Moisture Meters

[Bill in PA]

I want to get a moisture meter and I’m leaning toward the Electrophysics MT90:

http://www.electrophysics.on.ca/pins.htm

but before I spend $69 I was wondering if the $39.99 meter from HF is a good choice. The HF meter is now on sale at $19.99.

I would appreciate input from anyone who has either of these.

TIA

[ryan.s]

There's a thread on woodnet about the HF moisture meter. Seems to be fairly accurate but the only thing is it registers from 7% and above.

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthr...=&fpart=1&vc=1

[John Hunter]

I have the HF one and for my needs, knowing when wood I am drying is dry enough it does the job just fine.

[LCHIEN]

There's a thread on woodnet about the HF moisture meter. Seems to be fairly accurate but the only thing is it registers from 7% and above.

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthr...=&fpart=1&vc=1

I'm far out of my range of knowledge but isn't 7% exceptionally dry?
Isn't most wood in the 10-30% moisture range and isn't about 15-20% the best range to use?

Seems like if it was less than 7% it would not be a problem to use unless you were worried perhaps it might swell up when you took it outside or to Houston.

[gonesailing]

Humidity, whats that?

When I got my moisture meter a few months I checked the moisture in the wood around the inside of the RV. About the only thing that ran above 6% was the cutting board sitting over the sink.

But then this is New Mexico in the mountains where right now in the RV the temp is 79, the RH is about 20%, and the air outside is a lot drier. This is the area where Eastern made furniture tends to fall apart as all the tennons shrink and fall out of there mortices.

So yes, a meter that reads 4% is wonderful out here.

Mike L

[ryan.s]

I'm far out of my range of knowledge but isn't 7% exceptionally dry?
Isn't most wood in the 10-30% moisture range and isn't about 15-20% the best range to use?

Seems like if it was less than 7% it would not be a problem to use unless you were worried perhaps it might swell up when you took it outside or to Houston.

I'm no expert either but I think I heard David Marks mention that 5-8% was the ideal range to work with wood.

[Ken Massingale]

I'm no expert either but I think I heard David Marks mention that 5-8% was the ideal range to work with wood.

IMO 5% is too dry. When I bring wood in from the drying shelter it measures around 12-13%. I let it rest in the shop until it's steady at 10% or below, 8% being ideal. It never gets below 7% here. There is still the ambient humidity to consider, perhaps in the Southwest one could see below 7%, I don't know. We recently stayed at around 30% RH for several weeks and I didn't see any of the stock in the shop get below 8%. The goal is to get the wood in equilibrium with the shop interior environment for milling. You can have problems when the shop environment does not resemble a 'home' environment. Stock that is stable in a shop that is open to the outside, made into furniture, especially such as a table top, and taken into a closed/controlled environment (house) has a good chance of moving as it acclimates to the new relatively constant temp and humidity.
Here is a decent writeup on MC. http://www.sankey.ws/wetwood.html
I use the Timbercheck meter and it has been reliable, I haven't read any negative comments about the HF one, but haven't seen many comments about it at all. As usual, my experience and opinions, I am certainly no expert.
Ken

[RHunter]

I have the HF Moistrue Meter, got it on sale, and paid about $14. Had to wait for what seemed like 3 weeks for it to arrive...

It works OK, and while I can't confirm the accuracy of it against something better, while it only goes down to 7%- that's OK for my use.

I use mine like I use those electronic thermometers- I use it to tell me what the wood isn't and not what it is. "Oh 12%, not dry yet..."

[ryan.s]

Picked up one of these yesterday. Returning it today, the tip of one of the contact points already broke while testing a couple pieces of wood. Looks like you have to be real careful using this or the tip will snap off easily. After using it for a few minutes I realized it's a pain to have to stick the contact points in an 1/8 to a 1/4 inch as it says in the manual. Eventually when i really need one i'll go with a non contact moisture meter.

[Ken Massingale]

Picked up one of these yesterday. Returning it today, the tip of one of the contact points already broke while testing a couple pieces of wood. Looks like you have to be real careful using this or the tip will snap off easily. After using it for a few minutes I realized it's a pain to have to stick the contact points in an 1/8 to a 1/4 inch as it says in the manual. Eventually when i really need one i'll go with a non contact moisture meter.

Ryan,
The Timbercheck has contact points also. But they are very sturdy. I,ve driven them in deep with no problem. It comes with extras tho.
HTH