using the harbor freight moisture meter

[geoffm24]

Ok I just picked one up and I am not sure I'm reading it correctly. It seems simple enough but I find that I can change the reading dramatically based on how hard I press it into the wood. If I press very firmly into a newly split piece of wood I can see the reading go from 20% to as much as 35% with heavy pressure.

So what is the correct method, just contact or very firm pressure?

 

[mellow]

I do firm pressure to get the points inside the fresh cut piece of wood.

 

[Shipper50]

The MM I have used and use now seem to take a good pressure into the wood to get the best reading. I think you will find with time pushing the probes deeply will give you a more accurate reading and in my opinion, take the highest reading as your base point.

Shipper