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The Bessemeter D300 is a pinless meter and can be used for measuring wood and other building materials.
The measurement range is 6% to 32% moisture content and has the ability to set the meter to individual species or other building materials. This meter includes a hard case for transporting and a calibration verification device for user calibration verification.
Pros
- Able to set the meter for specific species
- Hard shell carrying case
- Easy to use
- Clear instructions with settings for common species and other building materials
Cons
- No backlight in the display
- No high moisture alarm
Objective Evaluation – Overall Score 4.3 out of 5.0
Accuracy – 4.2 out of 5.0
The D300 did very well in accuracy in all 3 species measured, up to 15% moisture content. It tends to read somewhat high above 15%, particularly on hardwoods compared to ASTM D4442 oven-dry standards.
Learn about our accuracy test procedures
Surface Moisture – 1.0 out of 5.0
The presence of a small amount of moisture on the wood surface elevated the reading on the D300 by 3.5% MC.
Learn about our surface moisture test procedures
Meter Temperature Test – 5.0 out of 5.0
The D300 performed very well when cold on low moisture content wood. It only measured about 0.5% high when the meter measured higher moisture content wood.
Learn about our meter temperature test procedures
Wood Temperature – 5.0 out of 5.0
This D300 performed very well on low moisture content wood when cold. It read about 1.5% high on higher moisture content wood during high wood temperatures.
Learn about our wood temperature test procedures
Reading Repeatability – 5.0 out of 5.0
This Bessemeter D300 did very well when comparing 5 sequential readings. Very little variation in moisture content observed.
Learn about our repeatability testing procedures
Drift Test – N/A
No drift for the D300 meter. As with any pinless meter, there is no observable drift in readings.
Cable Interference – N/A
This test is not applicable for the D300 since it is a pinless meter.
Learn about our cable interference and drift testing procedures
Subjective Evaluation – Overall Score 3.8 out of 5.0
Learn about our subjective testing procedures
Ease of Use – 3.8 out of 5.0
The D300 has 5 clearly marked buttons and is easy to use. Referring to the manual is needed to find the correct SG for the species or material being measured.
Quality – 5.0 out of 5.0
The Bessemeter D300 held up well during our tests. It is sold with a hardshell carrying case for transportability.
Comfort – 4.5 out of 5.0
The D300 did well in this category. It fits in the palm of your hand and can be stored in a shirt pocket. The hardshell carrying case is included for safe storage and transportability.
Versatility – 3.0 out of 5.0
This meter scored fair in Versatility. Its inability to utilize both pin and pinless measuring modes decreased this rating. Also, this meter can be set for specific species or materials, but the manual is needed to find each species SG setting.
Range – 3.7 out of 5.0
The Bessemeter D300 measuring range is 6% to 32%. This range is good for normal woodworking but may not read low enough for very arid climates.
Features – 3.2 out of 5.0
This meter scored fair in the Features category. It has better than a 1% precision but lacks an alarm for high moisture contents. The D300 does not have the ability to store readings. It includes a calibration device you can use to ensure it is within specifications. It can be sent in for calibration if out of tolerance.
Customer Service – 3.5 out of 5.0
If lost, the user manual can be found online. We did not get an email response within 1 business day. This meter has a generous 2-year warranty and a service center for calibration and repairs. Received a reply from a telephone inquiry the next business day.
Warranty and repair information:
- 2-year standard warranty for product defects
- Carries a 90-day warranty on repairs
- Repair depot is located in the US
Our review is based on Moisture Meter Experts' independent evaluation of the meter, which was purchased by Moisture Meter Experts or provided free of charge by the manufacturer. By purchasing this meter through the links above, Moisture Meter Experts may be compensated either by your purchase directly from Moisture Meter Experts or from commissions from an affiliate. View our Review Procedures section to learn more about our proprietary evaluation procedure and expertise in the field of moisture meters.