Paper and board that are too wet or too dry cause curl, static, poor print registration, cracking at the fold and jams in converting equipment. Checking moisture on delivery and before running a job catches problems while they are still cheap to fix.
This collection covers Delmhorst's paper testing equipment. It includes the PX-30 paper moisture meter, supplied with a carrying case and H-4 electrode, along with a separate H-4 prod handle and the 19-E blade-type electrode with 127 mm (5 inch) blades.
Choosing the right setup
Meter. The PX-30 is calibrated for paper rather than wood. It is the base instrument for any of the electrodes below.
Blade electrode for stacks. The 19-E's long, flat blades slide between sheets in a ream or stack, reading inside the pile rather than only at the exposed edge.
H-4 handle. The H-4 is the standard handle electrode for the PX-30. It is worth keeping a spare where meters are shared across shifts.
Read inside the stack. The outer sheets equalise with the room much faster than the core. A reading taken only at the edge can mislead.
Parts and pins are in the full Delmhorst range. Other industry-specific meters include leather.
Practical advice
Paper testing gets tricky when the item is too valuable to put pin holes in. The PX-30 has a calibrated scale for kraft paper and a reference scale for comparisons on other materials; those aren't interchangeable percentage readings. Ask whether the job involves paper stock, recycled bales or delicate documents before choosing an electrode. On archival material, agree on an acceptable, minimally invasive sampling method first.
