Replies

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 14, 2007 02:06am | #1

   GRW

    MINI Lingo

    It's kind of a standard and mines taken it's share of neglect and abuse and still works just fine..

1. 
   GRW | Nov 14, 2007 04:17pm | #2

   Frenchy,

   I checked this unit out. Looks good, thanks.  But tell me, do the prongs on this unit dig into the wood? Does it leave significant damage to the material?

   Thanks again,

   GRW

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 19, 2007 11:02pm | #11

   GRW

      I can force it into the wood enough to do some slight damage but usually I only test the surface (leaves no serious marks that can't be easily sanded off in a momment).   I test the interior moisture whenever I make I cut that exposes grain to the prongs. The idea of somehow jamming the prongs into wood fibers doesn't make much sense.. surface moisture will clue you as to moisture content.  19% leave it alone or deal with the issues.   7% make a test cut to see what you are actually working with.  if the interior is slightly more damp than the interior you must make a jus=dgement call regarding the wood.. how did it get higher?   Was it just exposed to moisture from storage someplace or is it not quite dry yet? 

    There is no red light green light with regard to wood.. well you could assume that red light is moisture above 19% and green light is moisture below 7% but those numbers really aren't hard and fast.. whole lot of factors are involved. 

    would you like a discussion on the factors? 

2. 
   forestgirl | Nov 14, 2007 07:07pm | #3

   GR, the Delmhorst J-Lite is in the right price range, and has the possibility of adding on longer probes or even a "deep probe" on a cable should you want to later on.  The pinless meters that don't poke the wood are more expensive.  Not sure what the price floor is for a decent one.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
3. 
   saschafer | Nov 14, 2007 07:13pm | #4

   I have a Timber Check moisture meter. It's brain-dead simple, it works (or at least, it seems to work--I haven't compared it to anything else), and it's relatively cheap. It does have a pair of nasty pointy pins, though.

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   -Steve

    

4. 
   BobSmalser | Nov 15, 2007 03:59am | #5

   Depends on the wood you use.

   If all you use if kilned cabinet woods, then the pinless meters that don't poke holes in the wood should serve adequately.  If you buy or work airdried woods, especially thick stock, then you need a pinned meter to determine moisture differential between the surface and core of the wood.  All the pinless meters do is take an average MC to a certain depth, a pin probe can prevent you finding out your wood's not in equilibrium before a board banana peels on you while ripping.

   Either way, the industry standard has been Delmhorst since the 1950's.  They make both pinned and pinless.  Used Delmhorsts are common on eBay and you can even still easily find vacuum tubes and obsolete batteries for the oldies like these we've been using in sawmill and forestry operations for 40 years.

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   Edited 11/14/2007 8:07 pm by BobSmalser

1. 
   saschafer | Nov 15, 2007 04:59am | #6

   You know, Bob, they started using these newfangled things called transistors a few years back. Itty-bitty little guys; save your back. You might want to look into them....

   -Steve ;-)

    

1. 
   BobSmalser | Nov 15, 2007 05:18am | #7

   But ain't it nice to know there are still tools being made you only need to buy once in a lifetime?

2. 
   colebearanimals | Nov 15, 2007 10:19pm | #9

    

         Yah, Steve. But don't you know that tube electronics are the choice among discriminating audiophiles, oops, I mean woodworkers? Much smoother moisture reading do to the emphases on the even harmonics.   :)

                                                   Paul

1. 
   GRW | Nov 16, 2007 02:22pm | #10

   Thanks all,

   I have some tips to get me started. Thanks for taking the time to help.

   GRW

5. 
   KeithNewton | Nov 15, 2007 06:39am | #8

   Here is a link to a discussion on another site that you might find useful. http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Comparing_moisture_meters.html