24 August 2006, 01:40
richjWood moisture meter
Is that the right term..
Anyone have a suggestion on a good meter to measure stock blanks. ebay has a digital meter with a 5%-40% range for about $30.
Rich
24 August 2006, 08:02
ElCaballeroCheck out Harbor frieght tools.
24 August 2006, 10:14
cummins cowboyI do water restoration in homes, This involves drying wood floors on occassion, The meter that most of our industry uses is a delmhorst, with a hammer probe, the hammer probe is used to measure the moisture of the wood below the surface, otherwise the surface of the wood will always show a false reading either more or less moisture content depending the conditions in the area. most wood floors are recommended to acclimate in the area they will be installed in for a month or so. I do have meters that will test below the wood that are non protruding but the only problem is they don't read much below about 10% moisture content. I would also recommend something that will read in the 2-3% range on the low side, without actually hammering into the stock blanks with these probes the only other thing I can say is leave the blanks acclimate for a month or so before working on them
24 August 2006, 16:55
jeffeossoyou've got 2 price choices, as i see it.. you can get a low end, low "imprint" one, or a much mroe money one.. and all of them won't tell you the exact picture.
I like the HF one... for $20, on sale, if you take at least 6 readings (i take generally 10) one on each side and end, and write it on the blank, and weigh the blank, you'll have a history of weight. I take two reading on the flat sides, and yeah, write them on the blanks.
Or, the other use, is to take a reading when you are roughing the stock out of the pattern. The aint perfect, but it does give you a "depth" reading of the moisture, and one might have read low on the surface, but the stock suddenly jumps to 4 more percent, it's a good warning flag.
always a good idea to take a reading after you've cut into the blank and roughed the pattern. If the moisture jumps, let it dry more.
jeffe
24 August 2006, 19:12
richjThanks guys.. good info.
Garrett Wade is close to me. They have one for $80~ Not sure it's any better than the HF item.
Rich
Garrett wade meter