Thread: Wood Moisture Meters Calibrated to Australian Species

I'm interested in finding out the same - or at least what moisture meter people use and recommend?

After further searching I bought a meter from Bang (Ben) Hoang of Instrument Choice, but it is on backorder so I can't comment on the product at this stage. It's a pin-type moisture meter for wood and building materials and costs just over $200.00 (including GST) with postage on top. While the meter is not calibrated for Australian timber species, Bang provided a 4-page conversion chart as well.

Originally Posted by wayne's wood

After further searching I bought a meter from Bang (Ben) Hoang of Instrument Choice, but it is on backorder so I can't comment on the product at this stage. It's a pin-type moisture meter for wood and building materials and costs just over $200.00 (including GST) with postage on top. While the meter is not calibrated for Australian timber species, Bang provided a 4-page conversion chart as well.

Do you have any information on the make and model etc? I'm talking to Ben but he isn't sure which model it is that I'm asking about?

The details I have are as follows:

Moisture Meter for Wood & Building Materials - 0560-6060

Product Code: 0560-6060

Link to above moisture meter

testo 606-1 - Material Moisture Meter | Building moisture | Drying | Buildings & construction - Structual defects and building quality | Buildings & construction | Applications | Testo Australia

Sold also by RS-online.

Good to know......

Cheers for the replies everyone!

Originally Posted by Lappa

Link to above moisture meter

testo 606-1 - Material Moisture Meter | Building moisture | Drying | Buildings & construction - Structual defects and building quality | Buildings & construction | Applications | Testo Australia

Sold also by RS-online.

That's a good meter but in only come calibrated for european/NA timbers
Characteristic curves for precise wood moisture measurements:
| Beech | Spruce | Larch | Oak | Pine | Maple |

Back in 2003 the Australian Gove published a 91 page document called
The use of hand-held electrical moisture meters with commercially important Australian hardwoods
By Forest & Wood Products Research & Development Corporation

It contains lots of detail about how to perform accurately measurements and how to correct for things like some species, density and temperature.
The meters tested were

Meter Brand	Model	Type	Supplier/Distributor
BES Bollmann	Combo 100	Resistance	Regal Services
Carrel and Carrel	C901	Resistance	Carrel and Carrel Ltd
Delmhorst	J2000	Resistance	The Moisture Meter Company Pty Ltd
Deltron	DCR 22	Resistance	Deltron Moisture Meters
Electrophysics	MT 700, CT808	Resistance, Dielectric	J.A.S. Instruments
Kett	MT 700, MOCO 2 HM530	Resistance, Dielectric	Agelec Enterprises
Merlin	HM8 WS25HD, PM 1-E	Dielectric	Hawleys Pty Ltd
Protimeter	Timbermaster	Resistance	PCWI International Pty Ltd
Wagner	MMI 1100	Dielectric	The Moisture Meter Company Pty Ltd

Only about a dozen common trees were tested (including Blackbut, jarrah, Blue gum, Vic ash, Tas Oak, spotted gum, red gum)
To give you an idea of the range of readings for Jarrah at 15% actual dryness these meters read anywhere from 15 to 21%

If you download you'll see it gets real technical real quick.

I have a cheap resistance meter I bought it from Dick Smith about 20 years ago. I hardly ever compare dryness of timber type A with Timber type B. Usually I'm comparing Different areas of the same piece of wood or samples of the same timber type so I don't worry about calibration.

Presumably the meter will simply read the moisture level. Be that USA Europe Asia or whatever -something designed for HARDWOODS should work - no matter where the wood comes from- there are ones that you drive the pins into - would trust these a bit more (some do whatever and don't penetrate the timber? ) would not trust them so much.Then look up tables on what is appropriate for the species.

Thanks for all the replies guys, they are very helpful. Cheers

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful. Cheers

I've had the MMC 200 from Wagner, pinless type meter for several years, no probs with it yet still on my first battery with it. Have no complaints really and I know they've got several updated models out now with more features

HI, I was given a Delmhorst j2000 moisture meter which has all the American timbers loaded. Would this meter still give accurate readings for Aus timber or do you have to try to pick timbers that are close to Aus timbers?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Acker

HI, I was given a Delmhorst j2000 moisture meter which has all the American timbers loaded. Would this meter still give accurate readings for Aus timber or do you have to try to pick timbers that are close to Aus timbers?

Thanks

Read post number 5 above.