Lignomat Moisture Meter Mini-Ligno E/D

tools at the very end WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE MOISTURE MEASURES? When dry, wood shrinks, but when wet, it expands (swells). When I built a nice rustic table out of boards with unknown moisture content 25 years ago, I learned the hard way. After a few weeks, I discovered that my perfectly aligned boards had shrunk, resulting in unsightly 3/16" gaps between them. 90 of hardwood floor installation problems are linked to moisture content, according to reports. Moisture content is usually not visible or detectable without the use of a tool, and any miscalculation can be costly. Two conditions must be met, according to the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association). The moisture content of the hardwood and subfloor should be within the normal range for the area in which it is installed, which is usually between 6 and 12 percent. 8%, as high as 8- In coastal areas, it is 13 percentage of the total total to The difference between the moisture content of the hardwood planks and the subfloor should be within 4% for narrow planks and 2% for wide planks for narrow planks and 2% for wide If these conditions are not met, it may be necessary to wait for the wood to acclimate to its surroundings. HOW IS THE MOISTURE CONTENT MEASURED? br>br>HOW IS THE MOISTURE CONTENT MEASURED? Moisture content can be measured in two ways. The most common is based on the resistivity of wood. Two pins were pressed into the wood and the distance was measured between them. Wet wood (in the kilohm range) has a much lower resistivity than dry wood (in the hundreds of megaohms range). The contactless method is the second option. The wood forms a capacitor by acting as a dielectric between two electrodes in the gauge's back. This capacitor is charged with a radio frequency current (in the hundreds of kHz range), and its capacitance (which varies depending on moisture content) is measured. A contactless meter has the advantage of leaving no pin marks on the wood and being able to read moisture content at lower levels than resistance meters. Capacitance, on the other hand, is more difficult to measure precisely than resistivity. As a result, contactless meters are less accurate at the low end but just as accurate or even more accurate at the high end (though their price at the high end is extremely high). WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHEAP AND THE EXPENSIVE? br>br>WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHEAP AND THE EXPENSIVE? This is the age-old dilemma - Should I invest in a $30 or $300 moisture meter? What am I getting out of buying the most expensive one, and what am I losing out on if I buy the cheapest one? The following factors were discovered during my research on this subject. 1. br>br> All pin- The same principle applies to based gauges: To calculate resistivity, they record the voltage applied to the pins as well as the current flowing between them. You'll need accurate current and voltage measurements to perform this calculation correctly. Furthermore, because of the high resistance of dry wood, it is extremely difficult to measure at or below 6%. You get the cheapest components in the cheapest meters (especially in the cheapest meters). low-cost analog-to-digital converters) and inaccurate measurement. Consider this: even the most advanced tools can't quite match the precision required by the NWFA. According to P. 's statistical analysis, According to Wilson's 1999 publication in Forest Products Journal, high-end pin meters have an accuracy (standard deviation) of 1. 5% increase in moisture content units as compared to 2% to 4% range recommended by NWFA). Low-end tools are likely to have a lot more errors, and some of them may be useless due to their inaccuracy. 2. br>br>1. br>br>br>br>br>br The amount of moisture in the plank varies from its surface to its depth. A board that has been rained on, for example, may be wet on the outside but dry on the inside. To get an average reading, one should aim for a pin penetration depth of 1/4 to 1/5 of the wood piece's thickness. Low- End gauges may not have deep-penetration pins, whereas high-end gauges have stronger pins and pin holders, and often come with external pin holders (probes) connected by a cable. They also frequently come with isolated pins, which have only the tip of the pin that is conductive, reducing the effect of near-field interference. The conductivity of the wood's surface. This is crucial in the woodworking industry. With typical hardwood projects, where the wood is relatively dry, the difference between shallow and deep penetration readings is usually quite small. This mini Ligno includes two sets of pins for two different depths, 5 mm and 10 mm, but they don't appear to be particularly strong. 3. br>br>4. br>br>5. br>br>6. The temperature of the wood has an impact on moisture readings. In most cases, you will receive zero. 5% difference from the standard room temperature for each 10F (5 degrees C) deviation from the standard room temperature for each 10F (5 degrees C) deviation from the standard room temperature The most expensive meters have a temperature sensor built in that automatically corrects the readings. A correction table is included in the middle range tools. Low-cost tools may only have a standard calibration for a room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and no correction option. Although there is no built-in correction on this mini Ligno, the manual does include a correction table. 4. br>br> Dependence on different types of wood. Moisture meters typically use Pacific NW Douglas Fir as a calibration reference, then apply correction coefficients for each specific type of wood (this must be entered manually; the tool has no way of knowing what wood it is measuring). Exotic hardwoods can differ significantly from Douglas Fir, despite the fact that domestic species are relatively similar. The good news is that at moisture levels below 10% (which is the typical range recommended for installation), differences among most domestic species are within 1- 2% moisture content approximately equal to the error level of the meter itself. As a result, for the range between 6% and 10%, these differences are often ignored for the range between 6% and 10%. br>br>The more sophisticated the correction procedure, the more expensive the tool. All 54 wood species are divided into two groups in this low-end mini Lingo, with the assumption that variation within each group is small. Wood types may be divided into five categories by higher-end tools. Finally, each specific wood type (up to 20) can be individually calibrated. There are 40 species in total. Although it does not cost manufacturers much to include higher levels of calibration details in their tools (in some cases, it is just the cost of the paper on which the conversion table is printed), it results in a significant price premium for tools that have many different types of wood species listed separately. Of course, to get the most out of all of this precision, you'll need deep penetrating (isolated) tips, built-in temperature correction, and possibly higher-level electronic circuitry, all of which can be found in a $300 unit. This advantage of high-end models comes at the cost of complexity, which most people may not appreciate: imagine having to measure the moisture content of walnuts. OK, if you use an advanced tool, you can choose between African, American, European, New Guinean, and Queensland Walnut (you'll have to guess which one you got). After that, you must take measurements at various depths. Make certain that the temperature has been corrected. After that, add up all of your readings and average them. Is it possible for a typical user to complete all of these tasks? This may explain why not everyone requires (or will properly use) the most precise tool. 4. br>br> Readings can be saved and averaged. Taking multiple readings from different boxes of hardwood or different subfloor locations and averaging them is generally recommended. It's something that high-end software can help you with. It's not a big deal for do-it-yourselfers, but it could be useful for professionals. SUMMING IT UP: br>br> This Mini appears to be a new model. Ligno is classified as a low-income neighborhood. Moisture meters in the middle range. It is equipped with sufficient electronics to accurately measure resistivity for successful woodwork and hardwood flooring. For wood species (only two groups), it has a very basic correction. Although there is no built-in temperature correction, the manual includes a correction table. It does come with two sets of pins, but swapping them out takes some effort. My estimation is that up to 2 percent of the time, there will be errors. 4% absolute moisture content (meaning you might get a reading of 2011% for the wood with moisture content of 8%) This gives you a ballpark of marginally acceptable accuracy for determining if the wood's moisture content is in the NWFA range, and it also works well for checking how well the moisture content of the hardwood and subfloor are matched. THE VERDICT: br>br>THE BOTTOM LINE: This is most likely the most affordable mid-range option. You can purchase a range gauge to use as a reasonably accurate measuring tool when working with wood. Lignomat has been in business since 1975 and is recognized as a brand name in the world of moisture meters. Mini- Their Ligno line is a budget-friendly option. This is one of the lowest-end tools in the mini Ligno series, with a size lower end line of meters. It appears to be just above the low-end of the scale. With pins, glowing numbers, and buttons, the end boundary separates useful tools from useless toys. It isn't as sophisticated, accurate, or resistant to daily abuse as higher-end ($200 - $600) models. Models from Delmhorst or Wagner are more expensive, but they're close enough for most common wood species for in-home use. Installation and woodworking of hardwoods in the home It's very simple to use (you only have to press one button). Because of its small size, it is very easy to carry around, and breaking or losing it will not result in a significant financial loss. For do-it-yourselfers, it has a good price-to-value ratio (though I'm still not sure what's in it that justifies the $100 price). You still only get (on a relative scale of moisture meters) what you pay for (and the readings can certainly be off by a couple percent or more for less common wood species), but you might not need anything more for the standard task of determining whether the hardwood and subfloor are ready for installation. I've seen them used by professionals, and they're certainly good enough for do-it-yourselfers. br>br>External probe connectors are available on higher-end mini Ligno models beginning with the letter C. An S/D model, which can also measure moisture levels in drywall (which could be useful for home inspectors inspecting flooded buildings), is available for an extra $10 or so. The built-in correction for 65 individual wood species grouped into 20 groups (and -) makes the nearly twice as expensive DX model a lot more accurate. I'm making an educated guess here - Electronic components that are more precise may also be present). This will get you a improvement of 1% or 2% in accuracy for dry wood and even more for wet wood by 1% or 2 in accuracy for dry wood and even more for wet wood br>br>The E/D and S/D manuals list the following wood groups (there is no Group 1, only 2 and 3): Group 2: br>br>Group 3: br>br>Group 4: br>br>Group Abachi, Afrormosia, Bamboo, Beech, Cedar, Cumary, Cypress, Dogwood, Gonzales Alves, Ikoro, Jatoba, Koa, Locust, Oak, Poplar, Ramin, Rosewood, Teak, Wenge, Zebra Wood, Hardboard, OSB, Waferboard. br>br>Group 3: Abachi, Afrormosia, Bamboo, Beech, Cedar, Cumary, Cypress, Alder, Ash, Aspen, Balsa, Birch, Cherry, Cottonwood, Cypress, Elm, Douglas Fir, Gum, Hemlock, Hickory, Kempas, Larch, Lauan, Mahogany, Maple, Meranti, Merbau, Myrtlewood, European Oak, Pine, Redwood, Spruce, Teak, Tigerwood, Walnut, and particleboard.

Salem Drake

| Dec 24, 2021

The first thing I did was open it up and replace the provided 9V battery, which was dead. The circuit board popped out, and you must be very careful when reassembling it on its alignment pins to ensure that the micro switch's arm is in the correct position, or the unit will not work. So it's a dead battery that's bothering me? Why, when the battery connector is touched, does the board basically come loose? It's far too easy to say. Screws should be used to keep it in place. I'm dissatisfied with the value for money. If you want to use this with thicker wood, you'll have to disassemble the case to change the pins, and I'm worried the circuit board will pop out again. It's a thorn in the side. It's also a fairly basic circuit board, with a suggested retail price of $30.

Jefferson Farmer

| Sep 09, 2021

Prior to shipping, these should be removed. If you buy one in 2021 or later, be aware that it will come with cheap 9V batteries that have been sitting in stock for two years and are completely depleted. The size of mine was 2. 3V - The device refuses to turn on at all. These should be taken out of storage as soon as possible, and the batteries should be removed - The batteries in them will soon begin to leak, destroying the remaining units on hand. It's also not easy to replace the battery. br>br> Despite making sure everything is in the right place and aligned, the PCB may come loose, and the alignment of the plastic shells is difficult and feels forced when you screw it back on.

Emmaline Strickland

| Sep 14, 2021

As part of a home restoration project, I needed a moisture meter, but I didn't want to spend a fortune or buy a cheap product with dubious results. This item was a good compromise for me, and I'm glad I went with it. The meter is extremely easy to operate. Insert the meter probes and check the readout after setting the meter to the appropriate scale (2 or 3) using the included wood species card. That is all there is to it. You'll be on your way in about 2 seconds after getting a reading. I put the meter through its paces with fir, pine, cedar, oak, maple, and walnut trees. While I couldn not determine if the meter was 100% accurate because this was my only meter the readings were consistent with expected values (the cedar was fresh cut , the pine was The probes were extremely sharp and easily penetrated all woods except walnut, which required a little more effort due to its hardness. When penetrating the wood, the probes will leave two small holes, but the reading will be more accurate and less expensive than surface readers that I looked at before buying. My only advice is to go to the Lignomat website and look at the different models to see which one best suits your needs. This E/D model is best for general purpose or around the house wood work (testing lumber for furniture, firewood, framing, fencing, etc), but other options will be more suitable for construction trades or if you run your own small kiln. Since all of the models are based on the same design, I'm confident that they will all work just as well as this one.

Alana Rangel

| Nov 02, 2021

Splitting, stacking, and storing firewood is strenuous work, so I needed something that could quickly determine the moisture content. This tester is more expensive, but it's well worth it given how strenuous firewood processing is. br>br>I tried the cheaper orange wireless kind and got so many different readings on my firewood that I decided to return it and try this instead, which is fantastic. Short and long pins, as well as an easy-to-read display and a belt holster, are all included. To help push the pins in, use the green cap on the opposite end. When stacking firewood, I wear it on my belt with the cap off and on the opposite end. With one hand, I can pull it out, press it in, and get a reading in seconds before putting it back in the holster and stacking the firewood according to its dryness reading. BTW firewood should be at 20% or less to be dry and the reading should be in the middle of the wood rather than on each end so I test it inside (rather than on%.

Alden FORSTER

| Mar 01, 2021