Milkweed Seed
ArboristSite Operative
What are some good reliable meters out there? Anything good under $100?
Moisture Meters?
- Thread starter Milkweed Seed
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stihl023/5
Addicted to ArboristSite
KindredSpiritzz
ArboristSite Operative
Tool Shop brand meter at Menards for $12. Im happy with the one i bought so far.
Steve NW WI
Unwanted Riff Raff.
+1 on the MMD4E that Stihl023/5 mentioned. I saw that Tool Shop one at Menards yesterday. I almost bought it just because it's pocket sized. I might yet, and compare readings with the General I have just to see how close it is. 12 bucks is only 3 beers plus tip at the local, and I didn't get out this weekend.
s13rymos
ArboristSite Operative
I have the lignomat one from baileys.. its a little more than $100 but suits me just fine
Bailey's - Lignomat E/D Mini Moisture Meter
Bailey's - Lignomat E/D Mini Moisture Meter
I don't have one, don't use one.
I just burn firewood I've had seasoning the longest.
I figure knowing the moisture content ain't gonna' change that... so what's the point? :msp_wink:
I just burn firewood I've had seasoning the longest.
I figure knowing the moisture content ain't gonna' change that... so what's the point? :msp_wink:
flyboy553
Oakaholic
Generally speaking, most old timers who have been burning wood since God was a boy will tell you they do not need no stinkin' moisture meter. And they are right. They know, because they had to learn the hard way what burns and what doesn't burn. It's called experience.
Two groups who should have them are firewood sellers and those relatively new to wood burning.
Sellers need one because when callers ask if your wood is seasoned, telling them it is at 20% moisture content is a lot better than saying of course it is dry, because I say it is. Not to mention the wow factor caused by customer knowing you are high tech!:msp_biggrin: Newbies need one because they do not have the experience that old timers have.
Knowing the MC of your firewood is pretty important for tons of reasons. A little testing with one will tell you how long it takes for firewood to dry in your neck of the woods, how dry your wood burning unit needs wood to be, and other reasons. The main advantage for a newbie is that you will now know, and then when you read really really stupid suggestions about drying wood on this site, you can just laugh and say, yeah, ok, whatever, idiot!
Well worth the few bucks!!
Ted
Two groups who should have them are firewood sellers and those relatively new to wood burning.
Sellers need one because when callers ask if your wood is seasoned, telling them it is at 20% moisture content is a lot better than saying of course it is dry, because I say it is. Not to mention the wow factor caused by customer knowing you are high tech!:msp_biggrin: Newbies need one because they do not have the experience that old timers have.
Knowing the MC of your firewood is pretty important for tons of reasons. A little testing with one will tell you how long it takes for firewood to dry in your neck of the woods, how dry your wood burning unit needs wood to be, and other reasons. The main advantage for a newbie is that you will now know, and then when you read really really stupid suggestions about drying wood on this site, you can just laugh and say, yeah, ok, whatever, idiot!
Well worth the few bucks!!
Ted
D&B Mack
Sawin Wit It!
Extech
Uncle John
Addicted to ArboristSite
The wood thats been seasoned the longest isn't necessarily the lowest moisture content.
Since there are many newcomers to wood heating a mm can be a great help!
Since there are many newcomers to wood heating a mm can be a great help!
Milkweed Seed
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks guys I went to lowes and picked this one up for $30. Today. Maybe I'll remember to get it out of the truck and play with it later tonight...
AndrewGeib
ArboristSite Operative
I'm sure that baby was more than 30
v8titan
ArboristSite Operative
I have a cheap one that I think I bought at Harbor Freight. Seem to work fine. I'm not sure what the measurement tolerance is.
For me it does help me gauge total drying time....especially red oak. My stacks are in full shade to partial sun so it takes a bit longer for my wood to season. Beside that, I'm an engineer and you know how engineers love to measure things.
Tom
For me it does help me gauge total drying time....especially red oak. My stacks are in full shade to partial sun so it takes a bit longer for my wood to season. Beside that, I'm an engineer and you know how engineers love to measure things.
Tom
Last edited:
stihly dan
Addicted to ArboristSite
Generally speaking, most old timers who have been burning wood since God was a boy will tell you they do not need no stinkin' moisture meter. And they are right. They know, because they had to learn the hard way what burns and what doesn't burn. It's called experience.
Two groups who should have them are firewood sellers and those relatively new to wood burning.
Sellers need one because when callers ask if your wood is seasoned, telling them it is at 20% moisture content is a lot better than saying of course it is dry, because I say it is. Not to mention the wow factor caused by customer knowing you are high tech!:msp_biggrin: Newbies need one because they do not have the experience that old timers have.
Knowing the MC of your firewood is pretty important for tons of reasons. A little testing with one will tell you how long it takes for firewood to dry in your neck of the woods, how dry your wood burning unit needs wood to be, and other reasons. The main advantage for a newbie is that you will now know, and then when you read really really stupid suggestions about drying wood on this site, you can just laugh and say, yeah, ok, whatever, idiot!
Well worth the few bucks!!
Ted
I have found that the old , experienced guy, burns wetter wood in a non epa stove. Swears up and down how to burn wood, with out regard to the smoke out his chimney, or the creosote in it. This is just my experience in my neck of the woods.
I have found that the old experienced buy burns better in a non epa stove. The burning suspenders tend to plug up the flue faster :hmm3grin2orange:
I kind of enjoy wandering around with my little high tech box poking pins into random pieces of wood.
I sold a load of wood to a gentleman who told me that he measured his wood last year the hard! way. By drying the thing out and then weighing the thing again. accurate, but slow.
BigDaddyR
Addicted to ArboristSite
Aww man. Another gadget to buy
I have a few people interested in buying a few chords in the late summer and now I'll have to buy one of these to monitor progress and make sure I sell them decently seasoned wood.
LOL
Good info.
I have a few people interested in buying a few chords in the late summer and now I'll have to buy one of these to monitor progress and make sure I sell them decently seasoned wood.
LOLGood info.
I have found that the old, experienced guy, started out with his dad and granddad, cutting firewood with ax and bucksaw… dragging it from the woodlot using real “horse” power. That experience has also given him patience and a sense of humor so he can just smile and nod when someone tells him, in order to burn wood properly without burning his house down, he needs a chainsaw with electronic carb, 4x4, ATV, splitter the size of a small car, roof and walls to store his firewood, moisture meter, manometer, $2000.oo EPA stove, automatic draft control, no flue damper, thermometer on his pipe, stainless steel chimney, wind directional chimney cap with spark arresting screen, ................................
Then, after smiling and nodding, he can meet the other old, experienced guys at the coffee shop… and they have something to laugh about.
Then, after smiling and nodding, he can meet the other old, experienced guys at the coffee shop… and they have something to laugh about.
I'm hoping you can tell me how dumb I am.
I bought this meter, put the battery in, fired it up and get a zero reading on almost everything I put it on.
I touch it to my arm and get a reading of about 30%. Freshly cut firwood ranges from 9% to 14%. 1 year seasoned wood reads 0%. New 2x4s read 0%. wood siding 0%. Privacy fence 0%...you get the picture.
I made sure it was set on the log setting. What am I missing?
TPA:
Just a guess, are you actually pushing the prongs into the wood a couple mm (1/8-1/4"). Stick with testing the open face of a fresh split, and align the prongs with the grain.
Good luck
Just a guess, are you actually pushing the prongs into the wood a couple mm (1/8-1/4"). Stick with testing the open face of a fresh split, and align the prongs with the grain.
Good luck
Never really found a use for one as I stay 3-4yrs ahead on my wood stacks but last night there was an add mistake on ebay that was selling one for $1.00 shipped - yes 1 dollar, shipping included. So I got down on that deal along with who knows how many others before they realized the "oops" and changed it to $11.00
It even came with a battery so if it dies right away I can always use the 9volt in something else
It even came with a battery so if it dies right away I can always use the 9volt in something else
jthornton
ArboristSite Guru
I toss the wood in the fire box and after a few minutes I look at the end of the wood, if I see water boiling out I say to myself "better open the damper a bit", if I don't see any I say "better close the damper this one is really dry and will burn fast".
John
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