Vac kiln for Costa Rica

[crtreedude]

Oh, and one thing perhaps different with us - if you want to look at our books - we have a policy of releasing them to anyone who is interested in what we are doing.

And I agree - I check everything, all the time. But then again, I am paranoid.

[Den Socling]

As convoluted threads go, this one takes the cake. 

Mike, 
The new shell and tube heat exchangers are are all brass and copper. SS doesn't conduct heat very well.
Den

Harold,
Did you end up with the autoclave? To have a sealed door is a leap forward.
Den

[kurtis]

Fred,

Wow? Open books! This is unparalleled. Steve and TATF (as you know) won't disclose any information about nearly anything.

Again, if the company is yours, I agree, you need to be paranoid.

One clarification: as I understand things, TATF is suggesting that they will find a market for the thinned teak (through Raleo) at 2.51/bd ft for the early thinnings. They do eventually take 6% for harvesting costs.

Someday I will be back in CR and will swing by for a day. We have not been to the north yet.


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Oh, and one thing perhaps different with us - if you want to look at our books - we have a policy of releasing them to anyone who is interested in what we are doing.

And I agree - I check everything, all the time. But then again, I am paranoid.

[crtreedude]

Well Kurtis - if I invested in you for 25 years - I would want to know you are financially sound, and were going to stay that way.

More power to him if he can find a buyer at 2.51 / bd - but I suspect that is why he has to get RALEO cranking.  The locals aren't going to buy for that price.

It sure isn't the local market - but at times I can do that with overseas.

I prefer personally to build business plans based on my lowest estimates - not high end. Currently, logs are selling to India for 250 dollars a cubic meter of plantation grown teak. That is almost 59 cents a bf which isn't bad. This has to be well grown trees and at the dock.

Our advantage is our soil and location. If you are in the tree business, you know it is a crop. The better soil, the better the growth. The better the growth, the better the return. We also give it superior care as well.

We would love to have you visit us - perhaps you can keep FDH out of trouble, of course, that might not be a vacation... 

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Hi guys
 Got a little Internet time, so, I will comment. First, Den, Fred and I just recently crossed paths, and we are wanting to get the tank. It is perfect, and won' t take a lot of work to make ready. BOTH ends have sealed doors. 

  We have active springs all over the place here, and I would guess water tempis in the mid 60's.  Doesn't feel like it when you first turn on the shower, but, you get used to it, (numb) real quick.

  Been sawing Beams for Hectors House, then we concentrate on the Lumber Business. We need to get the tank(s), soon and get them ready.

[serg]

These guys from Ukraine do impossible!
What you tell?
Sergey.

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Hi Den
 Fred and I had a good talk, and we are going to proceed with the Vacuum kiln, here in CR. The tank is about a quarter inch thick. It is 50" in dia X 24' long.

  If we can not find a suitable pump here, I will import the pumps we have in Pa. May not be the correct type, but, they are paid for and will at least get us up and going. We can always improve on equipment, once we have a working system.

  Serg's last photo on this tread, shows a lot of tubing running the length of the tank. Is this for hot water or what is the function??  We have constant warm weather here, so, I am thinking about a black painted outer surface, sitting the tank in a sunny place, on a slab of concrete.

 Wheels for the carts. Should they have bushings instead of bearings. Will the vacuum have a negative effect on the sealed bearings ??

[Den Socling]

Hi Harold,

I don't know your tank's design but 24' of 1/4 steel needs some support rings.

Serg's picture shows the heating water pipes that are placed on the bottom and sides to induce a draft. Remember he has the condenser top center and a gap in the load to get air flow. If you want your kiln to heat like his, you need air flow.

Grease is OK at the vacuum that you will be running so bearings are fine.

I'm designing a discontinuous vac for a pole-treating company in the western US. They want to use electric heaters powered by solar cells. It's an interesting project and could parallel yours.
Den

[Fla._Deadheader]

  I will check the tank design. Seems that there IS support rings around the outside of the tank ?? Tank is insulated, and I believe the supports are where the insulation is inserted between them

  I was figuring a Solar Collector to heat water, OR the tank painted Black The Sun is intense here.

[crtreedude]

You know that from experience, eh Harold?

However, you can't count on the sun where we are going to put it - otherwise we would be considering a solar kiln. Most of the time Ciudad Quesada is cloudy. I think we have to consider a secondary heat source.

Also, it gets down to about 65 here at night. We are about 500 feet higher than you are at your place, and very different weather.