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Note: However, if you would like to work up your own
calibrations for materials you use repetitively, you can contact
Wagner for guidelines and suggestions.
Q: What about the orientation of the meter on the wood?
A:
Your Wagner moisture meter uses advanced
electromagnetic wave technology and is completely unaffected
by orientation (cross-grain or with the grain) on the wood.
Q: Are the readings that I take with my Wagner Hand
meter affected by the temperature of the wood like those
taken with a pin-type meter? What about frozen wood?
A:
Unlike pin-type meters which require corrections for
temperatures above or below 70 degrees F, the readings on
the Wagner Hand-Held Moisture Meter are essentially
unaffected by the temperature of the wood. Moisture content
can accurately be measured as soon as the hot wood is taken
out of the kiln. When the same wood is measured hours later,
again with the Wagner Hand-Held Meter, the readings stay
consistently the same, unless the wood continues to dry during
the cooling process.
For frozen wood, as long as the moisture content of the wood
you are measuring is below 15%, you can get reliable
readings. When moisture content readings in frozen wood
exceed 15%, you will need to make corrections.
Q: How rugged are the Wagner Hand-Held Moisture
Meters? Are they too delicate to be used on an abusive
production line?
A:
The Wagner L610 Moisture Meter is a tough production-
line model. It can be damaged by being dropped or slammed
down hard on wood surfaces, as can any meter. If a large
volume of wood is to be measured, an in-line system should
be used.
Q: How accurate is the Wagner Hand-Held Meter?
A:
The Wagner Moisture Meter is as accurate, or more
accurate than any moisture detector that is on the market. This
can be verified by several university studies.
Q: Is the Wagner technology safe to use?
A:
Wagner’s Hand-Held Meters have been tested and
certified to comply with FCC and CE regulations. Wagner’s
electromagnetic wave technology produces less
electromagnetic radiation than standard house wiring.
Q: What is proper moisture content in wood? What
moisture content is considered too high or too low?
A:
There is no right answer for this question. As a rule,
differences in woods and their uses determine the moisture
content desired. For instance, if the wood is to be used in
construction as a stud for building, the moisture content
requirement could be under 15% to 19%. If the wood is to be
glued, and it is too dry it will not bond. If it is too wet, it will not
hold. Ideally the moisture content of wood to be used in
furniture is between 6 and 8%.
To determine the proper moisture content for your application,
contact your local university’s forestry department or one of the
associations supporting your industry’s professionals. You may also
call the Forest Products Research Laboratory in Madison, WI: 608-
231-9200.
