I like how you can bring everything up on the computer to track what you’re doing . Not many have success the first few runs including me but your getting nailed it down fast . Great job Brian .
There are plenty of improvements to make yet. I'm already dreaming up a second generation. As it runs I'm thinking how to improve it. The fan inside died on this run so I have a new idea for a blower coming before the next run. Thanks for watching Phil
Nice!!! I made one of these last year. You are on the right track you just need to know your moisture content before, how many board feet of wood, then you can calculate how much moisture in lbs or gallons that you will need to remove that way you can set your expectations for how long.
Pretty cool project. It might be more efficient to get most of the stove inside the kiln so you can load it from the outside but most of the metal of the stove is heating the inside.
@justicelee26 I agree with you on that. I'm already planning version 2 and getting the furnace enclosed inside is highest priority. Wasted heat the way it is now
Another possibility is change supply air to down low, and return air to up high. The theory is your sending more of the moisture back to the heat source for better drying. . i can envision full green wood taking humidity levels to way new highs. Probably 2 weeks or more to get to an average of 16% . Probably pushing it for plastic inside the box at 200F. consider lining the inside with fire resistant material. 0.01c
I keep making small changes each time I run but hopefully I can run a true green wood test starting this weekend. My plan for this run will be to disconnect the return air manually when the humidity gets too high. and from what I see the lowest temp for plastics to melt is like 220. and I cant sustain 200 very long so I'm not terribly worried about that. I am already starting to plan a new version and it will be its own structure next time. I need the room in my shed for other stuff.
Try to wrap the pipes between the stove and the kiln so you don’t loss a lot especially with winter around the corner. Second idea is allow the return air to mix a little fresh air into the cycle to introduce dryer outside air and then it will vent some wetter air as well
@ElitePropertyCare I do plan to insulate the duct pipes at some point soon. Just got a few other fixes I'm working on first I guess. Thanks for taking the time to watch
Hi Brian, you’re doing a pretty impressive job with the kiln. Let us know how much wood it takes to dry 2 totes when you get done. Proud of your experiment. Keep it up ,great job.
@clubdoraoutdoorsandfirewood Thank you! It's been a fun project so far with a lot of interest it seems like. And several are now asking about wood consumption so that video will be coming soon
@LoggerJason I am planning to do a wood consumption video on it soon but my guess is my first 2 runs were around a face cord burned. So 1 basket for 4 dry ones or so.
Sounds like you got there in 3 days, not 4… right? Nice job! Got an idea for ya, tho; for drying, a thin non-absorbent sheet of aluminum or heavy foil liner on the inside surfaces and a way to more quickly drain/evac the humidity condensation as temps cycle up and down. Maybe do periodic venting for a few minutes at tail end of the highest temps, quick evac of super humid air every few hours could help. then close her up to get to 140+ for an hour. I bet you get it done faster. 👍
@stever4360 Yeah, I guess you are right. I started Thursday night and went to Sunday night, so yes, about 72 hours. I was just looking at it last night and thought maybe a reflective layer could be beneficial. I like that suggestion. I fully expect I will probably need the vent fan when I get to doing green wood, but so far, I haven't seen crazy high humidity that would need venting. On this run, the highest humidity in the air was only 20 percent. I do expect in fresh cut green wood that may be a bit different, though. I do appreciate the suggestions and that you took the time to watch Thank you Brian
There are a few reasons. heat treatment kills pests and several campgrounds I've talked to require it for the wood they allow in the campground including the state parks. also I can do quick turnaround custom orders. someone asked for 12 inch wood and I don't have any now but was able to tell them I could have some for them soon. and I will never truly run out if I can keep drying it. Its not right for everyone but its been a fun project and I like the possibilities it has the potential to open up. thanks for watching and commenting!
I like how you can bring everything up on the computer to track what you’re doing . Not many have success the first few runs including me but your getting nailed it down fast . Great job Brian .
There are plenty of improvements to make yet. I'm already dreaming up a second generation. As it runs I'm thinking how to improve it. The fan inside died on this run so I have a new idea for a blower coming before the next run. Thanks for watching Phil
I’m very impressed with your results Brian. I’ll be following. Thanks! - Dick
Thank you. And thanks for watching Dick
Looks like you’re getting it dialed in! Good stuff Brian👍🏻👍🏻
Nice!!! I made one of these last year. You are on the right track you just need to know your moisture content before, how many board feet of wood, then you can calculate how much moisture in lbs or gallons that you will need to remove that way you can set your expectations for how long.
Wow! That's pretty exciting man, Great job!
Thanks! It's still a work in progress, but I'm learning a lot from the testing.
@shotlifffamilyfirewood yes Sir, me too!
Pretty cool project. It might be more efficient to get most of the stove inside the kiln so you can load it from the outside but most of the metal of the stove is heating the inside.
@justicelee26 I agree with you on that. I'm already planning version 2 and getting the furnace enclosed inside is highest priority. Wasted heat the way it is now
Another possibility is change supply air to down low, and return air to up high.
The theory is your sending more of the moisture back to the heat source for better drying.
.
i can envision full green wood taking humidity levels to way new highs.
Probably 2 weeks or more to get to an average of 16%
.
Probably pushing it for plastic inside the box at 200F. consider lining the inside with fire resistant material.
0.01c
I keep making small changes each time I run but hopefully I can run a true green wood test starting this weekend. My plan for this run will be to disconnect the return air manually when the humidity gets too high. and from what I see the lowest temp for plastics to melt is like 220. and I cant sustain 200 very long so I'm not terribly worried about that. I am already starting to plan a new version and it will be its own structure next time. I need the room in my shed for other stuff.
Try to wrap the pipes between the stove and the kiln so you don’t loss a lot especially with winter around the corner. Second idea is allow the return air to mix a little fresh air into the cycle to introduce dryer outside air and then it will vent some wetter air as well
@ElitePropertyCare I do plan to insulate the duct pipes at some point soon. Just got a few other fixes I'm working on first I guess. Thanks for taking the time to watch
Hi Brian, you’re doing a pretty impressive job with the kiln. Let us know how much wood it takes to dry 2 totes when you get done. Proud of your experiment. Keep it up ,great job.
@clubdoraoutdoorsandfirewood Thank you! It's been a fun project so far with a lot of interest it seems like. And several are now asking about wood consumption so that video will be coming soon
Nice little setup. How much wood are you burning to dry each batch?
I'm planning to do that video soon. I used some scraps and stuff so far but the 2 runs probably less than a facecord but I don't know for sure
Not an easy task so many fail so many times. Great work, do you burn more wood than you dry? Hopefully not. Nice work.
@LoggerJason I am planning to do a wood consumption video on it soon but my guess is my first 2 runs were around a face cord burned. So 1 basket for 4 dry ones or so.
Great job Brian! How much wood did you burn to get that stuff dry?
I'm planning to do that video soon. I used some scraps and stuff so far but the 2 runs probably less than a facecord but I don't know for sure
Sounds like you got there in 3 days, not 4… right? Nice job! Got an idea for ya, tho; for drying, a thin non-absorbent sheet of aluminum or heavy foil liner on the inside surfaces and a way to more quickly drain/evac the humidity condensation as temps cycle up and down. Maybe do periodic venting for a few minutes at tail end of the highest temps, quick evac of super humid air every few hours could help. then close her up to get to 140+ for an hour. I bet you get it done faster. 👍
@stever4360 Yeah, I guess you are right. I started Thursday night and went to Sunday night, so yes, about 72 hours.
I was just looking at it last night and thought maybe a reflective layer could be beneficial. I like that suggestion.
I fully expect I will probably need the vent fan when I get to doing green wood, but so far, I haven't seen crazy high humidity that would need venting. On this run, the highest humidity in the air was only 20 percent. I do expect in fresh cut green wood that may be a bit different, though.
I do appreciate the suggestions and that you took the time to watch
Thank you
Brian
You’re doing great with it very impressive 👍
Buy a truck trailer paint it black and use solar fans.
Why all this work? If you get a year ahead on you wood pile, this is done naturally.
There are a few reasons. heat treatment kills pests and several campgrounds I've talked to require it for the wood they allow in the campground including the state parks. also I can do quick turnaround custom orders. someone asked for 12 inch wood and I don't have any now but was able to tell them I could have some for them soon. and I will never truly run out if I can keep drying it.
Its not right for everyone but its been a fun project and I like the possibilities it has the potential to open up.
thanks for watching and commenting!