Instructions / Assembly

SECTION B
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
TESTING WOOD
hSet the scale to #1 Wood
hAlign the contact pins
^ parallel to the grain and push
them into the wood to their full penetration, if possible.
hPress the read button
!. The meter displays the %MC for
two seconds.
If the displayed reading is above the set-point value the set-
point buzzer will sound. Also, one of the LEDs on the front
panel will light up as follows:
Wood Scale #1
Green - 6% to 15% Yellow - 15% to17% Red - > 17%
The LEDs are a visual aid to help quickly determine the
moisture level that each reading indicates. Readings that
activate the green light indicate a sufficiently dry moisture
level, those that activate the yellow light indicate a borderline
situation, and those that activate the red light indicate
material that is too wet for most appliations.
Delmhorst uses the USDA standard–Douglas Fir–as the basis
for all calibrations. Because the electrical characteristics of
different species vary, some species may read differently at
the same moisture content. However, in most cases, the
Douglas Fir reading can be taken at face value on construction-
grade lumber. If you choose to apply species corrections,
refer to the wood species correction table at the end of this
manual or contact us at 877-DELMHORST or e-mail us at
info
@delmhorst.com.
Paint Failure and Moisture
Moisture is by far the most frequent cause of paint failure.
The key to preventing paint failure is to make certain that
moisture is not absorbed through the wood to the back of
the paint film. So, in order to insure quality paint jobs,
wood must remain dry after the application of paint.
Outdoor wood can be safely painted without danger of
peeling if the %MC is 15% or less. In drier climates, the
maximum reading should be 10% to 11%. Indoor wood
should be between 7% to 8% prior to painting.
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