Cheap eBay Straw Moisture Meter

[Grass And Grain]

Anyone tried one of these? At about £50, they're £2-300 cheaper than the Protimeter, Delmhorst etc.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-RISEP...232321663263?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Or am I better with a microwave and set of digital scales.

 

[Goweresque]

I bought one a few years ago, before I had the additive systems on the balers ( which have moisture meters), and found them very useful. I couldn't say they were exactly 100% accurate in the sense that if it said 16% it was exactly 16%, but they were a useful tool for working out relative moisture - ie I'd measure a bale that was produced in good conditions, see what that reading was then compare to others. Eventually I knew that if a bale was above X on the meter it was getting too damp.

 

[Grass And Grain]

That's what I was thinking, calibrate it to a known dry bale and also another bale that's a bit iffy.

 

[Green&Steam]

Dont forget you will have to pay import duty
cumming from China

 

[Green&Steam]

see shipping and payment at bottom of description of goods

 

[Lincsman]

Says the item is in portsmouth, do they dispatch out of the container there?

 

[Grass And Grain]

Seems to despatch from Portsmouth so should be OK for duty, but thanks for the 'heads up' - need to watch for which country it's from.

 

[Drillman]

I've contract baled for the last 23 years without a moisture meter. can usually tell what straw is like by the feel of it and how a bale tips out of the baler. And often depends on what the forecast says as well.

Only doing rounds admittedly. Think if i had a square baler i would need one.

 

[KB6930]

Moisture meters for straw usually tell you what you don't want to know !

I've got 1 and if it's even coming out the cab I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be baleing it good old fashioned feeling the straw is your best bet

 

[Grass And Grain]

I used to think I had a reasonable grasp of when it was fit to bake, but have been caught out a few times this last few years. Have thought it was fine to then get a field of clapped bales.

 

[Mursal]

No duty here for cheap personal stuff or VAT ................

Build quality might be an issue, but at that money, worth a go

 

[Grass And Grain]

Would have been better if it had a separate probe I think. Wouldn't fancy pushing it into a tight bale.

 

[michael N123]

What can people not pick up a handful of straw and tell if it’s fit to bale anymore

 

[Mursal]

At £50 would it not be worth it for guidance alone?

 

[Drillman]

I used to think I had a reasonable grasp of when it was fit to bake, but have been caught out a few times this last few years. Have thought it was fine to then get a field of clapped bales.

in 2017 it was more a case of if it was anything like dryish it got baled. Couldn't be too fussy.

 

[michael N123]

in 2017 it was more a case of if it was anything like dryish it got baled. Couldn't be too fussy.

We stuck the knifes in on the baler then wrapped all ours because it was never going to be dry it’s surprising how well it came out no clapped bales and the cows seemed pick amongst it and eat a fair bit as I bedded them

 

[Grass And Grain]

We stuck the knifes in on the baler then wrapped all ours because it was never going to be dry it’s surprising how well it came out no clapped bales and the cows seemed pick amongst it and eat a fair bit as I bedded them

Didn't really realise you could do that with straw. Would be better than mouldy straw that you can't roll out.

Can you wrap it after it has rained on it? Or do you bale it straight behind the combine.

 

[michael N123]

Didn't really realise you could do that with straw. Would be better than mouldy straw that you can't roll out.

Can you wrap it after it has rained on it? Or do you bale it straight behind the combine.

I was following dad with the baler at half 10 at night and it was raining but we’d given up caring and wanted the fields clear The bales are hard to roll out by hand there a bit heavier but I could manage by myself just.. and with it being chopped it fell to bits well

 

[e3120]

I've got DIY moisture measuring sensor on my (round) baler. The result is on an analogue gauge in the cab. Like above, I only look at it when I know it's probably not fit and quickly look away again, but it does help to tell how dodgy a tree-shaded row is and whether to turn on the additive (buffered propcorn).

As I usually lead the bales myself, I'll turn dodgy bales sideways so I have a rough idea where the poor stuff ends up.

That meter is not dangerously-priced.

 

[Grass And Grain]

I've got DIY moisture measuring sensor on my (round) baler. The result is on an analogue gauge in the cab. Like above, I only look at it when I know it's probably not fit and quickly look away again, but it does help to tell how dodgy a tree-shaded row is and whether to turn on the additive (buffered propcorn).

As I usually lead the bales myself, I'll turn dodgy bales sideways so I have a rough idea where the poor stuff ends up.

That meter is not dangerously-priced.

That sounds ideal. How did you put that together?