New solar kiln begins

Sawdust Lover · September 04, 2012, 08:55:46 PM

So like I haven't spent enough $$$$ already I started building a new solar kiln last weekend. I have been doing alot of research on solar kilns and took the coarse at Va.Tech. I am building my kiln 16'x 10'. I went a little deeper so I could stack to packs deep instead of just one. I have made the collector "solar roof" a bit larger to make up for the depth. I just hope when I fill it in a few weeks I dont end up with a half cord of firewood. I am installing a large radiator heated by my outdoor wood furnace to help on cold cloudy days. I will keep the pic's updated and would like to hear any advise from other's with solar kilns.
P.S I think my wife thinks I'm crazy. I could have bought a bass boat and I got a sawmill instead.

WDH · September 04, 2012, 08:57:15 PM

I am very interested in following your progress.

Bill Gaiche · September 04, 2012, 09:03:20 PM

Bass boats are way more expensive, but a lot of fun. A kiln will be fun and possible put more money in your pocket. Good luck and keep us updated. bg

Red Clay Hound · September 04, 2012, 09:16:21 PM

I'm thinking about building one too. I'll be interested to see how your build goes. Hope you can post pics of your progress.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · September 04, 2012, 09:22:39 PM

Now this is a great post.

I'll be watching. smiley_anxious

Delawhere Jack · September 04, 2012, 09:33:44 PM

The kiln will pay for itself, and a bass boat in short order. Of course, you may end up too busy filling and emptying the kiln to have time for a bass boat. In that case, your wife can enjoy all that the kiln will pay for.......... ;D

POSTON WIDEHEAD · September 04, 2012, 09:39:00 PM

You never stop putting money in a Bass boat. NEVER......It's like hunting and golf. $$$$$$$$$$$$

fenceman · September 04, 2012, 09:47:07 PM

.....solar kilns are very cool, Sawdust Lover......I just loaded my first load 2 days ago, very cloudy and I didn't plan for any alternative heat source. Will be watching to see completion.....how many board feet will your kiln hold with modifications?

pineywoods · September 04, 2012, 10:03:53 PM

I see one problem already, It ain't big enuff :

My experience, you probably won't need the aux heat. Spring for a small room dh unit.. makes a big difference...

Sawdust Lover · September 04, 2012, 10:06:08 PM

It would hold 2500 bf if I were to saw it in 14" lengths. I usually saw my lumber in 10' lengths so it should hold around 1500 to 2000 bf.

Bandmill Bandit · September 04, 2012, 10:06:22 PM

i will be following this one too. Solar/milling waste kiln is in the cards for me this fall I hope>

Sawdust Lover · September 04, 2012, 10:13:38 PM

It's not big enough Pineywoods? I wasn't sure if i could make it bigger then the Va.Tech version and still have the heat and the circulation from the fans. I'm really hoping it works or I'll be putting a bed in it.

WDH · September 05, 2012, 07:15:43 AM

I think that what he is saying is that nothing is big enough :D.

SPD748 · September 05, 2012, 08:27:42 AM

Excellent start! I, along with many others, will be intently watching.
pc_smiley

-lee

pineywoods · September 05, 2012, 09:27:57 AM

Naw I was serious about the size. 16 ft is not a good choice, go for 17 ft. Sooner or later you gonna want to put 16 ft stuff in there. I know...I made mine 13 ft thinking 12 ft lumber would be all I would ever want to dry..WRONG.
Roof panels come in 3 ft width, you will use 6 of them anyway..

Bandmill Bandit · September 05, 2012, 09:43:19 AM

very good point Piney. I was thinking 16 foot inside dimension as well. Thanks for pointing that out.

I am wondering how a used shipping container would work to convert to a kiln. they readily available locally in 20' and 40'. Any one have or know any one that has done that?

Kansas · September 05, 2012, 12:05:35 PM

We converted an old 22 ft, I believe, into a kiln. It was a refrigerated unit. We put the thing on rails and a pipe frame, loaded it from the outside, and pushed it in. We used some kiln wheels I found somewhere. It worked fine when it worked. We had a kiln unit in it and outside of a fair amount of downtime, due to just getting parts, it got the job done. But the system worked well, when it worked.

We also had two solar units years back. I think I can honestly say they worked better than dehumidifing units, up to a point. Virtually no degrade. We did add on a little addition on one and put an old dehumidifier unit there and once it was down to 12% or so, turned it on to help it down, especially in colder times.

drobertson · September 05, 2012, 12:55:25 PM

I have been planning a kiln for years, and just have not got it done, Lots of research, and Memory serves me, I was thinking the solar panels have to be figured for the board footage. I cant' remember the numbers off hand, but it seems like 100 sq'ft per thsd. I will be checking on this I have all the stock,I have just been putting it off. Good luck on the project, the only reason I have held up is where to store until I sell.

pyrocasto · September 05, 2012, 04:29:01 PM

As Piney said, I made mine 17ft as well. It's nice to have the option for 16ft. Though being the dummy I am I havent dried any 16ft stuff that I also cut, because I made the mill cut 15'6" max. :D

reride82 · September 05, 2012, 04:51:53 PM

Quote from: fenceman on September 04, 2012, 09:47:07 PM
.....solar kilns are very cool, Sawdust Lover......I just loaded my first load 2 days ago, very cloudy and I didn't plan for any alternative heat source. Will be watching to see completion.....how many board feet will your kiln hold with modifications?

Welcome to the Forestry Forum fenceman! There is a lot of great info and knowledge on this forum 8) Pull up a stump and tell us about yourself. I assume you build fences?

Sawdust Lover · September 05, 2012, 06:53:42 PM

Pinywoods, I'm sure your right about not building it big enough. The pad is 17' wide so inside the walls is 16'. The door will only be 14' plus they say you should have 1' on both sides of the lumber. Im sure if I built it 18' I would have been better off but this is sort of a test kiln. If it works well I will be building another one right beside it. I worked on it all day so more pics coming tonight.

fenceman · September 05, 2012, 07:08:52 PM

Yup ! Greetings, reride 82 and all others......I build fences for a living, but I'd rather be sawing lumber. I was actually introduced to milling 15 years ago, but we got so busy building the fences we quit sawing our own lumber. But now, my sons are old enough to enjoy the sawing process, and things are a little slower business wise, so we bought an LT 70 Wood Mizer.......just finished my solar kiln....I had bought the plans from Wood Mizer 14 years ago, built it and it worked great. A quarry expanded beside our family farm and my parents departed to a new farm.....so FINALLY I have my kiln back, too. Their plan uses a 20' x 20' layout, with two 220v fans (boy, they hum!). I put 10-12 AD oak in (5/4, 8/4) a couple days ago........and yes, I believe there are some like minded people in the Forestry Forum discussions I've read thus far. Most people are fascinated when I describe what we do....but you all do the same things so it's a joy to see how others are doing this and loving it too.