I've seen 2 basic types: Pinless and with Pins.
I like the idea of a Pinless type especially if it will read through finishes etc. so that we could test rifles after a hunt etc. to see how well a particualar finish method works.
Primarily it will be used to keep track of a growing blank collection and know which ones are ready for use etc.
Any advice is appreciated..............DJ

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:
I've seen 2 basic types: Pinless and with Pins.
I like the idea of a Pinless type especially if it will read through finishes etc. so that we could test rifles after a hunt etc. to see how well a particualar finish method works.
Primarily it will be used to keep track of a growing blank collection and know which ones are ready for use etc.
Any advice is appreciated..............DJ

dj,

Try calling Paul & Sharon Dressel. I remember listening to Paul talking with a guy at the Reno show about moisture meters and which ones worked and didn’t work well.

You can spend anything from 20 bucks to 500 on a moisture meter.

The $20 from harbour freight works, and the pin marks aren't very deep... just take at least 6 readings (all sides) and write them on the blank with a sharpy, with the date.


you can also weigh them weight and then every 6 months

jeffe

Weigh it after you first get it. Write the weight down on the side and wait six months. Weigh it again. If the weight keeps dropping its not ready. Once it stops loosing weight.....wait a while longer....then use it.

dj,

Don’t know if you saw the post I did about the machinist pocket tachometer made by ExTech, but the same company makes moisture meters that would probably fit the bill for the use you spoke of that didn’t involve your stock pile of blanks. I believe they make both pin and pinless styles and I think the are about $140.00 bucks.

Good company, and if their moisture meters are as well made as their pocket tach’s they should be really nice. I think I saw them I Woodcrafters catalog.

http://www.extechproducts.com/

The pin type measue the moisture between the pins which only go in about 1/2" It doesn't give a very accurate reading. The other type vary in quality. The quick quality check I do is to put my hand under the blank to see if the meter moves slightly or PEGGED as happens with a quality unit. The best units run about $500. The best one I am familiar with comes from Germany.

I agree with the last post. I have three of these devices: 2 with pins, one without pins. I use them to source mysterious damp patches on exterior walls. The pinless is much more useful than the pin-type. I never use the pin type now. It is so convenient to just slide the pinless type over the surface and check the moisture level at a deeper depth than the pin-type can approach. I'd like one of those put out by Wagner that read to 3 quarters of an inch but cannot bring myself to spend the bucks. Mine comes from Ireland and goes to just half an inch.