A Moisture Meter or a Ruined Reputation: Which Costs More?

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Protect your wood projects and your reputation by using a wood moisture meter to check the moisture content of your wood.

If you’ve been in the woodworking or furniture-making industry for a while, you’ve probably encountered the biggest culprit of project damage.

Moisture.

Wood absorbs or releases moisture until it reaches the moisture content (MC) of its environment. As it does so, it expands or contracts, respectively.

This movement can lead to warping, cracking, and many other aesthetic issues.

Let’s say you sell a product with too high of a moisture content. The issues might not appear immediately, but slowly, as the wood releases moisture, it begins to contract—and crack.

The product is ruined.

And your reputation as a woodworker is at risk. Your clients may question the quality of your work or at least demand a replacement.

Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be your story. You can prevent this kind of damage to your hard work and reputation with one simple investment: a moisture meter. Find out more as we look at:

Throughout the article, we’ll share some insights from our interview with Phil Ross, owner of Ross Custom Wood Furniture. He explains why he uses a moisture meter, specifically a pinless one, and how it impacts his work.

So, let’s find out what a moisture meter can do for you and your business.

The Difference a Wood Moisture Meter Makes

A wood moisture meter allows you to work with the moisture properties of wood. You’ll be able to check the moisture level of a slab before using it in a project. If the reading is too high, you’ll know to dry it longer or choose drier wood.

And you can confirm when your wood is at the desired moisture content for its environment.

At this point, known as the EMC (equilibrium moisture content), a piece of wood will remain stable rather than expanding or shrinking. It’s much less likely to warp or end up with defects.

The result?

A longer-lasting product for your customer.

And for you?

  • No callbacks
  • No time or money wasted on fixes
  • No negative reviews
  • Higher customer satisfaction
  • Protection of your reputation

All are essential to long-term success in the woodworking industry!

But if you’re still wondering if a moisture meter is really worth it, let’s find out from an expert.

Cost Comparison: Moisture Meter Vs. Project Failure

Orion Moisture Meters

The Orion line consists of five pinless moisture meters, designed to meet the varying needs of professionals.

Phil Ross, owner of Ross Custom Wood Furniture, uses a Wagner pinless moisture meter. And he’s convinced the investment is nothing compared to how it saves him money.

During our time with him, he pointed out that many people are concerned about the price of an accurate moisture meter. A $400 meter seems a bit high, so they opt for a $25 one, thinking they’ll get by.

Unfortunately, many cheap meters are far from accurate.

And an inaccurate meter could mean a damaged project.

Here’s what Phil had to say:

“Think about it: The project you’re putting out there is probably worth more than $400. Not only that, but if you get a bad reputation based off of inferior products that didn’t have proper moisture levels, now what’s costing more? The $400 moisture meter or your reputation that you can’t go and fix right away?”

For him, protecting his reputation and work is worth the initial investment in an accurate moisture meter.

“Getting a quality tool that will do the job properly is a lot better in the long run,” he added.

Pin or Pinless?

Phil’s quality tool is a pinless moisture meter.

In the past, he used a pin meter, and he found that if he wanted to get an accurate reading, he had to poke the pins about a quarter of an inch into the wood.

Of course, that left some unsightly holes!

What’s more, it wasn’t enough to just test the edges of the slab. Since moisture pockets near the middle of the slab could lead to project failures, it was important to test throughout. But the idea of leaving pinholes in a finished piece of wood made him reluctant to even take the readings.

In fact, during our interview with him, Phil showed us a walnut slab that had some pinholes from a pin meter on one side. Because of those holes, he ended up using the other side for a tabletop rather than showcasing the live edge of the wood. Those little pinholes prevented him from getting the full value out of the slab.

But a pinless moisture meter eliminates those issues:

“Pinless ones are so easy. You just pick it. There’s no prodding or poking.”

Within seconds, Phil can scan all over a slab of wood and know its MC. It’s efficient and accurate!

A Smart Investment for Wood Professionals

Wagner’s Orion pinless moisture meters not only prevent moisture issues and protect your reputation. They also save you the hassle of pushing in pins and dealing with ugly pinholes.

And our meters have a 7-year warranty to back them up—because we believe in their quality and necessity!

We know that it’ll make a difference in your business and save you so much in the long run.

To get yours, start by comparing the Orion meters to find the best one for your needs.

Last updated on October 8th, 2024

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