I've decided to buy a moisture meter. I've never used/owned one. Which brand/model do you folks recommend? Do any of them come in combination with a metal detector?
recommendation on moisture meter
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Pinned will be less expensive, but don't think you can just push it into the face of a board and get a good reading. For real accuracy it's recommended to cut around six inches off the length and take your reading in the center of the exposed surface. Otherwise, you're reading the surface moisture content and not the core.
The real pinless meters like Wagner and Lignomat are in the $300 range and up, with the Wagners more in the $400 and up zone. All the cheaper ones like General are good for is leak detection. They'll detect moisture, but not with sufficient accuracy for woodworking.
The real pinless meters like Wagner and Lignomat are in the $300 range and up, with the Wagners more in the $400 and up zone. All the cheaper ones like General are good for is leak detection. They'll detect moisture, but not with sufficient accuracy for woodworking.
Joined
·
6,567 Posts
Quality tools these are. They have one for a lot of different situations. I love my 930. If you decide to get one of the higher priced units, Wagner, Ligno, Delmhorst, would be the 3 companies I would look at. I also suggest pinless.
https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/
https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/
Joined
·
183 Posts
Ive had this unit since 2004. Still use it all the time. Pinless and best of all goes up to 1 inch deep.
https://inspectortools.com/tramex-mep-moisture-encounter-plus-non-destructive-moisture-meter/
https://inspectortools.com/tramex-mep-moisture-encounter-plus-non-destructive-moisture-meter/
Joined
·
18 Posts
I have Delmhorst J-4 In very good condition for sale. Meter, remote electrode, additional tips, manual, case.
$300.00 + 10 for shipping
PM me for pictures.
Peter
[email protected]
$300.00 + 10 for shipping
PM me for pictures.
Peter
[email protected]
Amazon has it for $310 with free shipping.
https://www.amazon.com/Delmhorst-Analog-Wood-Moisture-Meter/dp/B0000224D5
Joined
·
5,244 Posts
Lignomat MD/C
Here is a review I did on this model. I have an ED model as well, which works great. I prefer the MD/C though because it is capable of accepting lead wires and probes. This has been very useful in my small scale lumber kiln.
https://www.lumberjocks.com/reviews/9378
Or read more here…
https://www.lignomatusa.com/meters/non-digital-mini-lignos/
Here is a review I did on this model. I have an ED model as well, which works great. I prefer the MD/C though because it is capable of accepting lead wires and probes. This has been very useful in my small scale lumber kiln.
https://www.lumberjocks.com/reviews/9378
Or read more here…
https://www.lignomatusa.com/meters/non-digital-mini-lignos/
Welcome to LumberJocks.
That's not what I'd call a game-changer. But hey, who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky and find a buyer here. In general, I'd never pay even 50% of retail for a used item, especially electronics with no guarantee. Accessories generally don't add much value.
Speaking of Zorro. It's Spanish for fox. The original 1957 series starred Guy Williams. It was classic early television, and Guy went on to play Prof. John Robinson in the '60s series Lost in Space. Just a bit of TV trivia.
Joined
·
10,529 Posts
How and why you use a moisture meter may determine how much you want to spend. I just use mine to get a rough idea how much any green wood I have milled or turned myself has dried before using or proceeding. When I first got my cheapo pinned meter, I actually checked it by weighing and drying a small piece in the oven and it turned out to be accurate within a couple of percent. I checked it at several points as it dried and the results were pretty consistent along the entire range. The biggest problem with the cheap pinned ones is that it can be hard to get the pins in deep enough into hardwoods without risking breaking it but for my casual use, it still gives me the approximate result I need. I also have a cheap pinless meter but it is less convenient to use because you have to know the density of the wood to get an accurate reading. It has a table for common woods to set the density setting but if the wood is not on the chart, you have to go find it's density and find a similar wood on the chart. While it doesn't leave pinholes (why I bought it), it does have to have a flat spot that is wide enough for the meter to get a reading. I haven't tried to test it with the oven dry method but it gives me readings in the same ballpark as the pinned one as long as I take the time to pick the right density setting.
Both of my cheap meters are the Dr. Meter brand available on Amazon.
Both of my cheap meters are the Dr. Meter brand available on Amazon.
Joined
·
5 Posts
According to Wagner's website: "The Orion 910 Deep Depth Pinless Moisture Meter is ideal for reading the moisture content in wood thicknesses from .75" (19mm) to 1.5" (38mm)."
https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-910-deep/
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
