DIY Vacuum Kiln . . . HELP!

[Minnesota_boy]

Harold,
That soulds like a good idea.  As soon as one goes bad, replace it with another. 

[Doc]

Sergey,

Have not me time do conversions now myself   

But I will double check yours as I give you more exact dimensions myself. The dimensions I posted to begin with are a guess from having seen the tank once and if it's like my initial judgement of logs, it'll actually be much bigger. 

I would appreciate all the help you can lend 

I hear you on the compressor/vacuum question and I am looking into getting a good pump that I could use for laminations too.

How hot does the water in the heating coils need to be? How cold does the water in the condenser need to be?

Are you using stickers to separate the lumber in the chamber? If so, how thick?

I see on your website that your heating coils loop back and forth up the sides of the chamber. Can I use sweated copper for these or will that be a problem in the vacuum?

More questions and specs on the propane tank when I come up with them,

Scott   

Hit Surplus center up on the vaccum pump. They had some larger units in the last catalog that may be big enough to do waht you are looking for.

www.surpluscenter.com

[carl]

HELLO   MY NAME IS CARL   WINNIPEG MB CANADA
I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE VAC DRYING THREADS FOR QUITE A WHILE.   VERY INTERESTING.
IAM A WOOD TURNER AND WOULD LIKE TO GET SUGGESTIONS FOR MY NEEDS  EG   DISCONTINIOUS VAC DRYING   OF BOWL BLANKS.  WALL THICKNESS 1-1 1/2 IN  USING   ELM ASH  OAK ETC.
I HAVE A  GAST 1/4 HP  ROTARY VANE PUMP I USE FOR VAC CHUCKING ON MY LATHE.   COULD THIS BE USED....OR HOW ABOUT   AUTOMOTIVE  A/C UNIT...    CHAMBER WOULD BE  14-15 DIA   HD PVC  WATER/SEWER PIPE.   HEAT.. CONVECTION AT   NORMAL ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.   DRYING TIME IS NOT AN ISSUE,   WOULD BE MANUAL OPERATION.      WOULD THESE SMALL PUMPS BE ABLE TO GET LOW ENOUGH VAC TO LOWER TEMP OF WOOD..   BOWLS WOULD BE HEATED TO APPROX   110 F.   CHAMBER WOULD BE APPROX 5FT LOG AND HOLD APPROX  10-15   BOWL BLANKS.   SOME OF THE BLANKS WOULD BE GREEN  SOME  AIR DRIED.       THANKS   CARL

[Furby]

Hmmmmmmmm..........
Interesting!
I wanna hear what ya all have to say because I'd make a longer one and do a couple boards here and there, as that is all I need sometimes.

[serg]

   Hello! These guys do(make) so look.                                                                  http://www.sushilo.ru/aerovak.htm
The vacuum chamber of aerodynamic heating. Sergey.