2 Moisture testers - 2 different readings..sigh

[Mike H]

I have a stihl and a brennenstuhl moisture meter. The Brennenstuhl always reads about 20% less moisture than the stihl.

 

Is there a simple calibration test for these meters or is moisture content a bit of experience/guesswork?!

[Stubby]

I have a stihl and a brennenstuhl moisture meter. The Brennenstuhl always reads about 20% less moisture than the stihl.

 

Is there a simple calibration test for these meters or is moisture content a bit of experience/guesswork?!

 

Just use the Brennenstuhl then

[Ashes_Firewood]

All you need to do is pick 2 logs up and bang them together to see if they are seasoned. You can tell by the noise they make. Not used my moisture meter for years

[kev7937]

Think with the instructions on one of mine it said your skin should read about 34%

[Alycidon]

Sounds like one is faulty, might try changing the batteries, I have had meters always showing 19.9%, that is a battery issue.

 

A

[Woodworks]

I have a stihl and a brennenstuhl moisture meter. The Brennenstuhl always reads about 20% less moisture than the stihl.

 

Is there a simple calibration test for these meters or is moisture content a bit of experience/guesswork?!

 

20% That's dreadful. Can't think of a good way to calibrate yours other than comparing with a checked one. One simple test but slow if you don't have anything suitable is wood in the home that has fully acclimatised should be somewhere between 8-10% in the average house.

 

Maybe it's time to buy a quality one that comes with a calibration test. I am using an old Protimeter that is still spot on after 20 years (according to it's calibrator). The experts will recommend doing an oven drying test as no moisture meter is perfect.

[Mike H]

Stubby

 

Ashes_firewood - I agree, but you are experienced and I'm new to all of this! I'll hopefully learn the right sound, weight and general 6th sense of it all.

 

Kev7937 - Cheers Kev, I'm now full of holes and if I pushed really hard got around 20%

 

Alycidon - Good idea.

 

Woodworks - Whats the oven test exactly? I could take a 25% log and put it in the aga for 24 hours then test both meters again. I suppose that might reveal any faults if the drop is not the same for both.

[Goaty]

Microwave and measure weight technique. Sounds more complex than it is.

[Woodworks]

I confess I have never done it myself but openspaceman posted up the procedure once but don't know where. The basic idea is to dry a known size sample completely in an oven and this is 0%. Then every % over that for a given size is water.

 

Example.

 

Take two identical sized samples from a log. You dry sample A completely by measuring its weight occasionally until it stops loosing weight. Say it then weighs 100g and your undried sample B weighs 125 g so B is 20% moisture content.

 

Hope I have got that right but sure someone who knows will correct me.

 

Found this http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PRACTICAL/FUEL_SUPPLY/STANDARDS/TESTING%20MC%20WHS%20EDITION%202011-3-16.PDF

Edited June 1, 2015 by Woodworks

[Ashes_Firewood]

Ashes_firewood - I agree, but you are experienced and I'm new to all of this! I'll hopefully learn the right sound, weight and general 6th sense of it all

 

Fair enough You'll soon get a feel for what's seasoned and what's not