moisture meter

[Drycreek]

Some cost $20.00.................some cost $1,000.00
Which one will work without tearing my hip pocket off?
I am pretty sure I need one with a dual pin set up to actually go INTO the wood?
I have been hot rodding and cutting, build a little here, build alittle there.
I have reached the point where I need to get a "FUNCTIONAL" moisture meter. I am using different types of wood with thickness up to slightly over
2"
I am not looking for an opinion but rather someone that has some real world experience?
I have purchased other equipment, then had to double back and repurchase the same tool only different. I can not afford to do this again.
All input appreciated, a bad purchase is REALLY financially inconvenient if you know what I mean?
THX
Drycreek

 

[PoorMan]

Re: moisture meter

I got the ceapie model from woodcrafters...it seems to do absolutely nothing. Either that or all my wood has a 0% moisture content. :flush:

 

[Bludave]

Re: moisture meter

I have a Hygrometer in each of my guitar cases(my acoustics) & I keep two in my rehearsal room at home where I practice. I have a variety of hygrometers in use. Most of them I bought at Radio Shack & paid about $20.00 for. I think they are accurate enough to do the job, but if you are concerned about keeping your shop properly hydrated you may want to consider a larger unit. I have a Mechanical Hygrometer and about 3 feet away I have one of the radio shack meters. The difference is about 3 or 4 % points on the dial. My small RS unit measures 47% my mechanical unit measures 44%. Both are within range of what would be considered acceptable. In my cases the range can vary a little more, but that also has a lot to do with the size of the guitar and the structure of the case. I actually keep a travel soap dish with a sponge in it under the headstock as well as use a variety of "Dampits". I use the Planet wave device that hangs in between the strings as well as the Oasis system that is a tube that you fill with water and hang it in between the strings. Mostly I prefer the dampits. They are easy to use, you just have to be careful in making sure they are not dripping when installed in the guitar.

In my rehearsal space I have two machines. One has two large bottles that need to be filled nearly every day(about 2 gallons), then I have a smaller Holmes room Humidifier that holds about a gallon and that needs to be filled nearly twice a day. This is all in the height of the dry season(Winter). In about 3 weeks I won't need them any longer because the air temperature is rising and the humidity will come up with the air temperature.

Humidity is ever changing and when it is low it can be disastrous to wood, especially after the wood has become a guitar. If you are building solid body guitars I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you are doing your best to keep it at between 45 to 50% you should be OK. In the summer months it is really hard to keep the humidity below 65% here. The summer months our humidity can easily reach 90% outside.

I don't think monitoring the actual moisture content of the wood is necessary. I don' know of anyone players or builders that are doing this. Just keep the air at between 45 to 50% and you should be fine. Your guitars will need less adjustments because of it and a tell tale sign that you are running too dry is you can feel the fret edges beginning to stick out of the edge of the neck.