Small Kiln

sawwood · February 16, 2008, 08:05:16 PM

Was looking on the outher forum and seen a link for plans for a small kiln. Though you
might like to see.

Lester
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/publications/pdf/FR-396-2007.pdf

Osagedon · February 17, 2008, 07:31:13 PM

Thanks for the link Sawwood. Nice kiln

Don

MikeH · February 17, 2008, 07:51:43 PM

Very nice, we need more small kiln's around. ???

zopi · February 17, 2008, 09:46:17 PM

that's pretty cool...funny, they seem to have used lumber from a lumberyard instead of sawmill boards...i'm sure there is reason..but it is ironic... ;D

Seems like that'd be the thing for a woodworker to have tucked into a lean to off the workshop...needs to be at least 4 feet
longer tho... ;)

shopteacher · February 18, 2008, 11:58:28 AM

I was thinking along the same line as Zopi. Looks like a big portion of the cost is in lumber. I would surely use my own. It is a nice set of plans though. Thanks Les

Brian_Rhoad · February 18, 2008, 01:01:01 PM

I think that kiln was built by a college or trade school. They probably didn't have rough cut lumber available.

rfalk · February 18, 2008, 08:05:56 PM

This DH design evolved out of the American Woodworker Magazine design and was built at Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in cooperation with the USDA Forest Products Lab (Rick Bergman, drying expert) the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Terry Mace, wood extension specialist), and the University of Wisconsin Forestry Dept (Scott Bowe, Professor). Bergman has run several loads of lumber through it and has data and recommendations on drying of various species in this unit. A paper should be coming out soon with those results. I will share with the forum when available.

Bob Falk, USDA Forest Products Lab

Larry · February 18, 2008, 08:34:21 PM

Bob, the plan is both well thought out and documented. Unless I missed it, they did not mention the size of DH that was used. I look forward to seeing documentation of the results.

A little off topic...I have searched for plans to build a hot water kiln using a wood-fired outdoor boiler such as the Central Boiler unit...zero results. Any ideas on where to look for plans?

Dan_Shade · February 18, 2008, 10:19:37 PM

I'm also interested in the type of space heater that was used. any information on that?

Handy Andy · February 19, 2008, 05:21:56 AM

Thought I read something about baseboard heater? But they didn't give any btu's.

Kelvin · February 20, 2008, 08:55:27 AM

Whats interesting is when i built my own homemade kiln with DH unit and sealed electric oil heater type the heater never came on. THe waste heat from DH unit and fans kept it up. Same with my new Nyle 400 The heater hardly ever comes on and i often have to dump the heat in winter even. I guess its there to get the temps up for the DH unit. Also i found that my DH unit wasn't even working in my homemade job. I don't think they handle the high temps. What was happening was my chamber was so leaky that the water was leaving thru the cracks and condensing onto the floor. I think the temps killed my DH unit pretty quick, this is why Nyle uses commercial DH unit in their operation as they are designed for high temps. I havne't seen the plans above as i have dial up, but maybe they made some accomodations for this. Also, doesn't oak eat any metal? Are they stainless? How long will they last? I buy mine used at garage sales, so i guess i can just keep putting in new ones, but i was amazed at how well it worked with bascially no DH, but only heat from the machine, leaving thru cracks in the chamber. Not how i planned it, but it worked.
KP

rfalk · February 20, 2008, 11:34:32 PM

Quote from: Larry on February 18, 2008, 08:34:21 PM
Bob, the plan is both well thought out and documented. Unless I missed it, they did not mention the size of DH that was used. I look forward to seeing documentation of the results.

A little off topic...I have searched for plans to build a hot water kiln using a wood-fired outdoor boiler such as the Central Boiler unit...zero results. Any ideas on where to look for plans?

They used a home dehumidifier, from Sears, I think...about $200 new....any home unit will work. There have been many threads discussing the required dehumidifier...consensus seems to be that any cheap unit works fine...if it wears out or corrodes, buy a new one. I'm not sure about supplemental heat....I will have to ask what was used. Some on this forum have suggested using an old window AC unit as it will condense while providing heat from the compressor...seems a good idea.

I can't speak to the hot water boiler design....will ask as see what I can find out. Cheers, Bob

sawwood · February 23, 2008, 09:53:46 PM

After reading a lot on DH kilns i have a few question. I am going to build the small kiln
and i want to git the right Dehumidifier. From what i have read looks like i need a unit
with 1.5hp and work in high temps. But how much water can it remove is what i don't
understand. Can some one let me know what i need for this 500bf kiln. Also i will be
loading it with air dried oak and walnut. I plan on useing a wall elect heater to control
the heat needed. I think with our own cut lumber and i have two fans out of a overhead
furnace 1/3hp 14" all we will need is the plywood and insulation. this should help keep the
cost down

Lester

bck · February 24, 2008, 04:54:49 PM

Kelvin , I also have dial up . I opened file, then left for 20 or 30 minutes , when I came back it had downloaded and was readable. I did this on the other forum its on but should work here too.

sawwood · March 16, 2008, 09:41:47 PM

Bob any new on the small kiln at the wisconsin forestry dept ? I still would like to know what size DH unit to use and if a small wall heater was used what size. We are still in the
cold weather pattern here in KC so would like to know soon so i can start looking for
the equipment to install when we have the kiln built.

Lester

james04 · March 17, 2008, 09:11:51 AM

I have just completed building a variation of this kiln. I got the DH from Waly World. It is a Sharp/LG.Cost was $179. Seems that Sears,HD also carry the Sharp/LG. Only the one at HD has a five year where the Sears and WM version have a 1/5 years.The compressor is the only part with the five year. Also got a heater that looks just like the one in the photo. $12 at the Big Orange (HD). End of season sale. Original price was $39. I will let you know how I make out once things get started. 600BF of Red Oak starting today.

Does anyone know how operators of these home DH kilns are able to get the temp up to 120 or more? I am sure the thermostat on the heater will shut off well before anything that high. Also does anyone know what temp is needed to kill mold spores. Or even if that is possible.

James

Ironwood · March 17, 2008, 01:53:05 PM

James to my knowlege (limited) you need steam to kill spores, temp alone will not do it. My experience with DH kilns is, depending on how much insulation temps can easily get that high. I put supplimetal baseboards on my ceiling connected to a separate thermostat to get the temp up REALLY high to sterilize.

Ironwood

ohsoloco · March 17, 2008, 02:29:31 PM

I still have the issue of American Woodworker with that kiln in it. Most of the heat came from the DH unit, and there was also a light bulb (150 watt incandescent, I believe) to give supplemental heat as needed :P

shopteacher · March 17, 2008, 02:31:40 PM

ohsoloco do you have the issue number of the FW magazine? I looked for that article and haven't been able to locate it.

Fla._Deadheader · March 17, 2008, 03:29:14 PM

It's American Woodworker, issue #94. June 2002, page 42. ;)

ohsoloco · March 17, 2008, 07:38:06 PM

Thanks, Harold...I would've had to look through my stack of woodworking mags to find it. At least I know it from the cover. It's getting hard to find projects that aren't on the cover :D

sawwood · March 18, 2008, 01:44:17 PM

Was looking for a DH unit and found a Sharp/lg 40 pint unit for $80 . Will go look at it to night, guy said its new in box. Found it on Crage's list here in KC. You might look on
you craigs in your area to see if any deals are there.

Lester