I just bought a general moisture meter from Lowe's (got idea from what I've read on here). I'm getting some readings below 10%. I guess that's good - maybe too dry. I tried 3 different species from the wood pile,
* cottonwood = 10.6%
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112557-cbb53ab110513ba76b84d45f813d47df.jpg)
* lodgepole pine = 14.1%
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112558-b02da0742ee4216e2da14f0045ffbe7c.jpg)
* red elm = 9.6%
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112559-cdceb0cb4ad06345f72e5bf8d5f00529.jpg)
I have some quartered lodgepole and elm so I checked it, too. 13.1 on the pine and 14.9 on the elm.![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112562-ab9b0ddea612259a8b9d6339e5ac06c1.jpg)
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112561-af268e972a7dff546f9630e6cfbeff28.jpg)
These readings seem kind of low. This wood was gathered in the last year.The wood was all dead and this is a desert environment. I sold a few cords and have been throwing the elm off to the side because it was so much heavier than the other wood. I figured it was still moist. But, I guess not, even the large quartered pieces still needing to be split are only 15%.
* cottonwood = 10.6%
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112557-cbb53ab110513ba76b84d45f813d47df.jpg)
* lodgepole pine = 14.1%
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112558-b02da0742ee4216e2da14f0045ffbe7c.jpg)
* red elm = 9.6%
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112559-cdceb0cb4ad06345f72e5bf8d5f00529.jpg)
I have some quartered lodgepole and elm so I checked it, too. 13.1 on the pine and 14.9 on the elm.
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112562-ab9b0ddea612259a8b9d6339e5ac06c1.jpg)
![Moisture Meter ok? Moisture Meter ok?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/112/112561-af268e972a7dff546f9630e6cfbeff28.jpg)
These readings seem kind of low. This wood was gathered in the last year.The wood was all dead and this is a desert environment. I sold a few cords and have been throwing the elm off to the side because it was so much heavier than the other wood. I figured it was still moist. But, I guess not, even the large quartered pieces still needing to be split are only 15%.
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