That looks like green wood. Probably more like 75%, just a moisture meter is useless much over the mid thirties. The electrical resistance is the same when wood is above the fiber saturation point. Throw a piece on a scale and see how much it loses. 38% to 20% equates to a loss of about 1/8 of its original weight.
Nothing meant to discredit here but I have to say it is a meter error there. I've cut and burned enough pin oak to know it can't come in that low in moisture right after being cut and that looks fresh cut.
[QUOTshouldkwoods Savage, post: 184753, member: 83"]Nothing meant to discredit here but I have to say it is a meter error there. I've cut and burned enough pin oak to know it can't come in that low in moisture right after being cut and that looks fresh cut.[/QUOTE] So I should never go by what the meter reads? Might as well just toss then. I thiught they were accurate. I usually go by the years I have them stscked color of it and the sound when I bang them together. What do you consider normal mm for pin oak
So I should never go by what the meter reads? Might as well just toss then. I thiught they were accurate. I usually go by the years I have them stscked color of it and the sound when I bang them together. What do you consider normal mm for pin oak[/QUOTE] That would depend upon how long the oak had been split and stacked and how it was stacked and what the weather is, etc., etc. And what would I consider normal moisture (I think this is what you meant) for pin oak? Well, when fresh cut it is a lot. Is that accurate enough? Split it, stack it and let Mother Nature do her thing for 3 years and it will be fine and you don't even have to listen to the banging together! You can have and use a MM all you wish but realize they are not 100% accurate. They are used for a guideline.
That would depend upon how long the oak had been split and stacked and how it was stacked and what the weather is, etc., etc. And what would I consider normal moisture (I think this is what you meant) for pin oak? Well, when fresh cut it is a lot. Is that accurate enough? Split it, stack it and let Mother Nature do her thing for 3 years and it will be fine and you don't even have to listen to the banging together! You can have and use a MM all you wish but realize they are not 100% accurate. They are used for a guideline. [/QUOTE] Thanks pal..I usually let the wood sit for at least 2 years and oak i know takes longer..i usually keep all my wood top covered all year round unless its in the shed
NY, Your moisture meter works by checking electrical resistance. The change in resistance are caused by the amount of water present in the wood. Above the mid/upper thirties there is so much water in wood that the resistance changes very little. Page 4 on this shows the logarithmic curve. http://woodflooringedu.org/archives/downloads/moisturemeters.pdf Note that it is rather flat above 40. Your meter cannot register the change because the wood is saturated. Google "fiber saturation point" and read up on it if you want to learn more about what's going on inside wood.
