Best Moisture Meter Reviews: Accurate Gauges You Can Trust
Contents
- Best Moisture Meter for Wood Reviews
- 1. Dr. Meter MD918 Inductive Pinless Tools Moisture Meter
- 2. General Tools MMD4E Moisture Meter
- 3. Stihl Wood Digital Moisture Meter
- 4. GoerTek Digital Moisture Meter
- 5. NoCry Digital Moisture Meter
- 6. Proster Digital Wood Moisture Meter
- 7. Extech MO50 Compact Pin Moisture Meter
- 8. Dr. Meter MD-812 LCD Wood Moisture Meter
- 9. Lignomat Moisture Meter Mini-Ligno E/D
- Our Favorite Moisture Meters
- What will it cost me to buy the Best Moisture Meters?
- How to Find the Best Moisture Meter for Me
- Sources
A moisture meter tells you whether wood is dry enough to work. Wood that is too wet shrinks, cracks and opens joints after you build with it.
Purdue Extension notes that lumber for furniture, cabinets and other interior uses is dried to 6-8 percent moisture content. For firewood, Penn State Extension recommends drying to about 20% moisture.
Best Moisture Meter for Wood Reviews
1. Dr. Meter MD918 Inductive Pinless Tools Moisture Meter
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This pinless meter reads moisture without leaving holes. The large LCD shows the moisture reading and the selected density setting. It has a listed range of 4-80% and settings for 10 wood density groups. A zero calibration step helps keep readings consistent. An auto shut-off saves the batteries.
Pinless meters read only the outer layer of the board, so press the sensor flat on a smooth face.
2. General Tools MMD4E Moisture Meter
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This is a good meter if you are on a budget. The digital pin-type meter takes a reading with two pins and is comfortable to hold. It has modes for wood and for building materials like drywall, which adds versatility. The controls are basic, as is the final reading percentage you receive, but it gets the job done for a budget-friendly price.
3. Stihl Wood Digital Moisture Meter
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This wood moisture meter has a listed measuring range of 6-42% for wood, which covers woodworking stock and firewood. The two-pin design is also useful for checking on the seasoning of your firewood if you happen to burn for winter heat. The LCD display is very basic, giving you the percentage of moisture and nothing else. It is reasonably priced and comes from a well-known brand.
4. GoerTek Digital Moisture Meter
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This ABS plastic meter has pros and cons. Its display reads from 0 to 99.9%, but like all pin meters, readings above roughly 30% (the fiber saturation point) are only rough estimates. Two integrated pins allow you to receive a precision measurement with good consistency. On the flip side, this moisture meter offers four categories of wood products for wood measurement instead of being species-specific, which could become problematic if you need a precise reading on your working piece. All in all, it is a good value.
5. NoCry Digital Moisture Meter
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This digital pin meter has 4 measurement modes for different material groups, from dense woods like oak and teak to medium-density woods like mahogany. It also shows the ambient temperature. It is light and comfortable to use.
6. Proster Digital Wood Moisture Meter
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Don’t break the bank with this affordable wood moisture meter that also brings accuracy to the table. It can be used not just on wood but on paper, cardboard, brick and plaster as well. The display reads 0 to 99.9%, though wood readings above about 30% are rough estimates. Results show on a large LCD, and the body is ABS plastic. When not in use, it automatically shuts off to conserve power. Overall, this is an affordable moisture meter that gets the job done.
7. Extech MO50 Compact Pin Moisture Meter
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If you want all the bells and whistles in your moisture meter, better get this one. It includes audible tones and a moisture drop icon that help you read the moisture level content accurately. It comes with stainless steel contact pins. You can switch from wood to building material modes with ease. It even comes with a Self-Test function, which allows you to see if it is working before you actually use it.
8. Dr. Meter MD-812 LCD Wood Moisture Meter
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The convenience of this moisture meter is commendable. It gives a reading within about 5 seconds of pushing the pins into the material. It has a listed range of 5%-40%. It displays data on its big and readable LCD display. This moisture meter is compact and small enough to carry in the back pocket of your jeans. It also has a wide range of applications including checking the moisture content of carpets and sheetrock.
9. Lignomat Moisture Meter Mini-Ligno E/D
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This is a professional pin meter. It costs more, but it has a heavy-duty build, a 6-45% measuring range and a built-in calibration check. Whether you are a contractor who installs wood flooring or a woodworker who makes furniture and cabinetry, this will be a good addition to your arsenal. Your purchase includes extra pins and a 2-year warranty backs it up. The body is high-impact plastic built for jobsite use. It also comes with longer pins inside the meter for measuring thicker wood materials.
Our Favorite Moisture Meters
Our Advice for the Best Moisture Meters for Wood
- Dr. Meter MD918 Inductive Pinless Tools Moisture Meter (Ultra Large LCD)
- General Tools MMD4E Moisture Meter (Budget-Friendly)
- Stihl Wood Digital Moisture Meter (Ideal for Firewood)
- GoerTek Digital Moisture Meter (Easy to Use)
- NoCry Digital Moisture Meter (Built to Last)
- Proster Digital Wood Moisture Meter (Value for Your Money)
- Extech MO50 Compact Pin Moisture Meter (Feature-Packed)
- Dr. Meter MD-812 LCD Wood Moisture Meter (Fast Results)
- Lignomat Moisture Meter Mini-Ligno E/D (Professional Use)
Moisture meters typically come in two varieties: pin-type meters and pinless meters. Each has certain advantages to consider. The list above includes both types.
What will it cost me to buy the Best Moisture Meters?
Moisture meters are relatively inexpensive. Basic pin and pinless meters for hobby use cost far less than professional models.
Professional meters with species corrections, calibration checks and sturdier builds cost several times more, which is worth it if you sell furniture or install flooring.
How to Find the Best Moisture Meter for Me
There are no really one-size-fits-all solutions for this tool when it comes to woodworking. What you need to have is the best moisture meter that fits your needs so you can make sure that your wood is stable enough to be used. That means how you need to measure your wood moisture content will often dictate what features your meter is going to need.
- If you have stacks of wood that require moisture measurements, then a pin-type meter is better suited to the job. Pinless meters have sensing plates that must lie flat on a board to measure moisture. Pin-type meters can be pushed into the edge of a board in a stack.
- Digital LCD displays are the easiest to read, but analog and LED-indicator meters also work if you only need a dry or wet signal.
- Not every moisture meter is built for woodworking. Check that the meter covers about 6% to 30% for wood, the range that matters for furniture lumber and firewood.
There are some additional features that may be worth looking at as well. Some moisture meters have built-in wood typing that can help you know the right moisture content for the type of wood for your next project. Some pin meters also offer temperature correction, since wood temperature affects resistance readings.
Pin-type moisture meters will leave small holes in the wood. Pinless models will not leave marks, but may be unable to accurately measure thicker boards. Take readings in several spots and away from the board ends, which dry faster than the middle.
If you need the best moisture meter for wood, we think you should try the Dr Meter MD918. Its auto shut-off and large LCD screen make it stand out.
Sources
- Controlling Moisture Content in Stored Lumber (FNR-403-W), Purdue Extension
- Heating with Wood: An Introduction, Penn State Extension
