conventional kilns

[Hokiemill]

Hey guys this is all fantastic information!!  It reinforces what I've thought all along - conventional kilns are not outdated, they are applicable to small loads, they can be easily contructed, and the operational costs can be reasonable (even when using electric heat).  This is the beginning of a conventional kiln revolution for the small and part-time sawyer.  Let's strive to keep this thread alive with construction/operation updates and newly discovered info.

Thanks again for your input.

[Brad_S.]

Throwing about 10 gallons of water on the floor and sealing it back up is as high tech as I get on stress relief.

Hokiemill,
I applaud your enthusiasm, and if you can assemble all the components for a song and have the time to put it all together you'll probably save bucko's. In my humble opinion, building a chamber and sticking a Nyle L50 in it saves a lot of time and (physical) energy!

When it came time to upgrade to a larger unit, I considered another Koetter because I understood the theory and was happy with the results. However, I already had an insulated 'flash' freezer available, so I went with a Nyle, and have been happy with that. To me, small scale conventional vs DH is an even wash. It becomes a question of how much time and effort you want to commit to the project.

Please keep us updated on your progress. I admire you guys who can engineer projects like this! Wish I had the time.