Pinless Moisture Meter

[Mark Woodmark]

Looking for input on moisture meters. I am considering a pinless one. Any opinions on whats a good one and whats not?

[Scott T Smith]

Some of the very best pinless meters are made by Merlin (in Austria, as I recall). They have a wide variety of meters designed for differents uses (veneer, woodworker, kiln operator, etc), and make a top notch product.

[Scott Busse]

I use a Wagner MMC205. It automatically calculates the gravity for you so you don't need to carry a conversion chart.

[Neil Brooks]

Sorry, but ....

Norm uses one. Last time I saw him whip it out, it LOOKED like this one (http://www.amazon.com/Sonin-50211-Rapitest-Concrete-Moisture/dp/B0000224DA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1271172630&sr=1-2).

The decent ones (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=pinless+wood+moisture+meter&x=0&y=0&sprefix=pinless+) cost a pretty penny, and are reported to be sketchy with rough-sawn wood.

Don't know the other possible limitations of one vs. the other. Actually, here's ONE perspective:

Pin-type vs. pinless meters


Pinless moisture meters have the distinct advantage of not damaging wood surfaces during testing. Unfortunately they are very expensive. They also have other disadvantages;
Pinless meters do not provide accurate reading on wood with rough surfaces.
During testing it was found that a surface roughness of .02 inches on a 16% wood sample will produce a reading of 12% on the meter. If the wood surface is then planned, the meter then reads the correct 16%.
The wood sample being tested must be wider than the meter .
The wood sample must not be cupped since close contact between the back of the meter and the surface is very important.
Pinless meters cannot read deep into a sample and sensitivity beyond the surface drops off quickly. Most pinless meters provide an average reading of the first 5/8" depth of wood. With pin-type meters this problem can always be overcome with the use of nails driven into the sample to be used as long probes.
If the surface is damp (dew) the sample will read high. This is true for resistance meters as well however with the use of insulated nails as probes the problem can be overcome. This is not the case with the pinless meter.
Pinless meters do have the advantage of not producing small hole in wood samples but they offer no flexibility for reading rough, narrow, thick or unevenly wet wood.

[Scott Busse]

I used my Wagner pinless on rough-sawn wood pre/post planing with the same value.

[Neil Brooks]

Update:

Rumor has it that Norm uses the Wagner L606 (http://www.wagnermeters.com/proline_l606.php).

http://www.wagnermeters.com/images/l606.jpg

[Joe Jensen]

I couldn't decide on pin or pinless so I ended up buying a Lignomat that can be used pinless, or with a remote pin based probe.

http://www.lignomat.com/MoistureMeter/vrs2.jpghttp://www.lignomat.com/MoistureMeter/ze12a.jpghttp://www.lignomat.com/MoistureMeter/ze12b.jpg

[Neil Brooks]

Joe-

Now that ... I say, that there ... is a fine looking gizmo.

But ... it dresses out at over $500 ??

Ouch.

[Joe Jensen]

It's a really nice system. I had been wanting one for years and they had a promotion a few years ago that put me over the edge. Nice small company based in Portland. I was able to actually go there and get a demo before buying.

[Dan Forman]

Electrophysics makes a dual mode for $325.

http://www.electrophysics.on.ca/cmt908.htm

Still not cheap, but...

Dan