's honest at least!

Looks like I've gotta move all the old stuff nearer the house before stacking the new stuff in its place! I've got a six year old ready for a workout!