Moisture meter

[Jan Pijpelink]

Any recommendations for a moisture meter?

 

[mopar440_6]

This is the one I have and I'm pretty happy with it. It was cheaper for me to go to Lowe's (10 min away) and pay $20 vs Harbor Freight (1 hr away) and pay $13.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_78059-56005...l=1&currentURL=?Ntt=moisture+meter&facetInfo=

 

[FiyahBurnah]

This is the one I have and I'm pretty happy with it. It was cheaper for me to go to Lowe's (10 min away) and pay $20 vs Harbor Freight (1 hr away) and pay $13.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_78059-56005...l=1&currentURL=?Ntt=moisture+meter&facetInfo=

I have the same one ($19 delivered free in 2 days on amazon) and it works well...using it on something like drywall is hard, you really have to apply lots of pressure for it to register a reading.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

This is the one I have and I'm pretty happy with it. It was cheaper for me to go to Lowe's (10 min away) and pay $20 vs Harbor Freight (1 hr away) and pay $13.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_78059-56005-MMD4E_0__?productId=3136919&Ntt=moisture meter&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=moisture+meter&facetInfo=

Thanks. I will get one tomorrow.

 

[mopar440_6]

Thanks. I will get one tomorrow.

The one annoyance I've found with that meter is you need to hold the power button for a solid 5+ seconds before it will turn on. The pins seem relatively flimsy but will take some force. Make sure you're measuring the face of a fresh split at room temperature and that the pins are in parallel with the grain of the wood. You'll need to put some force on it to get the pins embedded far enough for a steady reading.

 

[Typ0]

I have the same moisture meter....after a couple months with wood I hardly ever use it. I don't need it to tell me what the moisture is I throw it in the stove and can tell LOL. I don't have any other wood to throw in or I probably would use it!

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

The one annoyance I've found with that meter is you need to hold the power button for a solid 5+ seconds before it will turn on. The pins seem relatively flimsy but will take some force. Make sure you're measuring the face of a fresh split at room temperature and that the pins are in parallel with the grain of the wood. You'll need to put some force on it to get the pins embedded far enough for a steady reading.

Thanks for the tips. Appreciate it.

 

[mellow]

I use a harbor freight meter, it has worked great for the last couple years I have had it, doesn't really get much use but works when I need it.

It turns right on, comes with a nice case. http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-mini-moisture-meter-67145.html

 

[TreePapa]

I might just get me one of the $20 ones from Lowes, 'cuz they apparently use regular 9v batteries. The Harbor Fright meter works okay (gotta push those pins in hard, though) but it uses stupid little button batteries than are a pain to find. The HF stores around here only sell the batteries as part of a set on a card and I don't need any of the other sizes. Radio Smack sells 'em too, but they're purty expensive, like most things at Radio Smack.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

I might just get me one of the $20 ones from Lowes, 'cuz they apparently use regular 9v batteries. The Harbor Fright meter works okay (gotta push those pins in hard, though) but it uses stupid little button batteries than are a pain to find. The HF stores around here only sell the batteries as part of a set on a card and I don't need any of the other sizes. Radio Smack sells 'em too, but they're purty expensive, like most things at Radio Smack.

I went to Lowes today to pick one up. Used it when a load of oak arrived today. Works great!

 

[Seanm]

I went to Lowes today to pick one up. Used it when a load of oak arrived today. Works great!

and how was the oak on the inside of a fresh split warmed to room temperature? Were your expectations in line with what you were seeing with the meter?

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

and how was the oak on the inside of a fresh split warmed to room temperature? Were your expectations in line with what you were seeing with the meter?

It was well seasoned oak, about 16 months. average 12% moisture.

 

[Seanm]

It was well seasoned oak, about 16 months. average 12% moisture.

Wow thats great. More often than naught we hear people who are surprised that the seasoned wood they received wasnt so seasoned.

 

[Jan Pijpelink]

Wow thats great. More often than naught we hear people who are surprised that the seasoned wood they received wasnt so seasoned.

I check my supplier before I buy.

 

[kborndale]

Is there much advantage to a pinless one for firewood? Is the only advantage that it makes no holes in the wood (which would not matter in firewood) or is one more accurate than the other?

 

[mopar440_6]

A pinless meter will not give anything resembling an accurate reading for firewood.