Would it be funny if I said “I am a little green when it comes to drying wood” or ” I think my wood has an ear infection, it equilibrium is off” It sounded funny in my head, oh well.
Like milling logs, drying them is all new to me. I have found there is no shortage of good informatiom on drying wood from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_drying to books like Fine woodworking on wood and how to dry it http://www.amazon.com/Wood-How-Fine-Woodworking-Editors/dp/091880454X
I have alot of info but no practical experience and there is only one way to get that…
I set out to build a solar kiln. You may want to look a way if you are “lumberistic” (ya, just made that word up, meaning suffix, from L. -isticus (often via Fr. -istique ), from Gk. -istikos, which is adj. suffix -ikos added to n. suffix -istes. meaning everything must be made of wood!!!! I built the frame from 1-1/4 sch 10 pipe. Yes I said pipe, what can I say it was free and I can weld. LOL
The floor is 12’-6”long x 6’ wide it should hold about 2500bf
The glass is from an old paito door
The idea seems simple
-- Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31
7 comments so far
WayneC
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9596 posts in 2270 days
#1 posted 672 days ago
That is a fine looking Kiln. I wish I had space in my yard for one.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
gagewestern
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297 posts in 1523 days
#2 posted 672 days ago
hi WOODWEB>COM is a good place for info. its looking good
-- gagewestern
HalDougherty
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1820 posts in 1409 days
#3 posted 672 days ago
Great job! It should do the job for you. Looks like you’ve got the sawing part under control.
-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com
Bearpie
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2476 posts in 1190 days
#4 posted 671 days ago
Looks very professional! what did you use for the floor? I hope you put additional pipes down so the wood has something to set on.
-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL
gpastor
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144 posts in 1231 days
#5 posted 671 days ago
erwin, I laid down 4 rows of pipe and than 3/4 plywood.
If anyone has tips on drying please help, i could use more how to’s from you guys that have tried this before.
-- Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31
Bluepine38
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2106 posts in 1258 days
#6 posted 671 days ago
I have always thought an exhaust fan moves more air through a structure than an intake fan, eg exhaust fans
for an attic, so would not an exhaust fan placed near the bottom low side of the kiln and inlets placed near
the high side be more efficient, you could hook the fan up to a thermostatic control so that it would only
operate when the air was hot enough. Just my humble opinion.
-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter
gpastor
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144 posts in 1231 days
#7 posted 671 days ago
Gus, I have two fans on a thermal switch set to come on at 90 degrees. In the last pic above you can see a
squirrel cage fan at the top set on low pushing air down the face of the glass and a fan at the floor.
Pic of fan wire and thermostats
I don’t have an intake fan but the building is vented the roof and at the floor
-- Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31
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