Hi Everybody, Congratulations, you have successfully transtormed me into a firewood hoarder...I think about it all the dang time, have invested in a great Stihl 660 saw, Labonville Competition 10 ply chaps for safety, and am prowling behind box stores for drying pallets. I'm even arranging to have a Portage & Main outdoor wood boiler for my new house. Y'all have created a monster. And, thanks! I'm having a hell of a good time doing all of the above! I have a simple, or maybe not so simple question regarding moisture meters- what are you all using? Is there maybe a dominant brand that has given good service for several years? It's not like it's a big dollar item (seem to be $12-$40 on Amazon), but I appreciate advice all the same. Thanks!
VOLKEVIN this one has served me well,, uses a 9v and I've had it 3yrs and haven't changed the battery-I like the 4 prongs, was less than $30.-Just my .2 Many on here frown upon them but I like to track the progression of the drying process, often using the wood crayon w/month/yr and % when placed in the stack...
TurboDiesel, HDRock And I use Generals, they cost 30 bucks at Lowe's and I think they do the job well. The deviation is +/-2 % so you're likely to err on the higher side of the moisture %. Good luck in your search!
Why would some frown upon your meter? I say if it gives an accurate enough reading, you should be happy with it as long as the wood is coinciding with that percentage.
It's that if you're on the 3 yr plan, you don't need one...my contention is with my methods, my shed with expanded metal flooring, southern exposure and shadow boarded ends with prevailing west winds, I dry wood faster and have posted ample proof...I like the MM to confirm that, and its a fun toy when I police my stacks for the coming burn season. No dig on anyone, some very "seasoned" members here think they are unnecessary and hence the quote of the infamous and legend in his own time (and mind) EVW..."to each his own burn needs"---I like the looks of the General too...
I like looking because I get wood that is of different moisture levels. Some black locust logs in an unfinished post of mine sheds some light that some of these logs were standing dead and way up high. Their moisture % was waning between 13-17. Others much wetter but all from the same tree and cut within a few months ago I believe. Also I have to admit that I also don't get everything split and stacked at one time because Im also waiting on free areas to stack. Getting my yard in shape is just half the battle, one pile has to be moved in order for another to go up since the original pile isn't in a great place or isn't necessarily firewood. I have cedar fencing that needs its place and Im half thinkng I should get rid of it. The typical thing is that now its summer and I do have a lot of time to get this finished and the piles are getting relatively smaller that are still in the rounds or branches like my oak and apple. Other than that I say since this stuff will be ready in 2 years, Im less worried about it being at least 2-3 years ahead on my wood anyways. Often its 1-2 cords of wood Im hearing from those in WA but that's up for debate of course. No harm in checking different levels of mc.
The little meter I have from Harbor Freight works good but I didn't like the goofy little batteries. The general I've had for a long time, dropped it many times, left it out in the light rain, still works just fine. I remember reading one guy said his General bounced off the truck and still worked
Its great but its also treated a bit. But it doesn't split like that does. Its cross cut so its not an easy splitting deal.
I left mine out in the rain and it didn't come back kept reading a percentage and didn't reset. Its ok I liked the way how it ran so I got a new one.
Ive contacted this company twice asking if they had calibration charts and both times I was ignored. Its a decent moisture meter but out of principle they wont get my money again. If you cant call back a customer then you lose them for life.
Look in the tools section of your local Lowes or Home Despot. Moisture meters are used to decide whether or not flooring has "aclimated" to your house and is ready to lay down, so they very available and cheap in such stores.
Yes, it's a great tool. As long as you have a smart phone. You can do so much with it. Take pics, record time, date, relative humidity, catalog e readings, and more. It takes the hard part out of using a mm. FatBoy85 , it's awesome. They are like $25, and mine's held up great. Home Depot sells them.
