WAGNER L606 User manual

Moisture Meter
Instruction Manual
Wagner Models L606/L607

2
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 3
INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................................... 7
FEATURES ................................................................................... 10
TAKING MEASUREMENTS .................................................... 13
SPECIES CORRECTIONS ........................................................ 15
MEASURING VENEER ............................................................. 18
METER CALIBRATION ............................................................ 20
METER STORAGE ..................................................................... 20
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ....................................................... 21
COMMENTARY ON SPECIES ADJUSTMENT TABLES ........ 33
DETERMINING SPECIFIC GRAVITY.................................... 38
ZERO ADJUSTING .................................................................... 40
WAGNER METERS LIMITED WARRANTY ......................... 42
REPAIR SERVICE ...................................................................... 46
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT .......................................... 47

3
Introduction
Congratulations!
You have purchased one of the most
accurate moisture measurement instru-
ments for wood in the world. Using
electromagnetic wave technology, hand-
held moisture meters from Wagner Meters
have been proven by universities and
institutes worldwide to provide superior
measurement results.
With its electromagnetic eld, your
Wagner moisture meter covers a relatively
large cross-sectional area1 each time you
take a reading, giving you a far better
representation than other technologies of
the true moisture content of your wood.
Pin-type meters only measure a very small
area, and only at a particular depth, giving
you very limited insight into the true
moisture content of the wood. Very short,
non-insulated pins are especially prone to

4
just reading the surface of your wood.
Wagner moisture meters read IN the
wood, not just on the wood.
Your Wagner L606 meter measures the
moisture content in a 1 ½ inch wide by 2
½ inch long by ¾ inch (minimum) thick
volume of your wood. The Wagner L607
meter measures a ½ inch (minimum)
thick volume of wood. This closely
approximates the full-thickness cross-
section method used when performing the
ASTM D4442-92 Oven Dry lab test for
determining moisture content in wood.
This ASTM standard (and its international
counterparts) is the standard to which all
moisture meters for wood are compared
for accuracy. Wagner technology has been
proven in many studies to provide some of
the most accurate results in the industry
when compared to this worldwide
standard.

5
Other important features of Wagner
hand-held meters include:
• The “Wood-Friendly”™ L606
and L607 meters use advanced
electromagnetic wave technology
to accurately measure wood
moisture content.1
• Virtually unaffected by wood
temperature or surface moisture2
Since 1965, Wagner Meters has been
providing quality moisture measurement
equipment. Wagner Meters is the leading
supplier of moisture measurement
equipment for the primary forest products
industry. Wagner Meters’ technology has
been proven to provide some of the most
accurate results in the industry when
compared to this worldwide standard.
Footnotes:
1 Conrmed in university study–“Information available upon request.”
2Contact Wagner Meters technical support for guidelines when wood is frozen.

6
Closely scrutinized and approved by
numerous university studies and used for
years by professional wood-grading assoc-
iations, moisture meters from Wagner
Meters continue to provide reliable and
consistent moisture measurements, with
unsurpassed convenience and ease-of-use.

7
Instructions
TO OPERATE:
Press and release the ON
button.
Take readings by press-
ing the bottom of the
meter to the wood
surface. The meter will automatically
shut off after 60 seconds of inactivity.
1. Read the % MC on the panel meter
(Figure 1). If the wood is Douglas
Fir, the scale reading indicates the %
MC in the wood.
2. If the wood is not Douglas Fir, you
must make a species correction.
SPECIES ADJUSTMENT TABLES are
provided. When measuring a species other
than Douglas Fir, use the tables to locate
your species and corresponding meter
reading.

8
Example:
Your meter rea-
ding is 13%
(Figure 1). Your
species is Bass-
wood, American.
Locate your species on the tables provided.
Find the species in the appropriate row.
Find the meter reading in the appropriate
column. Where row and column intersect
is the actual reading for Basswood,
American—16.2%.
THE LOW-BATTERY
light will come on when
the battery needs replac-
ing. Replace with either a
9V alkaline battery. Ob-
serve correct polarity.
CALIBRATION is factory set. Factory
calibration can be veried using a
calibration verication block (CVB). The
CVB is for calibration verication only.
Figure 1

9
NEVER calibrate your moisture meter to
this device.
Additional Instructions for Model L607
ONLY
WATERBORNE FINISHES
can be quickly scanned between
applications.
1. Simply check the base moisture con-
tent of the wood before applying a
waterborne nish.
2. After application of nish, scan rep-
resentative area of the wood and note
the elevated moisture content.
3. Re-scan at regular intervals until the
moisture reading once more drops to
the base level rst recorded before
applying nish.
4. When the reading matches the base-
level reading, the wood is ready for
recoating.

10
Features
The Wagner L606 “Inspector” Moisture
Meter
Designed to t comfortably in a jacket
pocket or toolbox, the L606 is ideal for
anyone who needs a professional quality
tool to inspect wood or wood products for
accurate moisture content. It is popular
with installers, woodworkers, cabinet and
furniture makers, contractors, and quality
assurance inspectors.
• Deep penetrating, pin-free inspecting
ends wood abuse.
• Quick whole-board scanning.
• Proven technology used by agencies
to grade a large percentage of U.S.
wood.3
• Accurate and consistent–conrmed
in university study.3
Footnote:
3 Conrmed in university study–Information available upon request.

11
The Wood-Friendly L606 uses advanced
electromagnetic wave technology to
accurately measure wood moisture content
from 5% to 30% to a depth of ¾″. There
are no pins to “abuse” wood and leave
ugly holes.
The Wagner L607 “Dual Depth” Mois-
ture Meter
Represents the latest in electromagnetic
eld (EMF) technology. This meter is
ideal for the professional concerned about
accurate moisture measurement of nished
wood products . . . and for managing the
application of waterborne nishes.
• Fast operating–quickly scan large
portions of wood for a more accurate
picture of moisture content.
• When using waterborne nishes,
know exactly when to recoat and
avoid costly waiting and guessing
when sealer and nish are dry. The

12
L607 is specially calibrated to read
waterborne nish applications and
yet work as a regular wood moisture
meter when doing inspections.
• Handy to use–ts comfortably in
your hand, and stores easily in a
jacket pocket or toolbox.
• Useful for inspections of all types,
including solid and laminated prod-
ucts–½″ scan depth.
• Accurately measure wood moisture
content3 from 5% to 30% using
advanced electromagnetic wave
technology.
• NO PINS to “abuse” wood and
leave ugly holes.

13
Taking Measurements
Be sure to press down rmly on the center
of the meter with proximately 3 pounds
of pressure to ensure good sensor plate
contact with the wood surface. This is
especially important on rough-sawn
lumber.4Do not take readings where
there is a noticeable defect or knot in the
lumber.
If there is visible surface moisture or
water, wipe off any excess, and let the
surface of the wood dry-out for a couple of
minutes, then take the reading. If possible,
turn the board over and measure the
other side. If the thickness of the piece is
greater than 1 ½ inches (1 inch with
L607), it is a good idea to take
measurements on both sides.
Ensure that there is nothing (especially
your hand or metal) under the material
you are measuring. The actual moisture

14
sensing area is a 1½ inch by 2½ inch
rectangle on the meter’s backside
(opposite side of the panel meter). In order
to take a valid measurement, this sensing
area must be completely covered with the
wood you are measuring. If the sensing
area is not completely covered, your
moisture reading will be inaccurate.
Additional meter corrections may be
necessary if you are measuring Raft Wood
(salt water permeated), or lumber treated
with CCA, ACQ or any other treatment
with metallic or other components that
might bias the moisture readings.5
Footnotes:
4The Wagner model L607 is not designed for use on rough-sawn lumber.
5Contact Wagner Technical Services for further information for these applications.

15
Species Corrections
The dry specic gravity (density) values
for a species are based on the best, current
world data, and are used to determine the
species correction factor within the meter.
The values provide average density
values for the species. A coefcient of
variation (COV) of about 10% describes
the variability inherent in many common
domestic (US) species.
If the specic gravity of your lumber
is not listed in the Species Settings
Tables provided or you are dealing
with an unknown species, the value
may be determined by referring to the
“Determining the Specic Gravity”
section of this manual. Additional
resources are:
• Wagner Meters Specic Gravity
Resource at
http://www.wagnersg.com/

16
• Woodworker’s Source (Wood
Library) at
http://www.woodworkerssource.
com/wood_library.php
• The Wood Handbook at:
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/
fplgtr/fplgtr113/fplgtr113.htm
• The Forest Products Lab at http://
www.fpl.fs.fed.us/.
The Wagner hand-meters can be used
to measure non-wood materials if the
density is similar to wood products. Non-
wood species can be measured by using
the meter reading as a relative value such
as in “go/no-go” applications, or when
determining if one measurement area
contains more moisture than another, i.e.
measurements that do not require a high
absolute accuracy. SG formulas can’t be
applied to non-solid wood species due to
the presence of glues and resins, which
cause a non-linear moisture content
curve. If greater accuracy is required, the

17
ASTM oven-dry procedure can be used
to determine a meter correction value for
non-solid woods.
Please contact Wagner Meters worldwide toll-
free at [phone] for additional information
on species corrections if needed.

18
Measuring Veneer
Checking the moisture content in veneer
You can check the moisture content of
veneer with your Wagner hand-held
moisture meter as follows:
1. Put veneer into a tight stack and
separate the stack by at least 3 inches
to 4 inches from the rest of the stack.
Vary the thickness of the stack ac-
cording to unit penetration depth,
example: L606 has a ¾″ depth of
penetration. Measuring a stack less
than the scan depth of the meter will
give you a reading that is lower than
the true moisture reading. Refer to
the species adjustment section in
your manual for the wood you are
using.
2. Electro Static Discharge (ESD)
needs to be prevented, as Wagner’s
warranty doesn’t cover ESD damage.

19
The instruments are tested to
withstand a 15 KV static charge but
not the typical 150 - 250 KV found
in a veneer charge. The veneer table
should be earth grounded with a
metal wand attached by wire to the
table. The wand must then be run up
and down the edge of a veneer stack
to discharge static, or the person us-
ing the moisture meter must have
a Velcro wristband with a tethered
strap which is grounded. These same
static precautions apply to lumber
moving from a planer; the hand-
meter is not an in-line measurement
system. This unit is meant to check
lumber while stationary.
If these guidelines are adhered to, the risk
of ESD damage to your moisture meter is
greatly reduced or eliminated. Please call
the factory if you have any questions or
concerns about this information.

20
Meter Calibration
The meter has been calibrated at the
factory and should not require re-
calibration. If you need to have the
calibration veried, please contact the
Wagner Meters Sales Department to
purchase a calibration verication block
if you don’t already have one. Should
the meter need to have a calibration
adjustment, it will need to be returned to
Wagner Technical Services Department.
Meter Storage
For a long service life, it is important
to store your meter properly. Avoid
excessively hot or cold locations and keep
the meter in the case provided. Do not
store the meter in an area with excessive
electromagnetic interference, such as near
an electric motor, or where it could be
crushed, such as in front of a forklift. Do
not leave the meter in an operating kiln
during the drying cycle.