Subject: Kilns

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 08:51:41 -0600

Hi,

I have been searching the archives in dejanews for kiln information.  I
noticed that there were several threads about kilns and kiln plans in the
last couple of years.  I am close to finishing a bandsaw mill (still have
a few bugs to work out) and now I have to start thinking about a kiln.  I
thought about both dehumidifying and solar and was wondering if anyone
here had built a solar kiln.  For those of you who have build one what are
some pointers you would give before starting?  What would you do different
if you had to build another? How is the maintainance?  How is the lumber
quality?

Would any one be willing to send me the plans you used?

I have sent off for the WOOD magazine back issues that cover kilns and
give plans.  Did anyone build this? Anyone have comments about that
design?

Would I be better off building a dehumidifying kiln?  I really don't think
I will need the extra speed and would prefer not to loose 10% of my lumber
like the big lumber yards.  And, it's more expensive to build and operate
because of the heating.

I had thought about building a solar kiln with a heat source. Any thoughts
about that?

Thanks for all you help and comments.

Charlie Sampson
[email-masked]

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From: "Paul Franklin" <[email-masked]>
Date: 14 Feb 1997 17:28:17 GMT

[email-masked] wrote in article <[email-masked]>...
> here had built a solar kiln. 
<SNIP>
I built one because I live in an area where green hardwoods are readily
available and very cheap, but ready to use hardwood lumber is hard to find
and expensive.  However, my family and job keep me too busy to do much
woodworking.  Consequently I'm still working my way through last summers
run of 500 bft.  Here is a starting reference if you want to track down
some expert information on the subject.

   CALL NO: LD5655 A522 F682 1985
    AUTHOR: Wengert, Eugene M.
MAIN TITLE: Solar heated, lumber dry kiln designs : a discussion and a
            compilation of existing solar heated lumber dry kiln designs
            / by Eugene M. Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira.
 PUBLISHER: Blacksburg, Va. : Department of Forest Products, Brooks  Forest

At least one of the kilns shown has had at least 200 versions built
world-wide. My own, very amateur, remarks as follows:
1.) Practical solar kilns seem to top-out near 2000 bft and take under
optimum conditions 6 weeks/load.  Six weeks is really good, you might
average closer to 12 weeks.  Is that enough throughput for you?
2.) Your figure of 10% waste seems optimistic.  By the time I cut the green
planks to fit my kiln, discard the nasty grained stuff (twists no matter
where it is in the stack) and cut out end checking on the dry stuff, I am
way over 10%.  Doesn't bother me though because it makes great kindling.
3.) In your design (or variation of someone else's) be real carefull about
loading methods.  I just made the front wall removable and the top 100 ft
can be a pain to load (especially if a family of wasps move in!).
4.) Even the slow process of a solar kiln is not load-and-foreget.  You
will have to buy a moisture meter, visit the kiln daily and adjusted your
fan/vent system per some reasonable drying schedule.

If you can't find that pamphlete anywhere, send me an e-mail.  There is a
more general wood conversion book out of the UK that has a good chapter on
solar kilns.  I just can't find it right now...

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From: Frank Timpano <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 11:03:35 -0800

> noticed that there were several threads about kilns and kiln plans in the
I built and operated a solar kiln for 10 years, but had to scrap it a
couple years ago due to deterioration.  Used standard stud walls with
R-11 fiberglass insulation and sheetrock inside, with a corrugated
fiberglass "window" tilted toward the sun.  Held about 1000 board feet
of 10 foot long lumber.  I used a small squirrel cage blower to extract
warm air from the peak and inject it under the pile through a series of
holes in the floor.  One problem is to to be sure to air dry the lumber
before putting it in the kiln-if not it is likely to mold or mildew.

Now I use a shed for air drying and no longer kiln dry my own.  I would
probably build another if I needed it, but would need to find another
location as the original spot has become shaded by trees...Not easy
since I live in the woods...