Primary Lumber Mills Moisture Measurement

We expect lumber to perform as specified, but outside the lumber industry, few people understand how important it is to measure and manage its moisture content. Sawmills need to measure lumber moisture carefully and continuously at key stages of the manufacturing process to get the best lumber quality. Poor moisture management can cost a sawmill hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Our overdrying and underdrying calculator can help you estimate what it’s costing your mill.

Incoming: Sorting “Green” Lumber in the Sawmill

Although it isn’t done as often as it should be, sorting lumber by moisture (and sometimes by total density) before it goes into the kiln can help optimize kiln schedules. Green sorting systems measure the moisture and/or density of green lumber so each piece can be assigned to a drying category (fast, medium, or slow).

Green sorting has three main advantages. First, it lets you categorize lumber accurately for kiln drying, so kiln operators can predict drying times more accurately. Second, it can shorten overall drying times, because fast-drying lumber can be dried together instead of being mixed with slow-drying packs. Third, it reduces drying degrade from overdrying and underdrying. When a mill starts green sorting, the financial benefits can begin right away.

The Drying Process: In-Kiln Moisture Measurement

Quality control (QC) is especially important during kiln drying. For years, technology has let kiln operators place moisture measurement probes inside the lumber packages in the kiln. These probes send real-time moisture data to kiln control software on a computer, so operators can monitor moisture content in the kiln as the lumber dries.

With that data, operators can develop moisture-based drying schedules for better quality and more efficient drying, and better determine when to stop the kiln. In-kiln moisture measurement systems can also reduce the need for manual “hot checks.” Managing moisture content at this stage adds to the mill’s profitability by making the process more efficient.

Planer Mill: In-Line Moisture Measurement of the Dried Lumber

In-line moisture measurement systems in the planer mill are the most important tools for capturing moisture data on every piece of lumber. They give QC personnel, especially those working on kiln drying, the data they need to improve the drying process. Without them, mills are very limited in how accurately they can analyze their drying.

Drying lumber well is part science and part art, and in-line moisture data is the science that helps kiln operators perfect the art.

Free Download – How to Choose a Moisture Measurement System for Your Sawmill Buying Guide

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Ron Smith

As Sales Manager for Wagner Meters, Ron has more than 35 years of experience with instrumentation and measurement systems in different industries.  In previous positions, he has served as Regional Sales Manager, Product and Projects Manager, and Sales Manager for manufacturers involved in measurement instrumentation.

Last updated on October 12th, 2026