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High moisture meter readings?

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by DNH, Sep 11, 2017.

  1. DNH

    DNH

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    Getting some unexpected high moisture reading with my harbor freight MM, 9 month CSS walnut mid 20's to mid 30's, Oak last fall read at 31%, mid 30's now. Mulberry CSS for 17 months reading mid 30's! These were all fresh splits, temp in the low 70's.
    I know the walnut will burn but I really wanted to use up the mulberry and get it out of my way. Would a solar kiln do any good for 2-3 months? Or just let it set another year?
     
  2. Horkn

    Horkn

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    How accurate is your HF mm? Have you ever tested it against a different mm?

    Also, super fresh , wet cut green wood can read abnormally. As in, not accurately.
     
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  3. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Oak readings sound about right...
    What's your layout for you stacks? Full sun and breeze? Shaded?
     
  4. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Are you sure you have the meter set to Wood mode ?
     
  5. DNH

    DNH

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    MM reading INCREASED from reading 10 months ago on my oak and mulberry! Everything is CSS double rows on individual pallets set on concrete blocks to provide air flow. Depending on the stack 1/2 to all day sun, plenty of wind.
    I'll try a piece of scrap pine lumber to see what it reads.
     
  6. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Another good reason to get onto the 3 year plan. Then you can just throw that MM away. We've burned wood over 60 years and have never seen a need for one. I like it that way.
     
  7. DNH

    DNH

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    Last spring I made it to the 2 year plan, January-February I made it to 3 year plan CSS. I have close to another years supply in rounds and logs waiting on cooler weather to CSS, then I get to cut some more that will have me to 4-5 years ahead.
    The MM is more for fun, to see how the different species season at different rates and to guide in what I burn until everything is 3 + years seasoned!
     
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  8. bobdog2o02

    bobdog2o02

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    Walnut can be tricky, it does the sponge thing in my past experience. Mulberry is a deceivingly dense wood. You would think otherwise how it grows like a weed but thwre are serious Bus there. Too cover and gibmve it another year..... or stack by the stove for a few days, it's get crispy dry that way.
     
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  9. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Glad you are on the plan!
     
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  10. Boomstick

    Boomstick Banned

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    How are you testing the wood? It should be split and taken from the center.
    Moisture meters loose accuracy at higher mc.
    You can test it on a phone book(if you can find one) should be close to 8%.
    I have two HF mms and they match each other even after leaving one outside in the rain:hair: couldn't find it so I bought another:rofl: :lol:
     
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  11. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Good idea
    If you press into the palm of your hand it should be around 35%
     
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  12. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Oh yeah another thing on the Harbor Freight meter, if the battery's Get Low you will get screwy readings
     
  13. Horkn

    Horkn

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    True, a MM can be for fun, but the only way to know the actual MC of wood is to use a moisture meter, regardless of whether it's seasoned for 5 years or 5 minutes.
     
  14. HDRock

    HDRock

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    X2
     
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  15. bobdog2o02

    bobdog2o02

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    The burninator knows..... The burninator ALWAYS knows.
     
  16. amateur cutter

    amateur cutter

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    Throw a couple splits in a campfire & see if they sizzle. As stated Walnut can be a pain to dry. I give mine 2 years. I have a hard time believing the MC is higher than a previous reading. I'd bet the Mulberry is ready to go unless it was in the shade in a no airflow area.
     
  17. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Well, it's obvious what the issue is... someone has either pp'd on yer wood or, soaked it with beer. What other explanation could there be?!
    :whistle:
    :rofl: :lol:
    :handshake:
     
  18. BDF

    BDF

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    Depending on how deep you press it in, right? I mean if the probes go through, the reading will start to drop again.....

    Brian

     
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  19. DNH

    DNH

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    Reading low to mid 20's on the palm, pine 2x4 split reading 10-12%

    amateur cutter ill try the camp fire and see how the mulberry burns, it's been setting by the garden so 8+hours of sun per day CSS since April 2016 I also have a hard time understanding this increase in MM
     
  20. HDRock

    HDRock

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    Yup, probably get a high reading if you strike blood :hair: