DIY Wood Kiln

[@ScenicCityWoodturning]

After seeing yours I grabbed a broken mini fridge from work and made a small kiln out of it. I started with a 60w bulb and it melted the inside of the fridge. 😳😁I changed it to a wax melting lamp for the scented waxes and it keeps it around 120-130 degrees depending on garage temps. Thanks for the idea and inspiration! 👍🏻Stay warm!

[@woodentreasurestn]

Wow! Melted inside? Hard to believe it got that hot. Smaller area I guess. You have vent holes for heat to escape? Have you noticed faster drying times?

[@ScenicCityWoodturning]

@@woodentreasurestn I’ll text you a picture. It does seem like it dries faster. I only put some logs in it to test it out. A cedar one cracked pretty bad, but the hackberry hasn’t. It had some checking before, but it’s not worse. The wood has shrunk from the bark, however. Seems like it works great so far.

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

@@ScenicCityWoodturning Add a minute or 2 in a posting so we can follow your efforts too Mike !! -Mike

[@ScenicCityWoodturning]

@@mpart_woodlathe-stuff a minute or 2?

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

@@ScenicCityWoodturning I meant Add an aside once in a while to a post. Or feel free to do an in-depth post about it. We'd all be interested I'm sure. No BS. Or does a minute where you are seem like days :) Or in Covid time that would be 1 or 2 nanoseconds hehe.

[@alirezafaraji3402]

Could you please explain more about the temperature, humidity and the time and their changes when drying process happens!

[@woodentreasurestn]

Sorry for delay. I was just explaining that as the drying happens, your drawing out the moisture and your humidity will be high (70-90%) ?, and will decrease over time. Depending on size of coarse is how long it’ll take. My last load of tree sides (just large chucks of wood) took a couple months and the humidity dropped to just below 30% and didn’t go lower. Moisture meter check showed below 10% moisture content. If there’s no more moisture to draw out the humidity will level off and not change. Temp got up to 100-105 degrees. Hope this helps.

[@alirezafaraji3402]

@@woodentreasurestn thanx for your response. I think there is some schedule that shows the tmp, CM and RH ratio depends on kind of wood during kiln drying!

[@woodentreasurestn]

I have now installed Ceramic heaters instead of light bulbs, because of incandescent bulbs are hard to find, that I found on Amazon (link below and in description also). These are reptile/terrarium heaters, rated at 100W. With vents closed, temp went to 138+ degrees and this allowed me to regulate temp better with vents to maintain approx. 110 degrees (to kill bugs). Hope this helps!! Rick amazon.com/dp/B07KLZCDQH?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

[@spinfieldturners]

Useful info. On my list to do. Cheers.

[@mpart_woodlathe-stuff]

Keep us posted how it goes. Looking good Rick! Have you seen YT'ers "Sprague Woodturning" or "Lisa Ramlow" ?? They both did, are doing similar fridge kilns recently - good stuff !! Merry Christmas to you and yours🎅🎄 Thank you 🙏 Stay safe. -Mike😷💉

[@waynenelson8907]

Have you tried the little heater you have listed om amazon? Do you prefer the light bulb over the heater?? Thanks in advance. Wayne

[@woodentreasurestn]

Yes. Sorry for the delay. I meant to update my results. The ceramic heater works much better. With vents closed and only circulating fan inside, it reached 140 degrees. When is opened vents full open it maintained around 116 degrees. Very satisfied with results. Filament bulbs are too hard to find. Only LED and they don’t get hot enough. Ceramic heater is the way to go!

[@waynenelson8907]

@@woodentreasurestn I am new to wood turning and have a lathe and have played with it some getting the feel of it. May I ask what you recommend on drying procedure. I have a lot of wood cut and should I cut down to size for bowl, platter whatever to a point then put it in kiln to dry? I know nothing about the correct way or the best way. Thanks again. And God Bless. Wayne

[@woodentreasurestn]

@@waynenelson8907 be glad to talk more about this but prefer outside of comment box. Didn’t see an email contact info on your channel, so for your privacy go to my channel and send me email under “About” and we’ll chat via mail or phone. Thanks

[@JourneymanCoup]

I'm in Clarksville myself. Recently got a freezer from the landfill with just this purpose in mind. How long have you been using this set-up yourself? Thank you for taking the time to share this video.

[@woodentreasurestn]

Hey Jason! Good to chat with neighbors! Been using for over a year now but it's off and on use. Don't have constantly on, not enough product yet for that. I try to cut, seal and dry all at once. Time is usually the issue there. Haven't done yet, but I think rough turned bowls would benefit well here. You cut away most wood and drying wouldn't take long at all I think. Next on the list haha! Thanks again!

[@SiamWoodShop]

Thanks for the sub, much appreciated. I have just watched Mike's video as well, great ideas, Srat safe, oh yes, I just subbed you 2. Stay safe

[@Bramsshed1913]

Hi , I just come over from watching Mikes video of similar I had a quick look at your video uploads and thought you well worth subscribing to ! I will have a proper look asap Cheers and take care Bram

[@woodentreasurestn]

Thank ya sir, looking fwd to viewing your channel also!