New Member

[Treelover]

Hi to all. New member here from Southeast Ks. I live in Independence Ks but my home is some timber acres in Labette County Ks. I am really fortunate that my family still owns part of the farm that I grew up on. Mom is still around and we have used timber harvest the last 10 years to give her more financial peace of mind. Thought I wanted to be a logger but then it came to me. I want to be a sawyer. If that is the right term. I started a business and became a dealer for Hud-son. Have some mills and a Wolverine A. Currently using a HFE 30 to cut up a Cherry tree we salvaged from a cemetery.
This site has some great aids for getting started. Checked out the tools and calendar and others. Still I have lots of questions so I will follow the forum and learn a long the way. My question is in general about moisture in wood and what is the best tool for testing moisture content? I will be doing air drying only for now.

 

[Magicman]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Treelover.   8)

[Herb Brooks]

Good Morning and Welcome!  I can't answer your questions but there are them what can, and I'm sure they will be along directly.

[drobertson]

Howdy treelover, it sounds like you got it going with the mills,  I can only suggest you google search for moisture meters, there are several hand held models that work great,     david

[mad murdock]

Welcome Treelover.  Nice looking piece of woods in your pic. How much woods do you have to draw on?

[Treelover]

The property is about 390 acres. 120 is tillable. Creek and draws run through the property. Some pasture and a small meadow. Timber amount is about half the property. Half that amount fertile tree growing soil that produces the best trees you could want. We have harvested Walnut, White oak, Red oak, Hickory (3 species), Pecan, Maple, Ash, and even a veneer quality kentucky coffee bean tree. I am working on getting TSI stated with the state and I have a pecan grove that needs harvest and improved to grow pecans.



 

[petefrom bearswamp]

Welcome to the forum.
What could be better, a woodlot to work on, a sawmill, and a new business venture.
Pete

[backwoods sawyer]

wagner makes good moisture meters, but can be pricy for ocational use, never the less your oven can be used by wieghing a bft before and after.

[mad murdock]

The property is about 390 acres. 120 is tillable. Creek and draws run through the property. Some pasture and a small meadow. Timber amount is about half the property. Half that amount fertile tree growing soil that produces the best trees you could want. We have harvested Walnut, White oak, Red oak, Hickory (3 species), Pecan, Maple, Ash, and even a veneer quality kentucky coffee bean tree. I am working on getting TSI stated with the state and I have a pecan grove that needs harvest and improved to grow pecans.



 

definitely sounds like a slice o' heaven 8)  'luck on your new adventure(s)!

[thecfarm]

Treelover,welcome to the forum. Really like the looks of them 2 roads. You MIGHT be better off with your question in the Drying and Processing board. Lots of guys know what they are talking about there. They may not read this thread.

[21incher]

Welcome to the Forestry forum Treelover. I purchased a low cost one at harbor freight to get started and it seems to work fine, but someday I will upgrade to a better one and will be following this thread for recommendations.

[Larry]

Welcome Treelover.  You got trees in Kansas?  Well, maybe a few escaped from Arkansas to live up your way.

I think the Delmhorst J-2000 is close to industry standard for a pin meter.  I bought an Eletrophysics pin meter and Wagner pin less meter about 20 years ago.  The Eletropysics was top of the line and came with a calibration check.  My Wagner was one of the least expensive models.  Both have worked well.  The Eletrophysics is dead on when checked against an oven dried sample.  The Wagner is sometimes off about 1%.

I feel comfortable enough with the Wagner that I would depend on it for my only meter.  I'll make a quick check of say 20 boards in a load to find out the average MC and like pin less for that application.  I've also kept track of what a piece of woodwork in the house reads throughout the year.  I use that for a quick calibration check of the Wagner. 

[Chuck White]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Len!

[Treelover]

Thanks for the warm welcome and answers to the question. Looking forward to hearing more from the forum!

Len

[kczbest]

Welcome to the Forum Len.

[Delawhere Jack]

TL, welcome to the FF. You might want to search some of the posts on the forum by Gene Wengert, forum name GeneWengert-WoodDoc. He is a university professor in wood science, and a leading expert nationally on the subject of drying wood. Google his name to find more of his work.

Truly accurate wood moisture meters are pretty expensive, starting around $700 as I recall. The ones you can get at Harbor Freight and such are wildly inaccurate. Here is a link to an article on how to use an electric multi meter to measure moisture content. It's really only good down to 10% mc since most meters not accurate enough to measure lower, but it can be useful.

http://woodgears.ca/lumber/moisture_meter.html

[Sixacresand]

Welcome to the Forum, Treelover.

[dboyt]

Welcome, neighbor!  I live on a tree farm near Neosho, MO.  Stop by some time when you get a chance.  Rule of thumb is 1 year air drying per inch of thickness, but a lot depends on species, air flow, temperature, & humidity.  I bet four months in the summer would get 1" thick boards down to 15%.  Even a cheap meter will get you close.  I'll PM you my contact info.

[Treelover]

dybolt I sent you a pm but not sure if it went thru. Let me know if you got it. I would love to come by sometime and I will let you know when I am in the area. Yes i have a firewood processor.

[morgoon]

Welcome to the forum

Good luck with everything!

[Billbob]

Welcome Treelover.  Nice looking property you have there!

[Treelover]

Thanks I am very fortunate to be able to care for this place. Been in our family 50 years now.

So I have to ask how you guys get the equipment signature on the bottom. I looked and can't find it. Len

[dgdrls]

Welcome TL.  Best place on the Web.

I use a simple Lowes moisture meter, two pin probe style.
inexpensive and works fine for my needs.

Best
DGDrls

[Treelover]

Thanks and I figured out the signature.

[Magicman]

Now do one other thing to your profile.  Insert the number 35534 (your FF member number 25534 + 10000) in the box beside "My Gallery".  This will put the little camera icon in your public profile and make your picture gallery easily accessible by clicking on that camera icon.