Can anyone recommend to me what a good and fairly accurate moisture meter? I bought a really cheap one off of flea-bay but not sure that it is as accurate as I would like. It does give me some idea of weather or not wood is drying but as far as the actual numbers I really question what it is telling me. I have looked a little and see some have pins , some are pin-less and some actually have both. Don't want to break the bank but would like something decent.
I bought a cheap one from Menards for around $10 ($13 now) and have hardly used it. Don't really need one except to satisfy curiosity.
Not sure what accuracy you're looking for, but I've been pretty happy with this moisture meter. I bought it for woodworking purposes and get consistent results
I also bought a General MM. Mine came from Home Depot, and was around $30. Can't see any reason to get an expensive model for firewood purposes. Maybe if you were building custom cabinetry.
Central Boiler includes this one "free" with the purchase of their 760HDX (at least). Viewed a different way, I got a free OWB with the purchase of a VERY expensive moisture meter. Central Boiler Wood Moisture Meter, Mini 3-in-1 | Wood Furnace World
Thanks guys. Looking for one for firewood as well as doing some woodworking with some lumber I have milled and drying now. The one at the big box store might be my best bet. It is a general very similar to the one woodchuck has posted.
I have the general Brad. bear 1998 has a different brand. We went to firewood auction one day and used both to check wood that was there. About a 1% difference either way between the two. I use mine mostly when I think wood is borderline for selling. The ones that cabinet makers use are way more accurate. Read $$$.
Bought mine at big box store for around $30-35. Pin type. Ill have to show it to you when we meet up. Its in my PU at all times.
I don't know how accurate you're looking for but if you really want one to be accurate, it should be calibrated for each individual type of wood you are checking as different minerals/chemicals found in different types of trees will have a different resistance.
This is mine - a Protimeter Mini. It has conversion tables for different wood types and a calibration unit. I didn't have any green wood handy so I jabbed it into a banana to show the red LED display at the high end of the scale. To show the green LED low moisture display I just jabbed it into the end of a log. Normally I would split a log and test the inside face. Sorry for the fuzzy photos.
Thanks everyone. Stopped quick at the big box store and picked up " General MM7 " , the one that was posted here earlier. Seemed like my best bet as far as price and availability. When I get some time I will have to compare that and the el-cheepo no name one I have from e-bay Off to work .... again.
For sure let us know how the two compare. I've had the cheapy off fleabay for a handful of years. Only problem I've had is when the batteries get weak. Freaky high moisture readings in bone dry wood! It had me spooked the first time it happened. Didn't take long to figure out!
