Moisture Testing Firewood with Moisture Meters -
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Moisture meters to the rescue!
Find out how the only real way to know the moisture content of your wood. Armed with this new knowledge about your firewood you will know if it is ready to burn or NOT.
Excellent topic for a video because of the importance of you are truly selling properly seasoned Firewood to you customers. Keep up the awesome work.
Thanks, will do!
Said Chris “ I’m excited are you excited “ haha great episode Chris you really know your wood amazing that you knew each piece, when it was cut , how long it had seasoned. Nice to see people who are so passionate about their “trade” thanks
Glad you enjoyed it Mike!
Nice video on the moister meters.
Did Tony's arm fall off at 20:49 ?? Lol
Looks funny.
Take care Chris 👍🇺🇸
Yes, I amputated it with the zombie axe!
Man Brother you are Great with that Fiskars! Appreciate the video! Very informative, thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Love the on-going series. Y’all could make a Hollywood buddy film! -Brad
Ya, we have a good time together!
I love the limb wood you and Tony two peas in a pod fun to watch and listen to dirty minds thinck alike
Yes, we do think alike, it's kinda scary! Thanks for watching Jeff!
Another great video Chris! Just when I thought I knew everything about firewood there was to know… Thanks for sharing these videos they are so fun to watch especially for a firewood geek like me
Thanks Scott, glad to see you like them!
Nice demo on the meter! Great video with Tony! Great sense of humor! I cut all my trees down, so i take as much of it i can. Some people have frowned on limb wood and crotch pieces, but after showing them information and videos now i sell those piece to them! Most now will asked for 1/3 of the rank to be included if i have it.
Thanks Craig, yes it all burns!
I am a few days behind on this one but good review and information.. Another video I will be saving to send to customers when they are not sure..
Awesome thank you Daniel!
G’mornin Chris. Good show today ! Wealth of knowledge from yous two. I have the MD meter, does me just fine. I always keep the knots and crotches for my self. GoodNightIrene
Yes, the crotches burn hot!
Highly informative vlog today. This experiment suggests that with wood, much like people, its not the exterior appearance, it’s what on the inside that counts. Goodnight irene
Exactly correct Brian!
Great video
Thanks!
I have used a cast iron wood stove my entire life. I am almost 60. I have never used a meter. Ever. If you season and keep it covered at least 6 months to a year it will be perfect. You are making something simple complicated. It really doesn't matter. I clean my stove at the beginning of the season and at least once during the winter. I don't use pine ever because even though people say you can it causes creosote. That is what they make tar with. I stick to hardwood only. I have never had a problem . We heat wth as our primary heat source.
We sell wood, 600 cords a year, and we do not want our customers to get wood that is not dry. A moisture meter is not for you because you only producer a little wood for your own use. I sell to hundreds of people who want great wood and I make sure they get it.
Good video with the firewood tool/toy crazed Tony.
Thanks Steve!
Great info guys. Love me some Cherry and “Grinch Wood” too.
Yes the cherry and locust is good stuff!
Yes the old indian trick - lip touching to sense moisture. Sounds like you got a kung fu style. Wood whisperer Chris!
It works!
Thanks again for another informative and entertaining video.
You are welcome Steven, thanks for watching again!
Do you notice a difference in readings if you go across the grain as opposed to with the grain?
Dave, that is a good question, I need to test that!!!!
Have you ever tested the difference between the log delivery and tree service drop offs
No, it depends on if it is dead wood or live cut and still needs to be cut split and dried until it is ready to burn.
You mentioned an app to identify trees by bark on a video with Ken or Tony. Could you point me in the right direction
Thanks
Great content and I’m excited!!
Glad to hear it! Thanks!
Not sure when you recorded this video but when the dew point is hovering in the high 60s around 70 like it is now the outside of the wood will never read below 12:13% and the inside will be soon to folllw if it stays humid for a long time... Any below 10% readings will be winter time only
Yes the high humidity does affect the wood, but once it is in the teens, I don't retest it much, because it is ready to burn.
@@InTheWoodyardI heat my house with wood that I get myself and I'll burn big hunks of oak that piss it doesn't matter it all Burns I never have creosote problems
@@kennethrobinson5151 In a fire that has well established coal bed, throwing on a wet chunk of firewood, will cause it to piss moisture. However after about 90 minutes it will be dry and burn just as well as any perfectly dry piece.
@@bwillan I agree I would not put in Green oak but even 2-year-old oak still hisses when it burns as long as you have enough flame for the secondary burn it will not put creosote in your chimney
Probably the best wood moisture video I’ve seen yet! Thanks for putting this out! Kevin
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent video, thank you. The variation between the meters may be due to the pins being in line with the grain or not.
You are correct!
Good morning from Grand Forks
Hello Dean!
Excellent video guys. I moisture test and burn wood less than 10%.
Wow that is some dry stuff!
were can we buy a good firewood Mositure meter
Amazon
Very good video, thanks. I keep an axe and moisture meter in the car. When I deliver I split 3-4 pieces and show my customers the reading. That reassures them they are getting good wood. As for limb wood vs straight, I assume its the same basic rule: all the different woods put out similar BTUs per weight. Limb wood puts out more because it is denser and will therefore be heavier--for the reasons you gave. Cheers.
Tom, for new customers that is a good idea, I used to have a axe and a meter along all the time too, but once I sold to so many people , they know my wood is good to go!
So overall when do u find the wettest green wood late spring summer I'm thinking when tree is growing
Yes! When the tree is growing it is the most wet, when the leaves are on!
The Ash logs in my woodyard are at 18-21% in the center a day after bucking the logs. The barkless grayed oak logs are at 35%. All in the center. Using a General brand moisture meter.
Yes and that oak will dry slower than almost all other wood.
Homestead great channel by the way. Ive gotten surprised by ash though. The completely dead ash bore kill trees go bad pretty quick standing. They turn into sponges and start to hold a big more moisture. In my area of ny there turning into very dangerous trees because of this. Up one day part of if down the next. Have a great day.
@@stannelson2582, landowners are getting educated on that issue by good loggers. Better to get firewood price for logs than let the trees rot.
@@thefirewooddoctor they cost money to take down so they rot. Every community in w ny is littered with dead ash. In residential areas it’s 400 bucks to take one down. Some suburbs every house has a dead tree.
@@stannelson2582, I'm talking about trees in the woods, not the urban forest.
You guys sure make a video, keep it up.
Seems like sometime soon you could get some one to start doing the camera for you.
And as far as Tony's fun off color comments....you started it Chris
Ya, sometimes we have a hard time talking because we are overdoing the banter!!
Great video, I really enjoyed that.👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love limb wood, like you said, it’s not low hanging fruit.
Yup, it all burns!
Meters are proven wrong always.
Best way to judge is by experience
HA! You must have gotten some really bad information. Good working meters are the ONLY way to really know the moisture content of wood, EVERYTHING else is a guess. Unless you go only by time and conditions of the drying.
Ten maybe watch the other 40 or so videos on how moisture meters measure off.
Shagbark hickory is the worst drying wood I've ever seen. Small limb wood that doesn't need splitting still hisses water after 2yrs.
Yes, opening up even the small wood will speed up the drying process.
Great show, what is a good meter to buy?
They all work good I think the key is to use them a lot, I find the more I use them the better my knowledge is of my wood and the dryness according to it's age and type of wood.
@@InTheWoodyard
Thank you
Today on In the Woodyard, Make out with your wood!!!
Try it, it does work!
So Chris I got a question, maybe this is a stupid question, but I got my moisture reader, it has soft wood and hardwood mode setting, my question is how come when I put it on hardwood mode shows less moisture than what soft wood mode reads? Lol! Moisture of either soft wood or hardwood should show same on meter right? Lol!
I have 5 meters all different. Some have 2 settings some have 3 settings. I use one setting all the time and checked the meters against each other, they all read very close, so I do not know what to tell you.
With a moisture meter of my own, can now tell the customers how ready to burn the wood is. Plus can verify it if they want me to check it before they by, especially if they've been burned before by someone that says their wood is "seasoned" when it is actually really wet.
Yes to that!
I really appreciate both channels thanks for great information on tools
Thanks for watching!
I use an inexpensive meter, just starting to sell wood. May have to get z better never. Suggestions?? Have a Safe Day
I think they all work pretty good and the key is to use it a lot, it will educate you to the kind and age of wood you have as it drys.
@@InTheWoodyard Thanks Chris
Good morning Chris & Tony. Question do you have Osage orange trees. I'd like to find some around here to do some wood turning. Have a great day
No, we do not have them around here, I wish we did , it is awesome wood!
If ever your meter reads 97 flip it over its Lb for low battery. Been there.
Thanks Mike, good to know!
Good video! Thanks for the info! Do you have a link you can share for a meter you have and recommend? Thanks again! Following now!
Thanks, sorry, I do not have one...maybe just google it.
Yeah there’s plenty to pick from…If you think to see what brand and model yours is, let me know…Thanks
Great subject fellas. The wood I sell is cut mostly cut in the winter split in the spring and burned the next fall/winter.All my firewood is hard maple and I have no complaints about moisture or creosote using the method I just described. Thanks guys GNI
Sounds like you have a great system!
What brand model was the 4 pin meter? Awesome and a great video. Just getting started in the firewood business. Splitter to arrive January with conveyor shortly thereafter. Need the immediately as will be purchasing firewood now and everyone says seasoned.....
Not sure, It is Tonys, most meters that are $40-60 are good !
Moisture meters are only good and practical for lumber. Firewood experts like you and I can look at firewood and know if it’s dry and ready to burn.
Quick question, did you get the larger push plate for your Eastonmade Ultra wood splitter?
I will disagree with you on that Joe, moisture meters work and are the best way to know the true moisture content of wood. Looking at wood and guessing is not knowing it is guessing, I have been wrong quite a few times thinking wood is dry and it was not.
No, I did not get the bigger push plate yet for the Ultra.
Believe me Joe you are no firewood expect just by watching some of your "Premium Firewood" videos. You must use a mositure texted to ensure you are selling properly seasoned firewood as the customer expects.
Good morning Chris, you have said it many times before , “ turn it up to a 11” ( Spinal Tap?) that’s where you were this morning , fun to watch, and Tony was rendered speechless pretty much. Oh and the sophomoric humor today was off the charts, you probably went overtime with your editing, Good stuff
I wish we could show it all, but it would offend many people I am afraid, but you gotta have some fun!
I've never been one to turn away from the limb wood. In some cases I prefer it over base/trunk wood. Maybe it's because it's less physically demanding on the body than larger fatter rounds. At 53 I try to work smarter not harder.
Yes and it all burns!
I just ordered one off Amazon hope it works good lol
It should!
Good info .thankz
Glad it was helpful!
I cut and split a white or red gum in late spring, stacked and burnt this winter (Southern hemisphere), it split horribly but burnt so well. I don't have a moisture meter, so baked it in our masonry heater bake oven overnight and when I did the numbers it was 8.5%... you should bake a piece where the meters disagree to see which is right ;)
Yes there are some more tests we could do for the dry/wet wood!
what moisture meter do you recommend ?
The one with a good battery, they all work just fine. I have 5 $20-50 and they all work the same.
you guys rock tony from Australia
Thanks for watching Tony!
what setting would be best for unknown wood types /
I have several kinds of moisture testers and they all are pretty similar, even the ones with no wood type adjustments.
Very good job on the axe and dead on 😊
Thank You’ll
Thanks!
Great presentation from both of you! Very informative as well as entertaining!! Any chance you and Tony can do something on consumer ‘log storage.’ For example, best way to build a log store; side venting; venting off the ground. Rotation drying etc?
Great suggestion Len, Tony is going to build a wood shed and we plan on recording the process!
@@InTheWoodyard and behind the new woodshed will be a great place to take the both of you for a thrashing for all that juvenile humor. 😂😂😂. Ok, maybe I belong behind there too cause I really think it’s funny as well.
Some channels like yours I watch for educational and entertainment purposes... Other "premium firewood" channels I watch for the train wreck they are :) Tony needs to start up a channel too!
Thanks for watching Mark!
I tell ya, that Tony has a gadget for every occasion!! LOL
He has fun toys for sure!
What was the highest moisture number have you ever had
If I remember correctly 46-48 but if I would check fresh cut wood in the spring it would probably be higher. Maple, cottonwood, aspen and boxelder would be very high.
Hi Chris. I want to buy a moisture reader, so what kind in your opinion is easiest to use and is most accurate reading? Thanks.
I now have 5 different kinds, they all work fine!
@@InTheWoodyard I bought one from Amazon. It says best seller and has good ratings. Mt19 I believe it's called.
Wow! I just asked this question a few days ago in another forum. Thanks Chris. Great video. What brands did you guys use in the video?
I am not sure, off hand I would have to look, but they all work well!
Thanks god bless you guys are funny a few laughs thanks
Thanks John!
Oh the jokes! You had a time keeping Tony’s comments clean!🤣🤣 I have an elcheapo meter and it does fine. Or maybe I just don’t know any better because it’s all I have. TIME TO DRY is the best meter👍🏻 GNI
Yes, if you KNOW when the wood was cut you should know if it is good to burn or not but the meter does help confirm. We have too much fun, you should hear the edited stuff!!
Morning Chris. Your videos with Tony are like Comedy Central. Very enjoyable.👍
Glad you like them! We have fun doing them!
Looking at meters what would you suggest at the best one?
Ok should have read the other comments but awesome channel trying to watch it all keep them coming!!
I like my SBI a lot.
thanks for watching!!
A huge factor is the temperature. A frozen piece of wood tests much lower. Don’t even bother testing a frozen piece of wood. Useless reading
limb wood has a higher ratio sap wood than center wood. The question then is if sap wood has more BTUs than center wood. My gut feeling is no, but not sure
In the winter, I have tested wood that is in the sun and thawed out and got good results, plus by then the wood I have to sell has been tested in the fall and the wood is a year or older so testing is not as important to me.
I believe a good indicator of high or higher BTUs in a specific species is the tightness of the growth rings, the tighter the better.
Ah yes, the pukey aroma of oak. Love the smell of wood!
Yes, red oak does smell like a elementary haul way after the nasty lunch.
One BTU refers to the amount of energy that's required to increase the temperature of a pound of water by 1° F., thus the more dense (mass per unit volume) the wood is the more BTUs it will output. That is why limb wood and crotches output more BTUs. As to Chris' point, about 1 big piece of wood vs 4 smaller pieces, as long as both weight the same, they will output the same amount of BTUs.
Wow, look at the big brain on you! You are correct on all points, thanks for the input, I hope others read your comment, very good information!
Yes, I have to agree, but……the logs burn quicker! So why not have larger logs, producing the same BTU’s as smaller logs, that last twice as long??
@@lendevonuk5479 It comes down to psychology. People think 1 bigger piece wood burns longer than the same weight of 4 or 5 smaller pieces. As pointed out in the video the drying time for larger splits of wood is much longer than smaller splits.
@@bwillan Yes, quite obviously, as Chris point out, the smaller the splits the quicker it dries, due to greater ‘air flow.’ However, for those of us that ‘buy forward’ and store this years splits for next years burning, this is hardly a consideration. More of a concern to me is the extra handling, and extra cost of the more rapidly burning smaller splits!
So what is a good percent for most species?
below 20%
I like the comparison with the different woods.
Thanks Harold!
I love how you two boys with your toys struggle to keep these videos PG, I'm sure Irene appreciates it!!
Yes we do struggle a lot!
So .... Say you are sitting around the backyard with your buddies, drinking a few beers and roasting hot dogs over a camp fire. Does it really matter if you are using "aged hardwood"? Yes, freshly cut pine may smoke more and be a little harder to light, but it all burns. When I was growing up in the western mountains all we had was pine. Not once did we say, "Sorry, we can't have a fire tonight because the aged hardwood from the east hasn't been delivered."
Nope, you are right , everything burns! If you are heating your home with wood however, the dry wood puts out more heat because it does not have to burn off the moisture first. And you can and will get creosol build up than can result in a chimney fire that can burn the house down....so dry wood is better.
I agree with everything you guys said. On the smaller splits, I always say that if you can pack your stove relatively tight then you reduce the air gaps and it’s still “all nighters”. In my exp. people use those chunks as their overnight but they don’t let it season fully so yes it’s burning slow, but a good portion of the burn is burning off the moisture. Cool vid. Thanks Chris and Tony.
You are exactly correct James!
Hi what meter do you recommend thanks
I have 4 kinds and they all work fine. My favorite is the SBI, it was about $50
Chris/Tony -
Any knowledge bout the TopTes 630 Meter ?
Thnx…
Chris-we have a 40 in Marinette county which has heated our cabin there( when we are there)-and 100% of our heat at our primary residence in Darboy. The high end 82% efficient wood stove paid for itself in 4 years. I am 71 and still cutting with no help-butsokthat’s Ikeepsmy Brandy belly flat-my biggest high for all the work is that WE energies are not making much on me-I love sticking it to the MAN-1200 videos and you never talk about that-never a gas bill in winter overs $40 ( water heater)
Yup, good idea for a video my good man! Thanks.... Keep cuttin'!
So which one do you recommend?
wow chris you kiss your firewood
Yup, it is a good way to test moisture!
So Chris what do you do when you have beetles or ants or other animals inside the wood
Good question, I evict them! When the wood is split and stacked to dry the bugs leave, they need moisture to live in wood.
Pops straight on with that axe. Very informative video thank you. Will be buying a meter even though I only use cooking wood
Thanks for watching!
The only real way of knowing how much moisture is in wood is by weighing an oven dried piece and comparing the dried weight with the original weight. There should be a chart with the meter giving conversion charts for the various resistance of different tree woods.
You are correct Sherman, different species hold water differently!
did you ever burn rubber wood
nope!
Does Tony have a channel?
No, this is it for now!
What brand and model was the 4 pin meter? Great video and timing just getting ready to burn firewood this season. Stove showed up 7 months early now I'm scrambling for seasoned firewood.
Not sure, mine is an SBi, and I like it a lot!
You can believe me or not…. Whenever you two guys get together you can be full of s&@$t!!! lol 😂 but on the other hand you are correct about the information you are speaking of the subject and the tools too! I love it when two get together and discuss both sides of options and opinions about the do’s and don’ts stuff! Keep up the great work guys!
Thanks so much Kevin, we do have a good time !!!
Great video! Very cool! THANK YOU!
Thanks for watching!
You guys are Ace !
Thanks for watching!
Hi Chris, Can you identify firewood without the bark? 😳 Thank you! Pohan
Yes I can, most of the time, but it does get a lot harder once it drys and turns grey too!! Smelling and sometimes splitting it gives clues.
Must be some special wisconsin fast drying oak that gets to 13 after a year… but the maple seems right, that thin smooth bark holds water like Saran Wrap!!!
Am guessing standing dead oak can dry that much in a year. Maple usually dries fast. Wood like in Chris's wood yard is in the wide open space and gets full sun most of the day so is possible for him to dry it down that much if is standing dead.
It is oak that was standing dead when it was cut so a lot of it 20% or so is totally dry when I cut it and I split it smaller and stack it in the open so the sun and wind can work on it! But green cut is another story!
YES!!!!
Limbwood. Absolutely. Its heavier wood pound per pound.
It all burns!
got a moisture meter and it is the same as you found....the ash and burr oak etc are the go to woods here. I cut a big willow that broke away from the group that is near that big oak I sent you a picture of...the willow is really moist. the branches that fall from the oak very dry and I use in the fur shed....same with old pallets that were made of oak before the cotton wood took over. Great burning wood.
That willow will dry fast once it is split and cut but it will also burn fast too!
the main trunk has bigger sipes to move water to the top part of the tree which has the limbs and then out to the leaves. same principal as our circulatory system the arteries are larger and carry more to the veins and then to the capillaries. Therefor yes, the limbs would have tighter grain because of smaller sipes to carry water to the smaller branches and then to the leaves.
Thanks for the great info, that make a lot of sense to me!
These are neat ... i got about 3 cords here I'd like to test. Thanks for the review
You bet, thanks for watching!
got no pink tape on it hehe
It could use some!
It is limb wood i burn it all the time all i burn in my stove i only sell limb wood for the old timer's they are the only ones that seem to know this
Yes, everything burns!
I wonder....what is the average humidity of where you live. I would bet down here in the deep south US where the humidity rarely gets below 50% that the same wood may not dry quite as efficiently. We have many summer days which you might think were good for drying, that has 65-75% humidity.
Yes, our only real humid days are usually in August and most of the time our air is not to bad, but we do get -30 and 3 foot of snow in the winter so there is that!
@@InTheWoodyard So that's why I never have encountered frozen firewood down here! HA HA
Good morning Chris!!😀😀
Great video!!
I have nothing to add to how you explained how wood drys.
Take care my friend!!😀😀
Logger Al
Good morning Al, nothing to add!!??!!!! Are you feeling alright this morning? You always have more knowledge to toss out there! Thanks Al!
@@InTheWoodyard Still battling this virus yet. So no I'm not feeling well yet. Starting to get better slowly. Have been going to work all week so far. But it been hard to stay in the saddle for a full day.
That would have been cool if you would have tested the meters and come up with a recommendation for which meter was best instead. I tried to skip through to find the answer, not going to watch a 30 minute video.
Next time
Any TopTes 630 Meter feelings in that future video ? Thnx…
Greenwood give 35% less heat "BTU" then season firewood it uses that 35% of its heat to evaporate the moisture. Round wood burns slower because it burns around the whole piece unlike split wood will burn though the piece from just one side.
You are spot on Bill!
@@InTheWoodyard if you and Tony were in high school together I think you two would see the inside the principal's office more then a class room 🤣🤣🤣
It sounds like your cheapy just has trouble with the outer limit extremes. Just fuzzy on the edges, like an out of focus telescope.
Yeah I agree, They are new mics and I used them a bunch before I have them set correctly, sorry I will fix it! Thanks for watching!
@@InTheWoodyard
No probs at all! Wasn't demanding a fix of some sort, the video was great.
The boys at play with new tools 🛠 and educational at the same time
Yes, we like to play, almost to much!