screen moisture meter at Lowes for $30!

[blue moon]

have not used one yet, but was told of somebody who does.



http://www.lowes.com/pd_78059-56005-MMD4E_0__?productId=3136919&Ntt=moisture+meter&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dmoisture%2Bmeter&facetInfo=

for the money it should be worth it. I have a chromaline rep coming over in a few weeks with the real thing and we'll compare the results. My guess is it works fine.

pierre

[mk162]

Are they out of the ones with the really sharp tips? 

[Frog]

When I see "Strong steel pin for easy penetration into material" I have to wonder if sweetts used one of these before developing holes in his screens in his "when to retire screens" thread..

I think that it's safe to say to use these carefully.

[Denis Kolar]

This might be a stupid question, but here it is anyhow.

Is this for checking the moisture content in "dried" screens (emulsion)?

[blue moon]

yes, the tips are sharp and should be filed down!!!!

yes, this is to measure the moisture content of the coated screens to make sure they are ready for exposure.

pierre

[mk162]

Let us know how it goes.  I'd like to see how these work.

[rmonks]

That instrument is for measure moisture in lumber, which probably works like an ohm meter for checking resistance.

[jsheridan]

Yes that is meant for lumber as the wood shop had 3 of them.

I'll await the results for testing screens.. I prefer a Hygro Meter, when it say's 40%.. the screens are ready.

[mk162]

Those hygrometers are cheap, I think I got one for $8 at walmart.

[sweetts]

When I see "Strong steel pin for easy penetration into material" I have to wonder if sweetts used one of these before developing holes in his screens in his "when to retire screens" thread..

I think that it's safe to say to use these carefully.

funny thing is.........
 HAHA no but I just thought I could sure screw up screens with that.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Just exactly what measurement should be reflected for a coated/cap screen ready for exposure?

[alan802]

Just exactly what measurement should be reflected for a coated/cap screen ready for exposure?

I have no earthly idea but John said 40% so I'm gonna go with him on this one.

[blue moon]

Just exactly what measurement should be reflected for a coated/cap screen ready for exposure?

I have no earthly idea but John said 40% so I'm gonna go with him on this one.

I think he is saying the humidity in the space at 40% and it is good. . .

[mooseman]

If the emulsion side of the water proof film we use does not stick or tack to the screen we consider it dry enough to expose.
the moisture meter referenced is as someone said used to measure moisture content in lumber. The meter understands the conductivity of wood based on moisture content and relates that to a number. The pins need to penetrate the wood as the surface of a piece of lumber is always drier than the cells slightly below the surface.;
having said that is drying a screen that big of an issue that a hygrometer is not  enough for an evaluation.
We like to dry our screens to at least  "popcorn fart" dry which by most stndards is pretty darn dry. In our 90 deg dry box we find we get there in 45-ish minutes with a full load of 6 just coated screens.
mooseman

[jsheridan]

We like to dry our screens to at least  "popcorn fart" dry which by most stndards is pretty darn dry.

ROFLMAO!!  I love that! that's an attention-getter term for sure.


I say 40% as every piece of literature I've ever read mentioned 35-40% humidity @75 degrees is the ideal environment for screens. I've built a few screen rooms to those specs and been in enough to know this works the best.

I find most consumer grade (sears, home depot) level de-humidifiers, can't go any lower than 40% anyway so attach it to a drain line and set-it and forget it. Back it up with an air conditioner to cool it down in the summer as a de-humidifier can easily warm a room over 100 degrees.