I have been thinking of getting a moisture meter to check my bowls so I know when I want to finish turn them. Does anybody here use one and if so what kind.

I have one of these

https://www.lignomatusa.com/product/pin-meters/?matchtype=b&network=g&device=m&adposition=&keyword=%2Blignomat&campaign=353720704&adgroup=100327978993&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0-6ABhDMARIsAFVdQv-XjvmQE_Uo4lVxfolbnAFoy3DgVbuskUfprke9jlLti6hzhrA2K1kaAop9EALw_wcB

 

it works well but you might find that weighing the blanks gives you a better idea of the overall moisture loss. A digital kitchen scale is less expensive and fairly accurate. Weight the blank every day or so- depending on how you are drying it.  When it stops losing weight, it’s dry 

Another idea is to get a digital kitchen scale.  Weigh the bowls and keep track.  When the bowl quits losing weight it is dry and ready to turn.  Bowls dry differently in different climates according to the moisture in the air.

Weighing them on a scale is what I do now. I have an apple bowl that I made October 2018 that is starting to warp. I don’t know if it because it was still to wet or because the only thing I finished it with was friction polish.

I have a pin style moisture meter but always thought I am not getting a reading on the inside of the wood.  Weighing made more sense to me.

3 hours ago, RustyFN said:

Weighing them on a scale is what I do now. I have an apple bowl that I made October 2018 that is starting to warp. I don’t know if it because it was still to wet or because the only thing I finished it with was friction polish.

I'd say that after 2 years, it is completely dry and the warping was a natural effect of the drying process. Turning a green wood bowl to finished dimensions will probably warp. There's a whole group of people that love that look and effect.

 

There are a couple of methods I've seen turners use to help reduce warping when twice turning. One fellow used those gear band clamps- like for a radiator hose. Another was using that packing stretch wrap.

I ordered some paper bags. I think it will make it easier to weigh and keep track. I was skeptical of the meter because it only read the depth the pins are push in and I don’t want a bunch of holes in my bowls.