An experimental device able to determine the moisture content of wood using X-ray attenuation is usedto study the imbibition of beech samples (Fagus silvatica). The apparatus includes an X-ray generator, a protectivetube, collimating plates and a 50 mm detector. Detected particles can be categorised by energy (accuracy of theorder of 20%) or by position (accuracy 100μm). The independent choice of both the energy spectrum (throughthe voltage) and the counting rate (through the current intensity) makes the installation very flexible. However,a rigorous treatment is necessary to deal with the attenuation of a polychromatic spectrum. The appropriatecalculations are presented and validated with homogeneous samples made of wood and water. In addition, someresults are presented with samples heterogeneous in density and moisture content. Finally, the experimental deviceis used to study the evolution of moisture content during saturation experiments, for which the moisture migrationis mainly due to capillary forces. The geometrical configuration was so arranged that the transfer can be studied intwo directions simultaneously.