I don't believe my new moisture meter

[Jack Fate]

One more time ,I get lower readings on cold wood as opposed to room temp wood. By 4+ %

sounds like your gauge is suspect

Your results WILL vary

 

[oldspark]

My palm reads 21% no matter what. Now the back of my hand reads 20/21 and then consistently jumps to 41%. So far I'm not seeing anything here that leads me to believe this meter is working correctly.

Maybe your batteries are bad.

 

[blades]

Battery could be weak try a new one. Wood that is frozen will not read correctly at all. I suspect that is where your difficulty lies. My HF-mm works very well, provided you keep a fairly fresh battery in it. Bring a piece of wood inside let it sit for a day then split it and check. Of course there is always the possibility that the meter is bad or improperly calibrated. Maybe take a gander at the sticky about using a vom as a mm up above.

 

[Paul L]

Thanks all ... I will start by bringing 3 different splits inside and I'll test them tomorrow. Time to stoke up the firebox with my wood of still undetermined moisture content

 

[Paulywalnut]

My HF meter shows my skin at 17%.

I get 20% for me and the Mrs is 14%.

You are both very dry and must moisturize immediately.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Wow my tongue measureths fifty thith perthent.

 

[BrotherBart]

Wow my tongue measureths fifty thith perthent.

And when the current passed through your brain you forgot everything you learned from grade six to grade nine.

 

[jatoxico]

Wow my tongue measureths fifty thith perthent.

Good one.

 

[Matt Ruggeri]

Think my meter is broken, was only reading 28% on my dry skin, i pushed it about 1/2 way into my hand with the probes. Now it's reading "OL" on the bloody parts. Is this normal? Or is this thing a piece of junk?

 

[oldspark]

Think my meter is broken, was only reading 28% on my dry skin, i pushed it about 1/2 way into my hand with the probes. Now it's reading "OL" on the bloody parts. Is this normal? Or is this thing a piece of junk?

Sounds good, once you get past the skin the resistance goes way down.

 

[Matt Ruggeri]

Sounds good, once you get past the skin the resistance goes way down.

Whew.. what a mess, but i'm glad to know my meter is acting normal. How long 'till my hand is dry enough to burn?

 

[oldspark]

Whew.. what a mess, but i'm glad to know my meter is acting normal. How long 'till my hand is dry enough to burn?

A lot of moisture in your hand kinda like Oak, give it three years. BWS would be proud of ya.

 

[PDXpyro]

I'm glad that you all have worked out the palm-derosa moisture issue thoroughly enough that I don't have to weigh in.

 

[Paul L]

Splits that when cold were measuring 8 - 12% measured 13 - 16% after warming up. I still don't believe they are that dry. 15% pine when put onto hot coals doesn't smoke like the little engine that could climbing the hill. I'll bring the MM back to Harbor Freight next time I'm in the big city. This particular one is called a Cen-Tech digital mini ... I bet they have sold other brands over the years.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

There is also a species correction needed. I think most are calibrated to Douglass Fur. I don't know if this will work for all brands or if it's brand specific.

 

[oldspark]

15% pine when put onto hot coals doesn't smoke like the little engine that could climbing the hill

If that's coming out of the chimney and the pine burst into flames right away it very well could be, pine that dry can off gas very quickly causing smoke.

 

[Paul L]

If that's coming out of the chimney and the pine burst into flames right away it very well could be, pine that dry can off gas very quickly causing smoke.

No, the dryer pine catches very quickly, the stuff reading 15% just sits and smokes forever.

Thanks everyone for your help. And jokes

 

[oldspark]

No, the dryer pine catches very quickly, the stuff reading 15% just sits and smokes forever.

Thanks everyone for your help. And jokes

Well send me a piece and I will check it with mine.

 

[tfdchief]

I have 2 moisture meters......mostly just more of my toys. I know when I put 3 year old stuff in the stove and it catches quickly and comes up to temp and I shut it down and it burns nicely that the moisture content is right. I think it is called the BS theory.

 

[Applesister]

Bring it back or send it back and get another.

 

[jatoxico]

Splits that when cold were measuring 8 - 12% measured 13 - 16% after warming up. I still don't believe they are that dry. 15% pine when put onto hot coals doesn't smoke like the little engine that could climbing the hill. I'll bring the MM back to Harbor Freight next time I'm in the big city. This particular one is called a Cen-Tech digital mini ... I bet they have sold other brands over the years.

Little blue one? That's the one I have. Got any wood you are sure is unseasoned that you can split and test?

 

[Paul L]

Little blue one? That's the one I have. Got any wood you are sure is unseasoned that you can split and test?

Yes. The piece that tested at 15% was a piece I was sure was unseasoned. When I put it in the stove and it wouldn't catch, I knew I was right and the MM was wrong.

 

[MrWhoopee]

There is also a species correction needed. I think most are calibrated to Douglass Fur. I don't know if this will work for all brands or if it's brand specific.

Douglass Fur must be cut/split/shaved before it will season properly.

 

[muncybob]

if I push it pretty firm I get 35%.

Funny, I get pain

 

[Jack Fate]

Splits that when cold were measuring 8 - 12% measured 13 - 16% after warming up. I still don't believe they are that dry. 15% pine when put onto hot coals doesn't smoke like the little engine that could climbing the hill. I'll bring the MM back to Harbor Freight next time I'm in the big city. This particular one is called a Cen-Tech digital mini ... I bet they have sold other brands over the years.

WHERE IS MY PRIZE