The Lumber Moisture Meter Every Industrial Sawmill Needs

Large sawmills have to process a great volume of lumber.

The best industrial sawmills aren’t just concerned with cutting, processing, drying, and grading their wood. Anyone that’s been in the sawmill business for a while knows that moisture monitoring plays a crucial role in lumber quality.

Most large sawmills rely on in-line moisture systems to monitor their lumber’s moisture levels. But the sawmills that go above and beyond also use handheld lumber moisture meters to make sure the wood isn’t being under-dried or over-dried.

Learn how industrial moisture meters can improve the moisture monitoring process in large sawmills. Let’s go over:

• What industrial moisture meters are
• Why your sawmill needs them
• What makes our line of meters your best choice
• How to get yours

Let’s begin by getting into what makes industrial moisture meters different from your average moisture meter.

What is an industrial lumber moisture meter?

An industrial handheld lumber moisture meter is a handheld device that measures the moisture content of lumber.

Unlike typical moisture meters, which are designed for commercial purposes, industrial moisture meters are specifically designed to be used in industrial environments like large sawmills.

This is why industrial meters are more durable—they’re built to withstand the harsh conditions of large sawmills. The handle on industrial meters also makes it easier to check large quantities of stacks, which is crucial for large sawmills processing a considerable amount of lumber. On top of that, industrial meters allow you to measure deep inside the stacks and take lots of data recordings.

Some meters even come with special attachments, such as a stack probe, that can be attached to the handheld moisture meter to create an extension of the scanning plate, enabling you to reach deep into a stickered lumber stack so you can measure boards in the center of the stack.

This is incredibly helpful because it allows you to measure the moisture of the center of the stack, which doesn’t dry as quickly—not just the sides of the stacks on the outside, which dry faster because of more air-flow. Then you can get a more complete, accurate understanding of your lumber’s moisture levels.

But how much of a difference does using an industrial meter really make?

Why does your sawmill need an industrial moisture meter?

As mentioned before, many large sawmills mainly rely on in-line moisture systems to monitor their wood’s moisture. And for many large sawmills, excellent in-line moisture systems, like the Omega In-Line Moisture System, are all you really need to obtain proper information about your wood’s moisture condition.

But this doesn’t mean lumber moisture meters don’t have an important role.

Handheld industrial meters are used to calibrate in-line meters.

And beyond that, lumber moisture meters can help you check your wood’s moisture to help you avoid under-(or over)-drying it.

This is incredibly valuable as sawmills waste a lot of time, money, and resources if they produce overly dry or overly wet wood.

In the case of overdried wood, sawmills waste time and kiln-space drying wood that’s already good to go. They also miss out on potential profits since over-dried wood usually has to be sold at a lower price because of degrade.

Overdrying is common when sawmills over-correct in making sure lumber is dry enough. And this also leads to wood damage, such as splitting and cracking. It’s understood that several percent of the overall value of the wood can be wasted.

That’s more than costly enough to make a good handheld moisture meter worth your time.

Money is also lost when sawmills sell wood that contains too much moisture. Wood with excess moisture could lead to mold growth if it’s above 19 percent MC. If this damage appears at the sawmill or after the wood has been shipped to the customer, the wood will have significantly less value or you’ll get wet claims asking for the wood to be returned. And as you can imagine, that isn’t good for that sawmill’s reputation.

This is why it’s so important to make sure your lumber is at an acceptable moisture content (below a moisture content of 19%).

And the best way to do that is by checking the lumber’s moisture levels with an industrial handheld or in-line moisture meter.

What makes our industrial moisture meter line your best choice

Our industrial handheld meters have several features that make them an excellent choice for your sawmill.

They:

• Are pinless: Driving in moisture meter pins can be difficult and time-consuming (especially if you’re working with hardwood). But our pinless industrial meters are easier to use and don’t require you to puncture the wood. This will help you save time and money, all while helping you get accurate moisture results with more efficiency.
• Are accurate: Our meters are more accurate, according to university studies.
• Can take deep measurements: Deeper moisture measurements equal more accurate results for thicker boards.
• Can be attached to a stack probe: One of the best things about our handheld industrial moisture meters is that they can be attached to a stack probe. This attachment allows you to measure in-between stickered stacks of wood and get moisture readings from the stack’s center, which dries more slowly. This gives a more complete picture of how much more drying is needed.
• Have species settings: With adjustable species settings, you won’t have to worry about different species of wood throwing off your moisture readings.
• Are durable: Our moisture meters are built to be resistant to accidents that might occur in the sawmill, such as being dropped, having something fall on it, or being damaged by the heat of a kiln (as long as it is not left in the kiln for a significant amount of time). This durability means our meters last a long time, making them well worth the investment.
• Easy-to-use: Simple controls, an LCD display, and a short-and-sweet instruction manual make moisture monitoring easy for sawmill workers.
• Have readings storage: With all the lumber larger sawmills keep track of, it makes sense that our industrial moisture meters would have a way to store all the moisture readings you take. Having this data on hand can be valuable for your own reference if you’re looking to analyze the data for moisture trends. It could also build trust with your customers as you’ll have concrete data to show them if they have any questions about your wood’s moisture levels.

All in all, our meters are designed to make your job easier and help bring peace of mind when you know the lumber you ship out is definitely at the proper moisture content.

How to get yours

The L5300 can be paired with the L722 to reach deep inside wood stacks for more accurate readings.

At Wagner Meters, you’ll find three high-quality industrial moisture meters—the L601-3, L620, and L622.

The L601-3 is an analog meter that measures deep. Its large scan plate makes it easy to measure big sections of lumber at a time. It’s also very durable, so you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged in your sawmill.

Meanwhile, the L5200 is a digital meter that measures deep, comes with an LCD display, and can record 500 moisture readings.

With high levels of accuracy and durability, alongside the capabilities to account for different species and store moisture readings, these meters are great options for sawmills.

However, there’s also a meter that’s even more advanced than these—the L5300.

This digital moisture meter:

• Measures deeply, measuring boards as thick as one to four inches.
• Can connect with the L722 Lumber Stack Probe, allowing you to reach deep within stickered stacks to identify hidden moisture that could lead to drying defects or grading issues.
• Is designed for sawmills, kilns, and wood product manufacturers looking to reduce waste, improve yield, and ensure consistent moisture levels across every stage of processing.
• Is durable and dependable; this moisture meter is engineered to perform in demanding lumber facilities and high-throughput production lines.
• Comes with a built-in histogram. Visualize moisture variation at a glance, spot inconsistencies, and act fast to prevent defects or waste.
• Comes preloaded with 46 wood species and supports up to 55, giving you tailored accuracy for your specific materials.
• Has no external probes, accessories, or software required – perfect for mobile use and quick inspections in the field.
• Can store up to 1,000 readings across 100 groups.
• Comes factory-calibrated for convenient field verification – no need to send the meter away. For operations requiring traceable calibration, purchase the NIST-traceable On-Demand Calibrator to support ISO compliance and internal quality control protocols.

Still have questions about which moisture meter is suitable for your large sawmill? Wagner Meter’s customer service team is happy to assist you.

Just give us a call at 800-634-9961.

Want to examine our meters for yourself? Find our selection of industrial moisture meters on our store.

Wagner Meters

Wagner Meters is a family-owned American business that aims to provide solutions in moisture measurement technology that will enhance the quality and value of each customer’s project. With an almost 60-year legacy of innovation, Wagner continues to be a resource for both individual craftsmen and high-performance commercial endeavors.