I just picked up the Stihl moisture meter in order to test it out and see what it’s like.
It’s a very small wood moisture meter that can easily fit in your pocket, toolbox, or chainsaw case. It’s also a no-frills device with a single button a very few additional features beyond measuring the water content of a bit of wood.
Overall, as I’ve tested it out, it appears to be fairly accurate and is a helpful guide to determining whether or not your wood is ready to burn. You can pick it up on Amazon here, but I’ll cover it a bit more in detail below.
Stihl Wood Digital Moisture Meter
As already stated, the Stihl wood moisture meter is very small and basic.
It is designed to test the water content of:
- Firewood and lumber
- Mortar, concrete, and plaster
- Cardboard and paper
It can also take the temperature of an area in Celcius and/or Fahrenheit.
The settings need to be changed depending on what you’re measuring the moisture content of, and this will be displayed on the LCD.
It’s super simple to use which is nice.
Other wood moisture meters can have a great variety of buttons and settings that you need to navigate and which you don’t need if all you’re doing is measuring the moisture content of the wood.
How To Use The Stihl Moisture Meter
I put together this video to show you all the features and how it works.
The little tree symbol you can see in the images indicates that I’m testing the moisture level of wood rather than another material like mortar or plaster.
The unit has two small pins on top that are exposed when you remove the black cover. These are placed into the surface of a piece of wood and you get a reading back within 2 or 3 seconds.
The Stihl wood gauge is showing that this gum has a moisture content of 9% which is what I would expect. The trees were felled 5 years ago and I processed the wood with the Husqvarna 450 Rancher about a year ago.
It is dry wood that burns hot.
I tested other pieces of green wood from trees that I’ve taken down more recently and it came back with a much higher moisture content reading, so it seems to display what I would expect it to.
The ideal moisture content for firewood is between 10% and 20% – below 10% and the wood can burn too fast and hot, and above 20% and it will burn slowly and with more difficulty, it will put out more emissions, and not a lot of heat.
To use the Stihl firewood gauge, it’s just a case of:
- Remove the cap from the top
- Turn it on and ensure it’s set to test wood (or whatever it is you’re testing)
- Stab it into a split piece of wood
That’s all there is to it.
Just remember to cover the pins back up again to ensure you don’t poke anyone or anything that doesn’t want to be poked – they are pretty sharp!
Stihl Wood Moisture Meter Review
We like the Stihl wood moisture tester.
I think it’s a perfect size and I like how easy it is to use. I prefer non-complicated things and can’t be bothered learning about 100 different options and features.
There’s some debate on the accuracy of wood moisture meters, as when you get a few of them together on the same piece of wood you can get a wide range of values. However, I think the Stihl wood tester gives a good indication of whether or not a piece of wood is ready to burn.
To be honest, for me, it’s just a bit of a toy.
I’ve been working with firewood for so long that I know just by looking at and picking up a piece of wood whether or not it’s seasoned and ready to burn. It’s just fun to try out new things.
The Stihl moisture meter is well worth getting if you want a new toy too – it could be a fun stocking stuffer for dad, right?
Pros:
- Really easy to use
- Small and easy to store
- Seems reasonably accurate
- Comes with batteries installed*
Cons:
- Not all that necessary
- Missing more advanced features (if that’s important to you)
- It turns off after 5 or so seconds which can get annoying if you’re trying to get it set up
- The black cap covering the pins has to dangle very near the unit when in use and it can get in the way
There are a number of negative reviews on Amazon from people who were not happy with their purchase, but so far so good with mine. The majority of reviews are very positive, but as always there will be some faulty units out there.
Our one came with batteries included, but some may not. If in doubt, order 4 x LR44 batteries with your purchase.
Stihl Wood Moisture Tester Problems
Is your Stihl moisture meter not working?
It could be for this reason!
I couldn’t get mine working when I first unboxed it and wanted to test it out. It came with batteries, so I was beginning to think that they had died already, even though I’d never used the moisture probe.
I decided to take them out and discovered that there was a tiny piece of plastic between the batteries and the device so that it would not be accidentally turned on before the sale.
If you have another problem, sorry, I can’t help you!
Stihl Wood Moisture Gauge Specs
Here is a quick rundown of the specs – some of which I’ve already mentioned:
- Weight: 1.41 ounces
- Batteries: 4 x LR44 (here on Amazon)
- Dimensions: 3 x 1.5 x 0.7 inches
- Mostly made of plastic
- Metal pins
- Handy carry string
At the end of the day, it’s a basic device for measuring the moisture content of wood, and that’s what it does.
It’s made by the makers of Stihl chainsaws who are known for producing quality products, which include not only their chainsaw models but also their accessories.
The BEST Price
You can find it:
- Here on Amazon – free shipping for Prime members
- On eBay here – you might even find a really cheap used gauge
- Home Depot – they don’t have Stihl but have other options
Let me know in the comments below if you come across other stores selling it online.
Hopefully, this has helped you to know whether or not it’s right for you. Also, feel free to leave any questions or comments about anything to do with the Stihl wood water content tester and I’ll answer them ASAP.
It’s a fun little unit that you’re friends will love to check out as well. Check out our chainsaw sale page for more ideas on accessories and tools relating to the industry.
Hi,
There seems to have been a mew model out looking identical to the current one. Some reviews have given the new model a lower score than the old one!
What Stihl edition did you test?