Wood Moisture Meters can be split into 2 categories – pin type and non destructive. With the pin type model you would push the needles or pins into the wood and get a reading. The non destructive models involve placing the instrument on the surface and getting an average reading for the depth that the gauge is capable of – usually 25 to 30mm deep.

Many substrates that are coated in industry today, are porous and can absorb moisture. It is necessary to measure the moisture content within the substrate to reduce the possibility of subsequent coating failure.

When powder coating substrates which have a high moisture content – such as wood or MDF, steam will generate during the curing process damaging the new coating. Other substrates, which may have a high moisture content include concrete, fibreboard, plasterboard, gypsum and brick.

Meters that measure moisture can be used for many different applications. Each meter is trying to approximate an oven dried method of taking a reading where you measure the weight of a sample, dry it using an oven or a microwave, re-weigh it and keep drying it until the reading is stable. You then take the difference in the weight and divide it by the final weight to get a moisture percent. The meter is a hand held device that tries to approximate this reading as closely as possible. Most instruments will give you a moisture level as opposed to a percent and the moisture level that is most widely used is something called a Wood Moisture Equivalent or WME. This is the moisture level that would be present in Wood if the wood was in contact with the material that you are measuring. Ultimately, all materials will try and be in equilibrium.

Wood Moisture Meters

DM4A            Max Doser (NDT) [set on H] For Wood 0- 50%

MEP              Tramex Moisture Encounter Plus (NDT) – Wood, Dry Walls, Plaster 

BLD5765       Protimeter Aquant – Digital – Wood, Plaster, Masonry, GRP, Concrete

BLD2000-2T  Protimeter Mini 2000 – Pin Type (LED’s) 

BLD5702       Protimeter Digital Mini Basic – Pin Type 

BLD5609       Protimeter Timber Master Std – Pin Type, Digital c/w Heavy Duty Probe

BLD5605       Protimeter Timber Master Plus – Pin Type, Digital c/w Temp Probe