Replies

1. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Oct 14, 2004 06:09pm | #1

   FG-

   I'm in the market for a moisture meter as well, but the one's I've seen locally are more than I can justify for my usage.  The PSI looks good, it is the only one that goes down to 6%.  From what I've read/been told you want one that will read accurately between 6&12%.

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 03:01am | #4

   Hi Craig.  I'm kinda where you're at -- can't justify a real expensive one.  I know which one I'd get if I had $150-$200 to spend, LOL, but would rather have a dust collection system.

   I tend to lean toward Penn State, but am curious about the CenTech because it has a switch for two different moisture ranges, and I wonder if that gives it a little more accuracy for a "cheap" model.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   adrienne4468 | Oct 14, 2004 08:46pm | #2

   American Woodworker did a review on MM's a couple of years back. They also put in plans to build a kiln. The kiln was on the cover. I used the idea to build one as a workbench in my garage. The review was real good and I bought the Timber Check Moisture Meter. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&page=32548&category=1%2C43513%2C45788&ccurrency=2

   They had another digital one that I would have bought but the company had a minumum order and if I ever needed new pins, which I definately would have, I would have had to purchase a few hundred to complete the minumum order. Hope this helps?

   We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.
1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 03:18am | #5

   Hi tony.  The Timbercheck always looked like a pretty nice meter to me.  If I get cold feet on getting a really inexpensive one, I'd probably get either the Timbercheck, the Delmhorst  J-Lite (which you can add accessories to) or the MiniLigno.  Hopefully, though, I can get a cheapie one that'll do the minimal stuff needed right now, get the darned DC purchase out of the way, and in a year or two when the wood really starts getting seasoned, go ahead and get my dream-meter.

   Is that Timbercheck as sturdy as they say it is?  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   adrienne4468 | Oct 15, 2004 03:06pm | #7

   Is that Timbercheck as sturdy as they say it is?

   Yes it seems to be so far, however I havent stepped on mine and keep it in a cabinet inside the carboard tube it came in. When I spend money the tools have to last awhile.

   We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 09:05pm | #8

   "When I spend money the tools have to last awhile. "  No kidding.  I get alot of flack for locking mine up and being stingy with them, but not everyone in the family treasures them the way I do, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   JoeS1 | Oct 16, 2004 03:38am | #9

   The penn State looks like the best buy for the money.  i can't speak for the Harbot Freight one but I bought the one from woodcraft and boy am I sorry.  It is made for refurbishing houses rather than woodworking.  It only goes down to 12%. Something they neglected to mention in the catalog or I just missed it.

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 16, 2004 09:24am | #10

   Hi Joe, thanks for posting.  Is your MT the one with the pins at the end of a cord??  I was starting to lean toward that one because I wouldn't have to stick head clear into the wood rack when checking the meter, LOL.  However, I do see that according to the catalog it goes down to 10% only.  Other than the abbreviated range, how do you like it?

   Of course, being in the Great Northwest, it's unlikely I'll see much wood below 10%, right?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   BG | Oct 17, 2004 01:15pm | #11

   FG,

   I've been reading your post and racking my brain trying to remember the research/conclusions I came up with either one or two years ago on this subject.  There was a couple of comparative studies, however they did not include any of the models you're considering but the Timberchek was in one study.  Both studies, as I recall, indicated they all work well but did little to differentiate the rational for the price difference. 

   The kicker was that Sarge and a few others came on and indicated they had two units...for different purposes (non-construction purposes) and that is the part I can't remember.  At any rate, that is where I got a bit distracted and bought the miter guage...lol

4. 
   forestgirl | Oct 17, 2004 07:33pm | #12

   Ooooo, BG, be gentle with that brain....  I have the mags with reviews, and they helped me decide what I'd buy in the $200 range, but then I decided to go cheap.  No help with that one. 

   Yes, there are meters for different uses out there.  I'm hoping I don't need one for drywall, though, LOL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   Losos | Oct 17, 2004 11:50pm | #13

   Forestgirl - I've used the Timbercheck for over a year now, dropped it several times and left it outside in the rain once!! - Seems to work just as good as when new, it comes with a spare set of pins and a handy little chart comparing different timbers. The only negative I can tell you is that sometimes the range is 'two' clicks of the rotary switch, instead of one. When this happens I usually do the test again in a different place and all is fine. Hope that helps.

3. 
   mike4244 | Oct 14, 2004 11:05pm | #3

   I bought the Penn State moisture meter, works well for the price. Checked it against a friends expensive one, off by 3% on several hardwoods. The drier the wood the more accurate mine is. Green, air dried oak, cherry and locust came out  about 3% too low, if the meter I checked it against is accurate.You do not have to use excessive pressure pushing the pins in, but hold the meter for a couple of seconds to get a more accurate reading. I do not use a moisture meter enough to justify an expensive one. I would buy the Penn State moisture meter again even knowing it is not the most accurate one on the market.When the stock is near 12% or lower the Penn State was within 1% on most boards tested.

   mike

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 15, 2004 03:22am | #6

   Hi MikeK, thanks muchly for the first-hand report on the PSI meter.  So, if I read you right, if the meter reads 12%, the wood is probably 12% or 13%.  Probably close enough for me right now, LOL.  I wish I knew someone with a good meter, but I'm the only one in my circle who even thinks of using one at this point.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)