moisture meter

[head clansman]

hi all


well it is a hand tool :roll: after all, anyone hear use then regular , i've never used one, are they as good as they seem, more important are they accurate , what sort of makes are there , some pic would be nice as well .hc

 

[jimi43]

Hi HC

I have one which I use for relative moisture content (I assume you mean of wood).

It was a fiver at a bootfair...

The relative accuracy of each type of wood is standardised internationally....here we see how it changed after this meter was made and the tables were changed accordingly:

It can give an instantaneous reading so helpful when selecting and storing wood....I wouldn't say I use it a LOT but it is a valuable tool.

You can get digital ones (also made by Protimeter) nowadays but I don't see the point in spending hundreds when these old analogue ones can be picked up so cheaply.

Jim

 

[head clansman]

hi jim

wow that was a good deal , i have seen the digital meters for around £20 ish and upwards was wondering if there wear any good when i start buying hardwood i want to know what it's water levels are so when it's prepared i get the best results.hc

 

[jimi43]

Hi HC

I was remarkably lucky as I needed the meter to check some tonewood that I had and I was just going to buy one on eBay and this one came up the day before!!

You do get them occasionally on eBay and most people don't know what they are for or don't need one. Therefore they don't command the same frenzied auction fever as other things. You could get a deal.

A digital one recently sold for £41 MOISTURE METER ON EBAY RECENTLY.

You just need to keep your eye open.

Cheers mate

Jim

 

[OPJ]

It was a fiver at a bootfair...

Bloody hell, Jim! We've got one of those at college and it apparently cost over £200 when it was brand new!! :shock: You've got yourself a real bargain there as they are regarded as being very accurate. :wink:

 

[jimi43]

It was a fiver at a bootfair...

Bloody hell, Jim! We've got one of those at college and it apparently cost over £200 when it was brand new!! :shock: You've got yourself a real bargain there as they are regarded as being very accurate. :wink:

Well it certainly looks expensive...the case is thick leather and the bits and bobs are quality stuff.

I don't know about absolute readings though....

I see it as I do sound levels...dB being relative (unless set to a standard source). You can say "this noise is twice as loud as this noise or 3dB higher) but you can't say it is an absolute level without measuring it AGAINST something (dBm)

Add this to the international "language" of species and type and then add variants and you see how complex a subject this is.

If anyone's interested I can scan the handbook. It makes very interesting reading.

Also because you are measuring the relative impedance of the wood fabric based on conductivity between the two intrusive prongs....you have other elements involved like: penetration, oxidisation of probes and other contaminants and finally battery condition and setup of meter (R)

What it WILL tell you irrespective of all of the variables above is the relative moisture content of two bits of the same species either in the same shop (kiln batches) or in different shops...

You can also use it to make periodic checks if you are air-drying your own wood or to test readiness if you are kiln drying it.

Once you select or prepare wood to the correct moisture content you can then check this periodically to ensure your storage facility is ok.

So....yes it is a vital bit of kit to some...but even for them it is only used periodically...

Jim

 

[Mike.C]

HC, this one is a pretty good all rounder, and fairly popular on the forum. I checked the readings against my friends Tramex, and it was spot on.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? ... e=1&jump=0

Cheers

Mike

 

[maltrout512]

I bought this one about a year ago and has saved me more than once when I was told that the timber I was about to buy had been kiln dried to about 15%. My back side was. The average reading with my machine was 25% . Needless to say I didn't buy the timber and don't use that supplier anymore.
http://www.axminster.co.uk/recno/6/product-Axminster-MC6012-Digital-Moisture-Meter-22668.htm

 

[JoinerySolutions]

I have the smaller version of the Protimeter and would not part with it.
Whilst it was expensive at the time of purchase it did save me a small fortune after installing a house full of solid panelled doors.
The door panels all split within a week of installation. They were imported and shrink wrapped, to cut a long story short, with the use of my Protimeter I was able to prove that the moisture content in the panels in stock at the yard were way above the recomended level for internal joinery and only just below the point at which fungal attacks may start.
Client got new and better quality doors and I got paid for installation, twice! The supplier got re-imbursed from the importer, so the factory that made them may well of got a kick in the pants for churning out below spec goods, or at least one hopes so. :twisted:

So H.C. they are worth while, though you need to be happy to part with a good wedge of cash or be enviably lucky (Jimi43 style) to get a good one.
What is your reason for wanting one, are you buying in a lot of air dried stock?
Rob.

 

[head clansman]

Hi all

just bought one this afternoon the same as malcolms, I paid £45.80 I'm pleased with that price. (ebay)

rob no i'm not , now retired, and no longer having to but up with customers in the maintenance world , its time to really get back to my trade and start doing up our home (while i still can) for a change and not someone elses .

Now that it's time to do my home, i want it right, don't want to have to rely on merchants words that it all at the right moisture level, only for me to spend a lot of time working the material & then to find out when the heating goes on they lied to me (check for myself) just to get a sale. hc