Lignomat

Very Good Seller

The Lignomat DX/C is easy to use, and quite versatile. It has an internal table of 40 different woods (with others said to be available from Ligno help), and a setting for drywall, building materials, and concrete. There are two sets of pins -- a set for 4/4 or less, and a longer set for 5/4. The pins are sharp, and easily penetrate the wood. The activating push-switch is between the pins, so the device turns on (and off!!) automatically. This same switch is used to set the desired wood via a code from a laminated pocket-sized card with the 40 wood species noted. There is also a temperature compensation table --the measured moisture content can be manually corrected for ambient temperature. Sure, you could have this automatic, but not for this price. The DX/C also has cable connections. This, combined with the appropriate cable-electrode, can be used for situations where the meter wouldn't be readable, for the special concrete electrodes, for building inspectors, or for a remote cable connection inside a kiln. Small shop-made kilns, powered with regular or IR lightbulbs are common. Other accessories, such as a calibration cap are available, though the instructions note several other rough calibration methods. Note, since wood shrinkage is a significant factor in furniture crafting, one can measure the moisture content of the end location (seasonal?), and the moisture content of the raw lumber, and deduct the amount of shrinkage that will occur, so that appropriate joining techniques can be used. Bottom line, if you want a good meter that measures many different woods, this is an excellent choice. The slightly less expensive model DX is identical, but without the external cable connection.

Great moisture meter for various wood products to include plywood, lumber and firewood.

Easy to use. Everything works as advertised.

So it's hard to tell whether or not moisture readings are 100%accurate. However, this product is extremely easy to use, and comes with a laminated chart that displays the settings to check multiple different wood species and substrates. It has a second set of pins for gauging deeper into various products. The percentages are displayed clearly, and the item is not bogged down with a bunch of dials and switches (only one as a matter of fact). It did show different readings at various points and samples. I crossed checked the numbers with boards I knew were wetter/dryer and the numbers seemed to add up. It's of course more money than I would have liked to spend, but it's worth it's cost in peace of mind. As a contractor, it's a good tool to have in your arsenal, especially for covering yourself with regards to any future issues that might arise. If you are a diy or homeowner, I wouldn't spend this kind of money. just wait and acclimate your floor an extra week before you install it.