solar kiln idea

[Randy]

43 year electronic technology.... I wonder how large the UPS package will be?
I am sure it will tell you a moisture content, but I wonder if he sent the correction tables with it.  Good luck!

Got it-----leather case and all---it seems to work good, not alot bigger than a pack of  100's cigarettes. It is made by Delmhorst, it is their PC-1 model, but here is the down side---it has 5 LED in ine on the front with a range of 10 to 20 and one LED lower marked LB---low battery is my guess. Do you think I could use this--or do I need one with a wider range--lower than 10 etc? Thanks Randy!!

[metalspinner]

Wood used inside should be dryed below 10% in most cases. 6-8% is usual. A meter that can read in this lower level will be best for furniture grade lumber.  Although, if you are using a solar kiln and are not in a big hurry, just load the kiln and wait.  Weigh a couple of boards along the way and when they stop losing weight, they are as dry as they will get.

[Randy]

Thanks--I been playing with it---I found out if it is fresh cut/wet wood and above 20%---all of the led's will flash fast, also by using two screws--screwed into the wood real close but not touching using wire jumpers-- I can take a board with a barely 10% reading and make it read 13 to 14%--which I realize is throwing the meter off, but could be a way to read at a lower level------I think I am going to play with it on my first load--its was free and I like free---if I can make it work. I don't know how close this meter is to being accurate ---I am getting reading's of app 15% on air dried lumber that has been drying for a year---and those readings were taken sticking the probes into the middle of a board as far as I can get without tearing into a pile and getting boards out the middle. Boards that I got from Lowes and nailed up under a shed two years ago, but not where they get wet--I get mainly 13%, my inside work bench made out of 3/4" plywood will barely light up the 10%. Does it sound close?? Thank Randy

[brdmkr]

I'm with you Randy.  Free is bettter than cheap

[beenthere]

You should get a chance to check its accuracy when you take some samples and oven dry them, dividing the difference in weight green to dry by the dry weight. That will tell you the accuracy of the readings. Sounds close so far. And above 20% is 'wet' yet. Plywood with glue lines may give you odd readings, just like across cracks in the wood.

[SPIKER]

I've built industrial ovens for the past 15 years.   so with this info and the easy is better this is what I was thinking I would do first.
1. get one of the inexpensive car houses, that are made from light weight tubing & covered in plastic/tarp like material, this would be used to cover the pre-stacked pile for air drying prior to completely covering it up for solar effect, there is a zippered end door in them already & are pretty rain tight.   using solar fans (advertized now for green houses & attics.) ( like this one  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6029671629&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D6029671629%26fvi%3D1 ) or better this one ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6030106312&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D6030106312%26fvi%3D1
)



 which run for X hours on the stored suns energy.   place one or more inside the kiln for circulation, then mount more for exhause.   modified one with a thermostat should be easy enough to turn them ON/OFf when sun is hottest or when it colls to shut it off. (not sure they may have this built in)  cost for these are ~30 bucks each. 

the wood can be left in place the drying shead picked up off the top, (or dissassembled) and one with clear sheeting put in it's place.  while it is not glass and would be subject to high winds if not secured well it would be easy to put into place.  and the stack can be checked often.   

I don't know if this would work but it sure would help the air drying process I would think...   

the sliding glass doors would work great if you had access to them...   lots of surface area & could be made with wall sections.  7' high by x feet wide.

the roof could be mounted on one (back side with poles into ground so it stays vertical or made with the floor as a ridgid section to prevent wall & roof movement when roof is raised) so it hinged up/down.   raise the roof up & prop it up for loading & unloading, then put end walls in place & last south side wall in place with screws & lower roof back down on top, air gaps are needed anyhow for air exchange so keeping it really tight is not needed.   sponge rubber could be used to sealing when it is winter out for higher heat in full day light...   the solar vents would be useable year round for free energy after bought first time.   a larger 12 unit could be made with 12 volt battery for days when sun is lower and keep a charger on battery and use the thermostat to turn on/off...


anyhow just thoughts from someone who doesn't know how solar kilns work, only gas fired kilns for pottery that are 2500 degrees F running 10' wide and 100 + feet in lenght and batch ovens in the 250 deg F + range...


mark M
mark M

[D._Frederick]

clegaux

FINE WOODWORKING magazine had an article on using patio sliding door windows to build a kiln simular to what you built. If I remember correctly, it was an early eighties issure. I built one and used it only one time, it ruined a load of ash that I had sawn. I got suckered in on the drying process, the article said that no monitoring was required because of the the equallizing drying taking place between day and nite.

I loaded it up with freshly sawed ash and it was too hot and caused the wood to badly warp. I found out that you want to air dry the lumber first before putting in a solar kiln.

[metalspinner]

D.Frederick,
Yes, I saw that article in FWW.  It is strikingly similar to my set up. I guess when you design around the same size panel,you get simularities.  Sorry to hear about your Ash.  I messed up some lumber by loading green in the kiln as well.  Lesson learned I guess.