Instead of requiring two metal prongs to be pushed into the wood, pinless moisture meters use electromagnetic wave technology to measure the wood’s moisture level. A moisture meter that beeps when it takes a reading can be extremely useful to people with a damp problem. Some products, like the Brennenstuhl Moisture Detector, will beep faster when it registers a higher moisture content. An automatic turn off feature will help your meter’s batteries last longer. Tools with this function will tend to turn themselves off after a few minutes of inactivity. There are several different types of moisture meter, and the brennenstuhl one is a dual probe pin-type meter. Simply put, the device runs an electrical current between its probes, and the resistance that the material gives relates to the moisture level inside. To burn firewood effectively, either in an open fire or a wood burning stove, the moisture percentage needs to be less than 20%. Freshly cut timber has a moisture content of between 30% and 60%, depending on the tree species and its growing conditions.

However, most of the best moisture meters on the market today are digital with LED or LCD screens which make them easy to read, durable, and precise to decimal places. I think it’s a perfect size and I like how easy it is to use. I prefer non-complicated things and can’t be bothered learning about 100 different options and features. Answer: The accuracy of your firewood moisture readings does not depend only on the accuracy of the moisture meter you are using. It is greatly influenced by how well you use the device as well.

The Dr.meter Digital Wood Moisture Meter is one of the best moisture meters in in terms of value for money. This digital moisture meter has a range of features and is a reasonable price without compromising on performance. The moisture detector is powered by a 9V battery which is included. There is also a low battery indicator, so you’ll know when to change it. These aspects definitely set this product apart from the others on my list, as it’s rare to find a moisture meter with a battery included. STIHL is a brand that knows the in and out of working with firewood and is a reputed manufacturer of top-quality forestry appliances.

The little tree symbol you can see in the images indicates that I’m testing the moisture level of wood rather than another material like mortar or plaster. I decided to take them out and discovered that there was a tiny piece of plastic between the batteries and the device so that it would not be accidentally turned on before sale.Experts recommend burning your firewood when its moisture content is between 10 and 20%. Helpful Extra Features You will also highly appreciate the ability to store moisture readings to be accessed later on and also the ability to compare readings on the device itself. Specifications Can be used to detect the moisture in a range of building materials - including concrete, plasterboard and wallpaper If you do not know the wood species that you are testing, the instructions recommend using mode 3, as many species of wood fall into this category.

You don’t have much information on what moisture meters are, how they work and what features to look for. For measuring the moisture level of firewood, putting holes on them isn’t an issue since they are going to be burned anyway. Some wooden moisture meters, will have different modes for different species of tree. This mode is really only helpful if you’re an expert in wood but does offer a more specific understanding of moisture content. This moisture meter features both pin and pinless type moisture meters combined to give you the advantages of both types so that you can choose the mode of operation based on the nature of the work you are working on. The moisture content range that can be measured accurately by your moisture meter is specified by the manufacturer. Moisture meters that can read the moisture content in a range of 5% to 60% are considered the best.There’s some debate on the accuracy of wood moisture meters, as when you get a few of them together on the same piece of wood you can get a wide range of values. However, I think the Stihl wood tester gives a good indication of whether or not a piece of wood is ready to burn.

Occasionally gives a different reading just a few millimetres away from the original, which has led to some users questioning its accuracyOakleys Garden Machinery is the department within Oakleys that is focused on looking after non-commercial customers who require ground care equipment, parts and service for their home and garden.