Which Moisture Meter Is Best for Your Small to Medium-sized Mill?

Moisture is enemy number one for wood. Using the right moisture measurement system for your mill enables you to monitor, maintain and respond correctly to processes that can negatively affect your products.

Any mill that cares about customer satisfaction knows that measuring wood moisture content (MC) is an irreplaceable part of operations and quality control. And for small- to medium-sized sawmills, there are a few different types of moisture measurement options available.

But what are the differences between these systems? And how do you know which one (or more) is best for you?

Let’s cover:

Before we explain each type of system available, let’s review why this is so important to discuss.

Why do mills need a moisture measurement system?

Mills need a moisture measurement system to help reduce cost and save time and energy consumption while monitoring the MC of lumber.

Overdrying wood can lead to splits and other drying defects in the product, while underdrying wood can lead to warping, cracking, or even mold growth, all of which cost significant money and time to address.

Even using a moisture measurement system in a solar kiln is beneficial. Solar kilns have gained popularity because of their reduced risk of defects over air drying lumber (among other benefits). The air in solar kilns is regulated, so the boards are dried more evenly.

But measuring MC in the lumber toward the end of the drying process is still a necessary step.

Moisture measurement systems that provide MC readings at various points of the drying process help save time and money by identifying issues that can be corrected immediately.

The systems can also record and store data, making record keeping more efficient.

In short, moisture measurement systems help you improve and preserve the quality of the product, and save time and money, thus enhancing the reputation of your mill.

With so many moisture meters on the market, it can be difficult to choose which ones will work best for your mill. So let’s go through the options.

Types of moisture meter systems for mills

Here’s an overview of the different types of moisture measurement systems that are available for sawmills.

In-line moisture measurement system

The omega Inline system measures every board on your line and can identify problems with your kilns, your yard, or your vendors, giving you confidence in your processes.

An in-line moisture measurement system monitors and records the MC of every board of wood in the production line.

These can focus on the overall MC of a board and can be installed pre-planer or post-planer so you can identify any problems before the product goes out for sale.

Sideways or transverse in-line systems use sensors to detect MC in wood.1 These sensors are placed between the chain runs, typically somewhere between the hilt hoist or take down and the planer/molder.

Wood that’s too dry can cause cupping or buckling as the wood expands, so in the post-planer position, an in-line moisture system becomes a vital part of the quality control process because it detects moisture on the wood as it exits the planer after being smoothed.

In-line systems work best with sawmills that use chain decks. The investment on the front end might be high, but the cost, time, and energy savings is well worth it for high volume mills.

Known for its versatility and accuracy, the Omega in-line moisture measurement system by Wagner Meters is an excellent moisture data collection and analysis tool. It’s specially designed for the lumber mill or wood products manufacturing environment.

Unlike in-kiln systems, in-line moisture measurement systems provide detailed information about the MC of wood that can be used to make informed business decisions in your mill. This data can also be used to refine the kiln drying process, including the variability of MC for each lumber load and a percentage of lumber that’s too wet or too dry.2

Industrial hand-held moisture meters

The L5300 handheld moisture meter is the most advanced industrial-grade meter in the Wagner line.

One of the easier and most direct ways to measure moisture in wood is to use an industrial handheld moisture meter.

Wagner’s industrial hand-held moisture meters use electromagnetic wave sensors to measure the MC deep within the wood.

Pin-type meters use two small pins inserted into the wood to measure electrical resistance between the pins, which is used to calculate MC. Unless you’re using a hammer probe with well-insulated pins (some of the ones we’ve tested don’t actually insulate), you’re only reading the moisture in a small area right near the surface with those short pins.

And if you’re measuring stickered slabs in your kiln, you typically can only reach the sapwood on the outside of the stack and not the heartwood of the slab, making sure that even drying is in process.

Pinless meters from Wagner, however, don’t puncture or damage the wood. They can scan large stacks of wood and use software to record and store this data, so they are ideal for many sizes of mills. They can also withstand temperatures of up to 120°F.

The digital recording L5300 by Wagner Meters is a good example of an industrial moisture meter. It’s built to last in harsh conditions and address sawmill and wood production moisture challenges.

Pairing it with a stack probe provides reliable readings deep within stickered stacks of lumber. An industrial hand-held moisture meter coupled with a stack probe will give your mill the durability, accuracy, data and speed you need during the wood drying process, so we’ll look at stack probes next.

Lumber stack probes

Stack probe attachments are primarily used to determine accurate moisture levels within a large stack of lumber. The outer edges of a stack of lumber dry more quickly than the middle. Using a stack probe to check moisture within a stack just makes sense, because readings on the top boards or the outer edges of a stack can be unreliable when you want to determine how much excess moisture remains in the stack as a whole.

Wagner Meters’ L722 stack probe reaches inside the stack where moisture lurks, but the meter itself won’t fit. Compatible with the L622 and L5300 digital hand-held moisture meters, the L722 stack probe comes in 26” and 40” lengths, giving you flexibility and options. It’s suitable for harsh environments, so it’ll hold up well in your medium or small mill.

Top moisture measurement meters for small-sized mills

The Orion pinless series at Wagner Meters has the moisture meter that suits your small mill.

For a small-sized mill, a handheld moisture meter should meet your requirements. Wagner Meters has a line of pinless moisture meters with intuitive functionality that collect data manually or automatically with viewable moisture stats.

  • The Orion 940 pinless meter uses a non-damaging pinless sensor. It reads moisture content from 5-32% and has a 0.20 – 1.0 specific gravity range. It takes readings at ¼” depth for thinner wood samples and ¾” depth for thicker wood samples, and offers on-site calibration—no need to send this moisture meter to the manufacturer to be calibrated. And just in case something goes awry (which we don’t anticipate), it has a seven-year extended warranty.
  • The Orion 950 pinless meter comes with everything that the 940 has, but with added Bluetooth capability, so it can connect to the free apps Woodshop MC and FloorSmart on your Android or Apple device. The built-in sensor also takes relative humidity and ambient temperature measurements and provides dew point calculations, as well as equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and grains per pound/kilograms (GPPK) calculations.
  • Industrial hand-held moisture meters work well for small-sized mills because they’re built to withstand the fast-paced, rugged, and varying conditions in and around your kiln and processing lines. The L5300 hand meter and L722 Stack Probe allows you to measure moisture content deep within your stack and deep within the lumber. And with the built in histogram display on the L5300, you can see how your kiln is operating in many areas and what level of moisture content your product is at before you break down your stickered stacks.

You can be confident in the accuracy of the MC readings of the lumber in your small-sized mill with any or a combination of the above moisture meters.

Top moisture meters for medium-sized mills

A medium-sized lumber mill may need a bit more versatility than a smaller mill. Here are some moisture meter top choices for a medium-sized mill that offer some added functionality.

  • The L5300 industrial hand-held moisture meter takes readings of up to 1” depth for thicker wood samples. It features a computer port for direct data transfer, enabling seamless integration with the new WoodStat Pro software. When you attach the optional L722 Lumber Stack Probe accessory to the L5300, you can measure deep within stickered lumber stacks, uncovering hidden moisture and reducing lumber waste. The one-year warranty is just an added bonus.
  • The Omega in-line moisture measurement system provides moisture measurement, detection, and data analysis for primary and secondary wood product manufacturers for the operations that have a location where it can be installed. It comes in sideways (transverse) and end-to-end (lengthwise) configurations, and offers optional data collection and analysis software. Its time-saving automation reduces labor time, and its enhanced quality control ensures that every piece of wood meets the appropriate moisture levels.

Editor’s picks

Small-sized mills would benefit from Wagner Meters’ Orion line of non-damaging pinless moisture meters. They are exceptionally accurate, hold up in high temperatures, have on-site calibration, and offer an industry-leading seven-year warranty.

The L5300 digital recording industrial meter is a great option for a medium-sized mill. The added lumber stack probe delivers highly accurate moisture readings deep within stickered lumber stacks.

An in-line system allows for 100% MC monitoring of each board in the drying process and can continuously operate at any speed for the highest quality of data.

There are a number of moisture meters on the market, but Wagner’s meters are an excellent choice because of their accuracy, durability, user-friendly design, intuitive features, and friendly technical support. With one of these meters or a combination of these systems in your arsenal, you can be confident in your efficient lumber drying process and bolster your quality control efforts. Shop Wagner’s moisture meters inventory today!

 

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