Sonin 50211 Rapitest 10% to 28% Pinless Analog Wood, Concrete, Plaster, Carpet, and More Moisture Meter

by Sonin

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This meter offers additional features and performances beyond those of a regular moisture test tool. The meter's contact probes are at the end of a 3-foot coiled cable for detecting moisture in difficult to reach locations. The 10-point scale corresponds to moisture levels from 10 to 28%. Scale and reference chart correlate relative and moisture percentage readings. Test hard or soft wood, concrete, plaster, carpet, and more to determine the extent of moisture problems. Locate and trace roof leaks and water seepage and assess the extent of wet rot and hidden condensation. Requires one 9-volt battery.

Product Description

Contact probes are on a 3-foot coiled cable for detecting moisture in hard to reach spots.

The 10-point scale corresponds to moisture levels from 10 to 28%. Scale and reference chart correlate relative and moisture percentage readings.

Requires one 9-volt battery (not included).

Instruction sheet included

Great for inspectors, contactors, and homeowners

Find out if potentially damaging excess moisture is present

Test hard or soft wood, concrete, plaster, carpet, and more to determine the extent of moisture problems.

Locate and trace roof leaks and water seepage; assess the extent of wet rot and hidden condensation.

Use it to check surfaces before painting, wallpapering, or laying floors or tile.

Helps you to select drier lumber.

Contact probes are on a 3-foot coiled cable for testing in hard to reach spots.

Dual reading scale gives relative (1 to 10) and moisture percentages (10 to 28%) readings

Requires one 9-volt battery (not included).

Instruction sheet included

1-year warranty

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000224DA
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 50211
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,395 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #12 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Measuring & Layout Tools > Scanners & Testers > Moisture Meters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

139 of 142 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money buy this one!, January 10, 2002

By 

S. Carroll "PJAMMER" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sonin 50211 Rapitest 10% to 28% Pinless Analog Wood, Concrete, Plaster, Carpet, and More Moisture Meter (Tools & Home Improvement)

If you have a couple hundred dollars to blow, you can waste your money on one of those obscenely overpriced name brand moisture meters. If you're looking for something that performs comparatively just as well, but you don't want to spend a fortune, look no further. It may not look as pretty or have a digital display, but it performs the same basic function just as well as any of the higher priced models. I've been using mine for my home inspection business since I purchased it about a year ago. I haven't had a problem with it's accuracy yet and it's very easy to operate. The only complaint is that it's too easy for the power switch to turn on when it's sliding around in your tool box. I went through alot of 9V batteries before I found out that SONIN offers a storage case for it. It was very inexpensive and well worth it in what I save in battery money. As for the Meter, this is the best price I've seen it for so far. I've seen it 2-3X this price on other web sites and paid much more for mine from a home inspection equipment supplier.

104 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sonin-Rapidtest moisture meter, November 26, 2003

By 

StevieQ (Castro Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sonin 50211 Rapitest 10% to 28% Pinless Analog Wood, Concrete, Plaster, Carpet, and More Moisture Meter (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is a pin-type meter designed for measuring relative wetness in drywall, concrete, and wood. Regardless what the sales literature says, it's really not designed for measuring absolute lumber moisture content. For the latter, one needs a good wood moisture meter, which can be quite pricey. I own a Wagner MMC-220 that costs $270 that I use to measure lumber moisture content. The readings given by the Wagner and this Sonin are drastically different when they are used to measure wood moisture content. I suspect the problem is it's almost impossible to push those thick pins of the Sonin-Rapidtest meter into lumber to get a good reading. If the pins are not pushed in deep enough into lumber or drywall, the reading will be off. It's not too difficult to push enough of the pins into drywall to get a meaningful reading, but it's almost impossible to push them into most woods. However, that said, it's important to keep in mind that this Sonin meter is intended primarily for home inspectors rather than woodworkers. For woodworkers and lumber yard owners the absolute moisture content is very important, but for home inspectors a general relative wetness indication (i.e. damp vs. dry) is good enough. Even though if used on wood, the moisture content will be way off, it is still useful as a general wet wood/dry wood indicator. Just don't rely on the absolute % of water content on the scale. Surprisingly it's not hard at all to get meaningful readings on concrete because you just have to push the pins hard against concrete without having to penetrate the concrete.

In terms of ergonomics, the thick pins are held in place in a molded plastic finger grip about the size of a quarter. It takes a considerable amount of pressure and gripping force on the little plastic grip to pierce drywall or wood with the thick pins. This almost always results in sore fingers after taking just a few readings. A better design would have encased the pins in a long hand grip instead of a tiny finger grip.

Overall, as long as you use it for its intended purposes, i.e. measuring general relative wetness in drywall, concrete, or even wood, it's a good meter, but don't rely on it to give accurate absolute moisture content readings.

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sonin 50211S Rapitest Moisture Test Meter, December 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sonin 50211 Rapitest 10% to 28% Pinless Analog Wood, Concrete, Plaster, Carpet, and More Moisture Meter (Tools & Home Improvement)

great price. works well. BUT... the probe is problematic. The probe breaks very easily at the prongs. The solder joint inside the probe breaks under pressure and ruins the continuity ot the prong to the unit, thus rendering it useless. Sonin does offer a replacement probe for it however for about $5.00. Sonin ships very quickly and responds to your email quickly also. This unit is a real bargin for its price, much cheaper than its counterparts. Just be prepared to replace the probe. If the probe problem was fixed this unit would be an excellent value.