Reasonably priced quality moisture meter for firewood

[Big_eddy]

With all the rain and humidity this year, we are having a hard time getting our firewood dry enough to sell. We spent most of the weekend tunnelling through the center of the stacked rows, taking 2 rows out of the middle of 8, and restacking in another place to let air and sun get at it, and into the middle of the pile. Needless to say, it was a lot of extra work. But 4 rows in from the outside, the wood at the bottom of the rows was dripping wet. (It did rain 6" in the last week)

Now that the wettest wood is out and exposed, and the remainder is stacked 3 rows wide at the most, we are hopeful another month or so (and some dry weather!!) will still be enough to get it to a sellable moisture content.

We are looking for a reasonably priced pin type moisture meter for firewood that will be accurate enough for firewood, and will last. Don't need fancy, don't need 0.1% accuracy.

Anyone have any recommendations? Or ones to avoid?  Most of the hardware and lumber stores seem to offer one, but no idea which ones are decent. General seems to be a brand offered at several retailers.

[doc henderson]

Do you promote an ideal MC that your wood is below?  Will you not sell it if not?  I just have a cheap pin meter.  It says Stihl on it but is small and not expensive.  Do you have a rain cover over the wood?

[Big_eddy]

Do you promote an ideal MC that your wood is below?  Will you not sell it if not?  I just have a cheap pin meter.  It says Stihl on it but is small and not expensive.  Do you have a rain cover over the wood?

We don't advertise a specific moisture content, but people in this area are buying for this winter burning, and we wouldn't sell wood we know isn't going to burn well. We'll just say we are sold out of dry wood and hold it for next year.
 The piles are out in the sun and wind, but not covered. Hard to cover 100 cords without a substantial investment.

[doc henderson]

True.  I have no concept of the scale you do.  for the long haul it would need to be reusable, like tin or a shed, I guess.  I have used old material from catering tents, it will last a year or so if that helps to keep this stuff dry.  I drying shed would be a major investment, so depends on if this will continue for the foreseeable years.  Even if wood gets rained on, it does not usually get soaked to the core.  You prob. know all of this and are just looking for a meter.     I bought a scale to hang between my crates and a crane on the track loader, to look at net weight loss.  I have not used it, and I think Jim Barry did something like this.  can always use the "clunk" method.  or try some sample in your own yard.     cheers, Doc.

[Andries]

An economical pin type meter is sold by Lee Valley, called a timber check moisture meter. 99N1501 is their cat. #
About $100 CAD, so mebbe $45 USD? 😉 
It'll work nicely for firewood. 

[Big_eddy]

The General Tool MMD4E has good reviews and is available to me on Amz US for $30 ($54 after exchange and shipping)or Amz Canada for $73. Never understand why I can pay less and get something faster using my US account, but might give that a go. I like the fact General have a whole line of moisture meters - indicates they are not just copycats. The Timbercheck looks interesting too.

[B.C.C. Lapp]

It says Stihl on it but is small and not expensive. 

Doc I got a couple of those as well. Keep one in each delivery truck along with a boys axe. If a new customer is concerned with the wood being dry enough I ask them to pick a piece.  I split it, test it  and show them the reading.   Those cheap meters have lasted quite a few seasons now.  Accurate enough, Id buy em again.

[Ianab]

Those cheap meters have lasted quite a few seasons now.  Accurate enough, Id buy em again.

That's what I have found. The cheapy I use only claims to be accurate +/- 2%. But for checking firewood, that's all you need. We count under 20% as "dry" for firewood, so you split a chunk and jab it with the meter. 15 -19% means you are good to go. 

Now if you are running a kiln and NEED accurate measurements and compensation for different species etc, Then you need a real meter, but for firewood you need something you can pull out of your pocket and get a "close enough" reading.  

[Sheepkeeper]

The one that I use is branded ROK model EM-2G. It is $40 CAD at Home Hardware. Works well but doesn't take kindly to being left out in the rain .

[Ginger Squirrel]

The General Tool MMD4E has good reviews and is available to me on Amz US for $30 ($54 after exchange and shipping)or Amz Canada for $73. Never understand why I can pay less and get something faster using my US account, but might give that a go. I like the fact General have a whole line of moisture meters - indicates they are not just copycats. The Timbercheck looks interesting too.

This is the one I have. First one I've owned so can't really compare it to anything, but it's simple enough to use. Some of them require you to know the wood species but this one just makes you pick between construction and wood.  I guess construction would be to check drywall and such.

[GRANITEstateMP]

Big_eddy,

After reading your post, I reminded myself why I now only sell green wood!  Around here, dry/seasoned wood is worth an extra $75-125 a cord.  I like the extra money, but not the extra work of stacking, drying, reloading, and the potential hassle with customers.  I also like a quicker return on my investment with the green wood.  I have lost sales every year because we don't offer dry/seasoned wood, but if a person isn't willing to think a year ahead then I'm not really interested in selling to them!  That being said, you can clean house if your the only guy around with dry wood when its cold out, hope you charge a premium for that!