Wagner MMC220 Extended Range Wood Moisture Meter

I'm a small-time custom sawmill operator who also dries custom rough-cut boards with a crude-but-effective radiant heat kiln, like an oven. Very gentle and very slow. I have always guessed, by temperature and relative humidity in the room (with an inexpensive, hardware store thermometer and humidity gauge) when the boards are ready and what MC they contained. I always left the boards in the kiln for a bunch of extra time (up to three weeks) for conditions to even out and to stabilize as between the differing thicknesses, just to be sure. Individuals have always confirmed my estimates with their own pin-type meters in the past, and I've been on the money, within 1%, according to their meters and to their satisfaction. But I had a large quantity of different boards (different lots) for different people and I needed to check on my own in order to deliver some orders and not to wait so long (and to make the different people wait longer than necessary to receive their boards). So, I bit the bullet and bought my own meter.This meter is NON-DESTRUCTIVE, using electromagnetic radiation to measure the density of the wood over a large area and deep into the boards (3/4"), compared with physically driving pins into the wood and measuring the electric conductivity between the pins in a limited area. It also has basic calibration settings for different species of wood, telling it what density to "expect" for a more accurate measurement between differing species of wood, in order to get down to a gnat's ass on MC. It is also less affected by any surface moisture than pins are, because it measures the density of a VOLUME of wood, not just the possible path of least resistance for an electrical flow. It makes it easy to check, quickly, many different spots along the length of a board, and many boards, and on both sides of thicker boards, to locate any variations in MC within a board, or between boards based on their location within the stickered pile and/or within the kiln. There are not supposed to be much, or many, variations. That's the point, although slight differences in the density of the wood grain in a board are to be expected, based on the grain along the trunk. It makes no sense, to me anyway, to destroy a board in order to check it out, or to limit yourself to the ends to be cut off and not measuring the meat of what you want and are going to use, or not getting to the deep interior of the board to begin with.This meter is a better mouse-trap. Fast and easy to operate and to use. It puts elegant and useful "rocket science" in the hand of the average person in an easy-to-use, comprehensible fashion, in the field where it is needed in order to make decisions. And my customers were able to double-check my meter's readings with their own destructive meters in the various places where the wood was "throw-away" as a confidence builder for themselves concerning the readings in the meat of the boards they received earlier than otherwise. Everybody is happy.Quality, accuracy, and ease of use is not cheap. Wagner has apparently extended the warranty on this product; so we'll see how durable it is and how long it lasts and stays in calibration. My initial impressions are quite favorable, because it appears to work exactly as represented within its explicit limitations as set out into the manual and instructions. It is not a in-line, production flow, computer-monitored meter for the "big boys." It is a "spot" meter requiring a human mind with knowledge and experience to interpret and to interpolate. It provides quick and apparently accurate (independently confirmed by customers on the spot to their satisfaction and expectations - NO, the readings are NOT identical, no two meters ever are; but they are close) data for analysis and interpretation. It's just what the doctor ordered for me and my particular needs/use, saving me time and effort, and my already-patient customers time and instilling confidence, replacing a skeptical and worried, "Are you SURE?"

After reading reviews on all the moisture testers out there for hardwood lumber it seemed a no brainer as to which one to buy. As we do process some exotics I decided to go with the MMC220 to be able to test these species too. When it arrived (3 days only) I took it out of the box and put it to work. It is a snap to use and easy for all our employees to understand. Unlike our old "pin style" we can now scan the entire board by sliding it along for instantaneous readings looking for wet pockets and variations. It also works well for checking individual "staves" in edge glued panels by scanning "across" the panel instead of lengthwise. It is easy to handle and looks very well built. It comes with a nice clip on pouch. Just remember that you need to set the code to the wood you are scanning or it will not be accurate. I don't know why we waited so long!! Going from the pin style to this is like going from horse and buggy to driving a car!!

I’ll preface my review with a bit of background qualification. I have raised, logged, sawn, and kiln dried my own lumber for our furniture making since 1978. Our shop builds about 300 pieces of high-end furniture a year. Monitoring the moisture content of wood has been of paramount importance for over 30 years.I had encountered a problem that defied easy explanations. And, in the course of reviewing current moisture meters, I became acquainted with the pinless meter technology. Wagner surfaced regularly as the leader in accuracy. I have had a very high end, pin style, analog meter since 1978. It was used REGULARLY to monitor moisture in purchased wood, lumber stored on premises, and the progress of kiln drying in our dehumidification kiln.The solution to the problem was simple. I HAD TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY, REPEATABLE MEANS OF MEASURING MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE FURNITURE PARTS AS THEY PROCEEDED TOWARDS ASSEMBLY. I really didn’t want to continue to punch more and more holes in parts as they neared their final dimensions, so pinless technology seemed in order.THE PROBLEM…something was wrong with the moisture content of pieces that were slowly progressing to assembly. I was seeing physical indications of moisture levels higher than my original meter was reading.THE SOLUTION…Find the industry standard. Trustworthy, Dependable, Accurate and Repeatable are all MUST-HAVE traits in the meter needed. Affordable would be nice, BUT, IT IS NOT A SUITABLE CRITERIA TO USE IN CHOOSING A METER.After the $ticker $hock of the top-of-the-line meters, I glanced at the lower and middle priced meters. In fact, there are MANY meters that can be had for far, far less than the “best”. And, SOME OF THE LOWEST PRICED METERS HAD 4.5 STAR RATINGS….WITH 2-3-400 REVIEWS.On closer scrutiny, there is a GLARING ERROR evident in viewing these particular ratings as accurate. In rating a toaster, we can rely on the general public’s opinion. Often, it is best to ignore the 1 Star Ratings that are due to an irritation, early breakage, or obvious lack of understanding of the products actual use or capabilities.IN THE CASE OF THE LOWER PRICED METERS, THE 1 STAR RATINGS OFTEN CONTAIN REVIEWS BY PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS. Many of the glowing, 5 Star reviews are by people who have no base of comparison or way to actually TEST the accuracy of the meter. The meter displays a number, and they are happy. The experts, however, find these meters to be WORSE than useless.The evolution of my evaluation is far more extensive than presented here. Suffice it to say, after 2 days I was determined to spend whatever was necessary to GUARANTEE I was getting accurate results. There are only 3 or 4 choices. I chose the Wagner MMC 220.WOW !!!! Believe me…the $$$ HURT, But far, far, less than shipping a pair of $2200. night stands back from Arizona to correct a problem !!! The Wagner Meter laid bare the problem that my shop was encountering, in about 30 minutes. A quick call to the manufacturer of my original meter confirmed my suspicions. The older Analog meter had a magnet in it that slowly, and inexorably declined in strength. Over 30 years the meter had dropped 30% in accuracy. I was getting consistent, inaccurate readings from a top-of-the-line, older meter.The Wagner MMC220 meter is awesome. Hundreds of measurements were made, accurately and consistently in the first 4 hours of owning it. Areas of developing problems were EASILY located and defined. Individual “flyers”, boards of unusually high or low moisture were quickly identified. We measured hundreds of boards from about 6 different species and regained control of the knowledge we needed to make quality pieces of furniture.Wagner has addressed the 1 Star Reviews that deal with the contacts corroding and the meter not working. They now offer a 7 year warranty.I WISH THEY HAD A LANYARD / WRIST STRAP / NECK STRAP ON IT. That is a lot of $$$ to have tumble off the bench onto the concrete. It seems sturdy and tough, but electronics don’t handle shock and impact well.I highly recommend this meter to anyone who has to rely on accurate readings.