Wood Moisture Meter General Tools

1. Wood Moisture Meter General Tools Harbor Freight
2. Wood Moisture Meter Harbor Freight
3. Wood Moisture Meter General Tools Reviews
4. Wood Moisture Meter General Tools
5. Wood Moisture Meter General Tools Moisture Meter

List of The Best Wood Moisture Meter For Woodworking 1. General Tools MMH800 4-In-1 Combo Moisture Meter You will never stain your structure before it's thoroughly dried if you use the General Tools MMH800 4-In-1 Combo Moisture Meter. With the MMD4E moisture meter, use the pin sensors to find the moisture content in your wood or drywall. This will help you know if you need to dry the existing materials or replace with brand new ones. Quickly determine what level of remediation is needed to keep your family safe with the MMD4E moisture meter by General Tools. This handy digital moisture meter measures wood and other hardened materials to identify moisture, water leaks and rot to determine quality and usefulness. The moisture meter can also read environmental temperature on an easy-to-read LCD digital read-out with backlight.

An important aspect of having a fire in anytype of fireplace, whether it's an open fireplace or wood burning stove, is to ensure that the firewood is dry enough touse.

For wood to burn efficiently on a fire itneeds to have a low enough moisture content, so what moisture level shouldfirewood be?

Forfirewood to burn efficiently it should have a moisture content of 20% or lower.As the moisture content of firewood increases above 20% it gets progressivelyharder to burn effectively in a fire.

So how do you know whether firewood is dryenough, how can you measure moisture content in firewood, and can firewood betoo dry? We've explained moisture content for firewood in much more detail below.

What MoistureLevel Should Firewood Be?

Many of the issues associated with poorlyburning fireplaces or stoves can be the result of burning wood that is too wet.These issues can include wood that isn't:

• Catching alight properly
• Burning efficiently
• Generating much heat
• Burning without producing smoke

You may also notice that wet wood alsomakes hissing and spitting noises as the fire tries to burn off the excessmoisture. Wet wood is harder to burn because more energy is required by thefire to burn of the excess moisture before it can start to efficiently burn thewood.

Freshlycut wood can have a moisture content of anything over 20%, meaning that this ‘green' wood is very high in moisturecontent and would struggle to burn on a fire.

The time of the year that the wood is cutcan also determine how high the moisture content of the wood is. Wood cut inthe winter months will typically have a lower moisture content than wood thatis cut in spring.

This is important because for wood to beuseful as firewood then it needs to have a moisturecontent of under 20% to burn efficiently.

To achieve this moisture content the woodneeds to be dried out, through aprocess known as seasoning.

The higher the moisture content of the woodwhen it's cut, the longer it can take for it to dry out to recommended firewoodmoisture content levels. Cutting wood when it's already low in moisture contentas possible can help to speed up the drying out process.

Seasoning wood can be a lengthy process. Certainhardwoods can take up to 2 years to dry out, while softwoods can typically takeup to 1 year.

Hardwoods such as Ash or Oak are from deciduous trees, which typically take longer to grow compared to softwoods such as Pine, from coniferous or ‘evergreen' trees.
The slower growing process of hardwoods can mean that the wood grows more densely, meaning that the seasoning process can also take longer as a result.

Although the seasoning process for firewoodcan take a long time, almost no involvement is required once it has been setup.

To ensure that wood dries out in the mostefficient way, and to prevent it from rotting, the wood should be:

• Stacked on top of some sort ofimpermeable ground, such as concrete, to ensure that moisture from the grounddoesn't seep up into the wood, and for any excess water to runoff into thenearby ground.
• Located under some sort ofcanopy, to help shelter the wood from the majority of the rainfall throughoutthe process.
• Open on one side to allow theweather to help dry out the wood, in particular the wind.

The wood also shouldn't be directly coveredover by anything, such as sheet of tarpaulin, as this can trap the moisture andcause the wood to rot rather than dry out.

We season our own firewood to be used inour wood stove, and the picture below shows how we arrange the wood so that isdries out effectively.

You can read more about how we season our own wood here.

As the conventional seasoning process cantake many months or even years, a process known as kiln drying helps to vastly speed up the drying process offirewood. High moisture content wood is simply placed in an oven-like chamberwhere the excess moisture content is evaporated off.

You'll typically find that bags of logs orkindling bought from your local store will have been kiln dried as stated onthe bags.

How Do You Know IfFirewood Is Dry Enough?

Dry firewood ready for burning looks a lotdifferent to wood that is freshly cut and high in moisture content.

The table below highlights the maindifferences between wet and dry wood

In summary, you can tell whether firewoodis dry enough if the wood is:

• Brown with no hints of green.
• May be splitting at the endswith cracks forming.
• The bark can be coming away oris easier to peel off.
• Can make a hollow sound whenpieces are hit together.

The images below show what you can expect adry piece of wood to look like.

Ultimately the best way to get an accuratereading as to whether firewood is dry enough is to use a moisture meter.

A moisture meter is a handheld device thatcan be used to accurately measure the moisture content of any wood by giving areading when pressed against it.

Moisture meters will typically have twometal pins that stick out the top (although some models of moisture meter canbe pinless), and will also have a digital screen on the front that will giveyou an accurate reading to typically one decimal place.

Here's what our moisture meter looks like:

In many cases wood can be sold in bags as‘seasoned' wood but the actual moisture content of the wood isn't low enoughfor it to burn efficiently.

A study by the University of Tennessee (which can be found here) showed that a typically bag of ‘seasoned' wood had moisture content values ranging from 50-90%, which is far too high to burn efficiently. The study concluded that low moisture content is key for firewood, and that the best approach is to buy and further season the firewood well before it's needed.

We bought a bag of ‘kiln dried' kindlingand logs from our local store and used our moisture meter to find out what theactual moisture content of the logs actually were.

The bag stated that the logs were ‘lessthan 20% moisture content'.

The moisture readings of a random selectionof the logs were found to be too low for our moisture meter to read, meaningthat the moisture content of these kiln dried logs was less than 6.8% (thelowest reading our moisture meter takes).

By checking these pieces of wood we'veensured that we're not burning any wood that is too high in moisture content,which could have lead to problems being able to start the fire and keep itgoing.

How To MeasureMoisture Content In Firewood

In order to correctly measure moisturecontent in firewood you'll need to have a moisturemeter.

A moisture meter is a simple-to-use toolthat gives you a very accurate reading of moisture content in firewood.

Tomeasure moisture content in firewood:

• Remove the end cap of the unit to reveal the pins, unless it's apinless moisture meter.
• Turn on the moisture meter using the on/off button on the unit.
• Gently push the two pins at the end of the moisture approximately1mm into the piece of wood.
• The moisture meter will give a reading as to the moisture content ofthe wood.

How to measure moisture content in firewoodis explained in more detail below using our own moisture meter as an example.

If you have a pinless moisture meter thenyou'll need to remove the part that covers the pins at the top end of the unit.

With the cover removed the pins are nowavailable to be used to read the moisture content. You'll also need to turn themoisture meter on before using it.

To read the moisture content of any pieceof firewood, simply place the two pins against the wood. Both of the pins needto be touching the wood for the moisture meter to provide a reading.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that:

• To ensure that you're testingthe inside of the wood, moisture reading should be taken on any newly splitsides of wood.
• The prongs on the moisturemeter should run parallel with the grain when testing.
• 2-3 tests should be done indifferent locations to ascertain the overall moisture content of any piece ofwood.

Your moisture meter will then give areading on the digital display as to the exact moisture content of that pieceof wood.

The display on our particular model ofmoisture meter also lights up in either green, orange or red depending on themoisture content of the wood it's reading.

In general, the lower the moisture contentthe better, and in the case of our moisture meter, it lights up green formoisture contents up to 15%, amber for up to 20% and red for any firewoodmoisture readings of over 20%.

As the seasoning process can take such along time, the EPA recommends that firewood with a moisture content of between 15% and 20% is most efficient forburning.

Ensuring that wood is dry enough to burn is essential for having a fire in your home that burns efficiently and effectively. Moisture meters are therefore an essential piece of kit for any type of fireplace or stove that burns wood.
If you don't already have a moisture meter then we highly recommend looking into getting one. They're an inexpensive purchase and will help to reduce a number of issues associated with burning wood that is too wet.
You can see our current favorite moisture meter over on Amazon here.
If you're in the UK you can see our particular model of moisture meter over on Amazon here.

Can Firewood BeToo Dry?

For firewood to burn efficiently on a fireit needs to be as dry as possible, but can firewood be too dry or too wellseasoned?

Wood can be too dry to burn efficiently ona fire, but it's not common to find a piece of wood that's too in low moisturecontent that it would burn too fast on a fire.

Wood that is too dry can produce more smokethan wood with a slightly higher moisture content of between 15 and 20%, whichis regarded as the target moisture content for all firewood.

Wood won't naturally dry out so much thatis becomes too dry, as the humidity will always mean that there's moisturewithin the air and prevent firewood from drying out too much.

We've had a few pieces of wood in our homethat we haven't got round to burning and that have been inside for over two years.

Taking a reading of the moisture content ofthese logs showed that the moisture content was around 10%.

Further Reading
How A Fireplace Works
Parts Of A Fireplace Explained
How A Wood Burning Stove Works
How To Use A Wood Burning Stove

Moisture meters are among a woodworker's best friends. This handy device measures the moisture content in wood, so you're able to determine if it's stable enough for you to use it. This way you'll know if your lumber is too wet or dry to use for specific home improvement, building, or other woodworking projects! Or, you can use one to detect possible sources of moisture damage in your home, such as from leaks or floods.

Moisture meters come in two types: pin and pinless. A pin moisture meter measures the moisture content of wood by using two metal pins inserted into the wood. A pinless moisture meter uses a sensor pad placed flat against a board to measure, so there's no insertion involved. We'll discuss the pros and cons of each later on in this article.

Here are some of our favorite best moisture meters for wood to share with you!

Best Moisture Meters for Wood Reviews

General Tools MMD7NP Moisture Meter, Pinless, LCD with Tricolor Bar Graph [Editor's Pick]

The General Tools MMD7NP is a simple to use, simple to read pinless moisture meter. Simply scan the meter over drywall or wood to detect moisture that might catalyze mold growth or otherwise damage the material. Also, use this meter to accurately detect places where flooding or leaks may have occurred in your home or shop.

Features:

The MMD7NP contains an easy-to-read 2-inch, a diagonally-lit LCD display that shows you the percentage of moisture in a given area. A tricolor bar graph also indicates the level of wetness or dryness in your wood or drywall. The pinless feature of this meter scans large areas quickly to effectively find moisture. Additionally, it does not leave any pin holes in your material that pin meters do.

Measurements:

This small meter measures 1.1 x 3 x 6.5 inches and weighs 4 oz.

The moisture detection tool has a 3/4 in. maximum sensing depth and is +4/-4% accurate on wood.

Additional Features:

This tool auto-calibrates and runs on a 9V battery. The moisture meter features a HOLD button to keep the meter at the level of moisture, an auto power-off function, an out-of-range alarm, and low battery indication. The MMD7NP also comes with a one-year warranty.

Overall:

The MMD7NP moisture meter is a great tool for anyone, whether you're a DIY enthusiast, a woodworker, a building inspector, or a contractor! The pinless feature doesn't harm your walls or any finished wood surface, leaving it as clean as when you last left it. Additionally, the LCD screen is easy-to-read, and the tricolor meter gives you a quick visual to see where the moisture level is at.

Sometimes the LCD display can be hard to read at an angle or in bright light. This can make it difficult to get an accurate reading. Lastly, the auto power off function might function a little too quickly for you.

Overall, however, this is a good, budget-friendly meter perfect for use with almost any project!

General Tools MMD4E Moisture Meter, Pin Type, Digital LCD

The General Tools MMD4E pin-type moisture meter comes in an ergonomic design to fit in one hand. The easy-to-read LCD indicates how much moisture is apparent in wood through two metal pins at the top of the tool. This essential tool helps you to not only find water damage in your home but also helps determine which lumber you should buy for your woodworking projects.

Features:

The MMD4E moisture meter comes with two stainless steel pins. Simply insert these into your wood or drywall, and the tool will find the moisture level. The LCD screen indicates the moisture content as a percentage. There is both a low and high-level indicator so you can see the moisture content at a glance.

Measurements:

The MMD4E measures 5.5 x 9.1 x 1.4 inches, and it weighs 6.4 oz.

Additional Features:

This meter also has an Auto Power Off feature to save power!

Overall:

The MMD4E is another excellent choice for a moisture meter. Its ergonomic design allows you to use it in one hand, giving you the ease to brace the wood or yourself. The moisture meter has a wide and precise measuring range. The clear display presents an accurate and precise reading, so you're sure to have the correct measurement every time. It works for all sorts of materials including wood, drywall, and subflooring.

With a pin-type meter, however, you might need to wriggle or adjust the pins in order to find a consistent reading. It won't necessarily always find a reading the first time. This meter may also require testing several areas to verify the accuracy of your readings.

Proster Digital Wood Moisture Meter Handheld LCD

If you're looking for a budget-friendly moisture meter packed with features, you'll want to look at the Proster Digital Wood moisture meter. Specifically designed for wood and wood-based products, this pin-type moisture meter is sure to provide you with accurate readings.

Features:

The damp moisture reader gathers information on moisture content in wood, paper, drywall, cardboard, and other wood-based products. Its LCD display clearly shows the moisture content, and it also shows if you're holding a reading on pause.

The Proster meter's memory contains information on four wood groups with calibrations for over 50 tree species.

Measurements:

The Proster meter measures 5.9 x 3.2 x 1.6 inches and weighs 8.2 ounces. It runs on a 9V battery.

This meter has a range of 0 – 99.9% moisture content and is accurate by + 0.5 / – 0.5% of the shown reading.

Additional Features:

Some other features include an auto Power Off setting (that is triggered after 15 minutes), impact-proof housing, and a built-in battery check and low battery display setting.

Packaging:

The packaging includes the meter, a protective cap, and a carrying case.

Overall:

This digital moisture meter is an excellent addition to your toolkit. It's an inexpensive, durable meter that measures moisture in wood, drywall, and other materials and also has calibration settings for over 50 species of wood. Its LCD screen shows you a measurement that's accurate to within + 0.5 /- 0.5% of the shown percentage. Lastly, a Power Off setting consumes less battery life over time.

As with other pin meters, you might need to probe your materials a few times to get a consistent reading. You also might encounter some difficulty at reading the LCD screen in direct sunlight or at an angle.

Dr.meter MD918 Pinless Wood Moisture Meter

The Dr.meter pinless wood moisture meter is a versatile, sturdy moisture meter that works on a variety of materials. It uses an intelligent system to measure the moisture content through the HF electromagnetic waves without making any pinholes in the wood's surface.

Features:

This non-invasive, non-marring meter uses electromagnetic waves to scan the moisture content in your material whether it's wood, paper, carton, bamboo, or tobacco. A large digital LCD gives you clear measurements, and an auto-off feature shuts down the meter after approximately five minutes. Its design is perfect for any level of woodworker, contractor, builder, or DIY enthusiast.

Measurements:

The MD918 meter measures 5.1 x 2.6 x 1 inches and weighs 7.2 ounces. It runs on three 1.5V batteries.

This meter has a range of 4 – 80% moisture content and is accurate by + 0.5 / – 0.5% of the shown reading.

Additional Features:

Some other features include a built-in battery check and low battery display setting.

Packaging:

The packaging includes the meter, three 1.5V batteries, a carrying pouch, a user manual, and a card. The MD918 also comes with a money-back guarantee and a warranty.

Overall:

The MD918 meter is an excellent pinless option if you're looking for something to last for years. The easy-to-read display works well in many conditions, and it automatically shuts down in five minutes. The meter operates on a wide range of materials for a variety of functions including finding water damage and determining if the wood is stable enough for use.

Unfortunately, calibration isn't automatic. You'll need to remove the batteries and then replace them in order to calibrate the meter. Also, the battery compartment does not always stay shut.

On the whole, however, this is a solid, durable, reliable moisture meter.

Sam-Pro Tools Dual Moisture Meter

This unique dual moisture pin meter measures not only moisture but also temperature in a variety of materials including concrete, wood, drywall, and other types of building materials. It's great for detecting water damage, leaks, possible mold growth spots, and wet spots in wood or other materials.

Features:

The Sam-Pro Tools meter features two metal prongs for detecting water. Once you place the prongs into the material, a reading will appear after a couple of seconds. Its easy-to-use and ergonomic design makes it comfortable to use. It also includes options for max/min, scan, and hold.

Measurements:

This meter measures 8.8 x 4.6 x 1.9 inches and weighs 5.6 oz.

Additional Features:

The LCD screen is also backlit if you need to view the measurement reading in low-light conditions.

Packaging:

The packaging includes the moisture meter, carrying case, four sensor probes, 9V battery, and owner's manual.

Overall:

This meter is a reasonably-priced option if you're looking for a pin meter. The sturdy, ergonomic design fits well to your hand, and it works admirably to identify moisture in wood. You'll want to use this to determine if lumber you've purchased is seasoned enough to use. The LCD backlit screen is excellent to view readings in low-light conditions. Overall, it's simple to use and easy to read.

Unfortunately, the cap that covers the prong can be challenging to remove. Sometimes it requires brute force or a tool to remove it. The Sam-Pro meter also does not work with concrete or cement floors. This meter is relatively limited in what it can measure moisture in. Lastly, it may not be as accurate as some other meters.

Dr.meter MD812 Wood Moisture Reader

Dr.meter, a well-respected moisture meter brand, presents another great option. The MD812 pin moisture meter gives precise and accurate measurements and displays it on a large digital LCD screen for quick and easy reading.

Features:

This Dr.meter meter features a two-pin sensor to measure the moisture content in wood, sheetrock, plaster, sub-flooring, and other areas. The large digital LCD screen shows the readings quickly. You are able to change the sensor pins based on application.

Measurements:

This meter measures 5.7 x 3.5 x 2 inches and weighs 6.7 oz.

The testing range extends from 5-40% and is accurate to within +1/-1% of the shown reading.

Additional Features:

Some other features include a built-in low battery display setting, battery status indication, and audible alarms.

Packaging:

The packaging includes the moisture meter, carrying case, operating manual, a 9V battery, and two spare sensor pins.

Overall:

The Dr.meter MD812 presents itself as a solid pin meter. Its ability to test a wide range of materials makes it a great contender in this list. You can apply it to a variety of functions including woodworking, building construction, agriculture restoration, and floor-laying. Its ergonomic design is comfortable to use in almost any situation. It regularly provides consistent readings.

Unfortunately, this meter lacks some of the accuracy of other meters. Its range only goes from 0-40% while others extend out further. It also has a margin of error of +/- 1% whereas some others have less. Lastly, the on/off switch does come on easily, so it's possible this will drain the meter's battery.

General Tools MMH800 4-In-1 Combo Moisture Meter

The General Tools MMH800 combines the best of both worlds in terms of moisture meters. It operates as both a pin and pinless meter. The meter has both two pins at the top and dual pad sensors to scan wood and other materials.

Features:

The MMH800 features both pins and sensor pads to make it operate as a dual meter. It also measures temperature and humidity. The meter features two easy-to-read displays – one for moisture content and one for temperature and humidity, Lastly, it has an auto diagnostic check and an auto power off.

Measurements:

This meter measures 3.6 x 8.1 x 12 inches and weighs 2 lbs.

The testing range extends from 5-50% (with wood) and 1.5-33% (for building materials) and is accurate to within +3/-3% of the shown reading.

Additional Features:

The MMH800 also offers an audible indication of moisture level and storage of moisture level readings. It also powers off after three minutes.

Packaging:

The packaging includes the moisture meter, 9V battery, lanyard, two sets of spare pins, and a user's manual.

Overall:

This is perhaps one of the best moisture meters out there. Although the price runs a little higher than most meters, the 4-in-one combination of functions (pin meter, pinless meter, humidity reading, and temperature reading) offer you more value than almost any other meter. Not only does it offer two displays, but the meter is also able to distinguish between wet spots and dry spots with reasonable accuracy.

Unfortunately, this one does not always provide the most accurate readings. It only offers readings with a +/- 3% margin of error whereas others advertise much lower margin of errors.

What Is the Best Moisture Meter for Wood?

Of the choices listed above, we love the General Tools MMD7NP Moisture Meter, Pinless, Digital LCD with Tricolor Bar Graph. Although both pinless and pin meters have their merits, the MMD7NP meter offers the best of both features and value. This is a great first moisture meter if you haven't purchased one before. It's sturdy, accurate, and simple to use. Although you might need to test a few different areas to ensure a consistent reading, you won't have to bore into the wood to do so.

How Do You Test for Moisture in Wood?

Testing for moisture in wood is quite simple. This happens in one of two ways, depending on the meter. With pin meters, all you do is insert the two prongs into the wood and wait for the meter to pick up a reading. Electricity flows between the two prongs – since water conducts better than wood, the meter determines the moisture content by measuring the current. Keep in mind that pin meters are sensitive to temperature variations within the wood, so pin meters always come with temperature correction charts.

Wood Moisture Meter General Tools Harbor Freight

Pinless meters use sensor plates to detect moisture in wood. Simply place the meter against the wood, and you'll gather a reading. There must be enough contact between the surface and the sensor plates. It's not advised to use pinless meters with warped or twisted wood since you won't be able to gather accurate readings. Find out how to use a moisture meter on drywall, wood, and soil here

Related:

At What Moisture Content Does Wood Rot?

The moisture content at which wood rots depends on the species of tree and the humidity conditions in which the wood exists. But typically wood rots at a moisture content at 30% or more – this is the point at which fungal spores usually germinate. Spores can take a few days to become visible, but if you have dry wood that shows moisture content at 30% or above, you should consider drying it out.

What Is the Ideal Moisture Content of Wood?

The ideal moisture content for wood depends on the wood and its function. According to Wagner Meters, 'the acceptable moisture level for wood objects used indoors is generally 6% to 8% for wood flooring, 6% to 9% furniture, and 9% to 14% for construction'.

How Much Moisture Should Hardwood Floors Have?

Hardwood floors should have approximately 6 – 8% moisture content, based on common recommendations.

How to Choose a Moisture Meter?

There are a few things to consider when purchasing a moisture meter for wood:

1) Pin versus pinless meter

The first thing to determine is which meter you'd prefer: a pin or a pinless meter. It depends on what you plan to use the meter for. If you buy surfaced wood which you wouldn't like to poke holes in, you might consider a pinless model. There are no prongs to insert into the wood, just the sensor plates.

If you use rough lumber, extremely thick wood, or if you dry your own wood, consider a pin meter. You don't have to have a smooth surface on which to place sensors. You can insert the pins almost anywhere along the length or width of the wood you're testing.

2) Minimum sample size

Because pinless meters utilize sensor plates, consider the minimum sample size needed to obtain an accurate reading. It's important to find a meter that isn't too large for the wood that you'll be testing.

3) Moisture content range

Wood Moisture Meter Harbor Freight

This is one of the most important considerations of any meter you purchase. If you're just looking your run-of-the-mill meter to handle wood you purchase from your local hardware store or a lumberyard, you'll be fine with a moisture content range of 7-20%. According to Popular Woodworking, it's impossible to accurately moisture content past 30%. Some might purchase a meter with a higher moisture content range, but they are those who are usually drying their own wood and need to track how fast their wood is drying.

4) Price

Pricing is always a consideration when purchasing a meter. Some cheaper meters offer great value while still providing accurate and consistent readings and other features. Keep in mind, however, that their quality may not be as high as some other more expensive options. That's not to say they are not worth purchasing.

Rather, consider how often you'll use your moisture meter. It's probably worth spending some more money on a good, solid meter with quality construction rather than something that might last you a year and not have all of the features you'd like. The meters in this list all fall within a reasonable budget. They each have their quirks, but all ultimately get the job done!

Wood Moisture Meter General Tools Reviews

Conclusion

In conclusion, we've provided you with some information on moisture meters, reviewed some of our favorites, and offered some practical advice on what to think about when choosing a meter. Overall, it's important to consider which meter you'd like to purchase, which moisture content range you're looking for, which function you'll use it for, and other factors.

We wish you the best of luck in your search, and we hope you found this article insightful and informative!

CARE TO COMMENT?

I hope you found our Best Moisture Meters for Wood article useful.

Wood Moisture Meter General Tools

Now, tell us:

• Did we miss something?
• Do you have any other questions about any other Moisture Meter brand?

Wood Moisture Meter General Tools Moisture Meter

If so, leave us a quick comment and let us know!