Wagner MMC205 Shopline 5% to 20% Pinless Digital Wood Moisture Meter

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Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The MMC205 Digital Shopline - Digital Display small shop and hobbyist model. Measures 5- to 20-percent moisture content and scans to .75-inch depth. Allows user to select species settings, eliminating the need to refer to correction tables after taking readings. Virtually unaffected by temperature or surface moisture. Recommended for occasional use by all woodworkers and hobbyists.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000063XI7
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: MMC205
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,076 in Home Improvement (See Bestsellers in Home Improvement)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Unit, This is the one to have, February 11, 2003

By	Bob Feeser "MillCrafters.com" (Springfield, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

This Wagner MMC205 is the one to have. No hassle when you have to ask the seller if they mind having pin holes in their wood. (Taking measurements at the end of the wood helps to avoid that, but still a minor consideration) It actually measures moisture content 3/4" of an inch into the wood. So surface moisture, which can vary based on humidity in the air, or a recent rain, etc, does not become a factor. It does so without any tampering with the wood. (No holes) Pin models, only go so deep, unless you really gouge the wood.
Another consideration, is that the more expensive Wagner meter measures wood above 20% moisture content. Considering that usable wood starts at 12%, and if you want to make furniture you will need wood around 4 to 6%, the need to know measurements up to 35% is not all that neccessary.
Their isn't any calculations neccessary with this meter as well. They do give you a handly little booklet, with all of the wood types listed. That way you can set it for the specific wood type to get a very exacting measurement.
It comes in a handy carrying case. Large easy to read numbers. Takes a few uses to get the hang of it. Like holding the setting down, in order for it to go into the changing mode.
When buying wood, the amount of time is has aged-cured, or been properly kiln dried is of the essence. If you buy wood that has too much moisture content in it, you will be forced to either age it yourself, or suffer the movement as it cures over time.
It is interesting to actually take this meter into some of the larger retail Home stores and measure what appears to be kiln dried, planed wood. Sometimes those pallets are left out in the rain for awhile. Since they are strapped together, a good soaking has the oppotunity to go deep within the grain. The individual boards in that case are not exposed to the air again, until they are unwrapped.
In conclusion, moisture measurements are essential in woodworking. This unit is at a good price point, if you want to do the best job, without breaking the bank. If I had to do it all over again, I would still buy this one. Highly recommended.

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome little piece, May 16, 2002

By	"alcavasin" (Concord, MI United States) - See all my reviews

Compact, concise, accurate! Complements any wood shop, a must have for the serious professional. I've used this to check 2000 bd. ft. of hickory, 300 bd. ft.of cocobolo, 150 bd. ft. of black walnut for flooring, and I've used it for dozens of smaller lots of other hard and soft woods. Helps in dickering with price on supposedly kiln dried lumber.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wish I would have had one a year eariler, March 20, 2006

By	R. Saylor "woodchimp" (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a woodworker, I've been running blind, trusting my lumber providers to give me accurate moisture content numbers. This ended last month when I installed $2500 worth of IPE flooring. The IPE had been stored in the room that it was to be eventually installed in for two months, rotated frequently to insure even dryness and installed with a vapor barrier over a basement. It shrunk! In some places over 1/8"!
I bought the moisture meter from Amazon and tested the installed wood, 9 to 12%. I returned to my lumber dealer and tested his pile, 12 to 14%! He won't give me money back, but at least now I'm armed with accurate information.
I've tested red oak also, 6 to 7%.
This meter won't go above .70 in specific gravity, so with IPE, for instance, set it to .50 and divide the result by 2 since IPE is incredibly dense at 1.0. It responds quickly and I feel that it will eventually make me a better judge of wood.
I've still haven't gotten used to switching it to it's various modes and the single button is a bit touchy.