I'm about to buy myself a moisture meter. I'm looking in the $120- $150 range. I'm seen the two-pin and pinless models. Is either one better/more accurate than the other?
Are there any common problems or must-have features on these things?
I'll be metering regular 1"x1"x4" hardwood reel seat insert blanks as well as 1" planks as they cure and probably chunks of cordwood too, straight from the wood pile.
Any perspectives would be greatly appreciated.
markvan

In general, the pin meters are a little more versitle than the pinless meters. The pinless meters are somewhat dependent upon the sample size in relationship to the area of the sensitive part of the meter in the back and won't work as well with odd sized and little piecies. And they don't work as well with woods of widely differing densities. And the wood has to be flat to get a reliable reading with the pinless meter. I would reccomend the pin meter for your suggested range of uses.

Neither of the 2 types of meters are accurate above 30% moisture content or below 6%. They are pretty good in the range of 7% to 25% and you don't much want to use wood that is outside of that range for a finished project.

The little Lignomat is a pretty good meter. The Delmhorst are good meters. If you do decide on a pinless meter, the Wagner and the Delmhorst are good ones. In the pin meter, Delmhorst makes 3 models of the "J meter" I believe they call it. All are pretty good, but the expensive one that is digital is more accurate than the led or the meter ones. Probably not enough more to justify it for the uses you listed. Get some extra pins. In really hard wood you can damage the pins pretty easy.

I have a lot of experience with Wagner and Delmhorst meters, not much with Lignomat and the other companies making meters now.

Bill,
Thanks so much for sharing this. I ended up buying the Delmhorst LED two-pin model. Already astounded how difficult it is to sink the pins into the end grain, but it should work for my purposes.
I really appreciate the help,
markvan