Solar Kiln Update

In this short video I clean out the kiln of the dry pine lumber and talk about the pros and cons of this kiln.
#SolarKiln
#Dryingyourownwood

[@mikeyg9619]

Good stuff. Exactly what a guy with a sawmill needs!

[@BrianBozak]

Your right , every sawmill owner needs a kiln. Took me to long., to figure that out.

[@MrJFoster1984]

I plan on using a poly tunnel that way you can drive your tractor in and out of it if need be. Super cheap to build also

[@BrianBozak]

What I found is that you have to take into consideration how much volume the sun will have to heat up, and the mass inside. You will have to match the collecting surface to those other factors. I winged it and got close, but in the winter when the days are short here it takes most of the day to just bring the kiln up to temp. Also the days when we have complete sun in the winter are few and fare between. I am going to start putting smaller loads in during this time of year. They are a great idea and I'm sure you will have success.

[@carluman]

Thank you for sharing what you would change. I planning to build one this spring and had planned on making so it would take 16' stuff and a concrete slab. Good to hear those are changes you would like as well.

[@BrianBozak]

Like I said in the video I made it out of stuff I had laying around, But I still am amazed by what it does. I just emptied a load of Ash and even in the middle of winter the temp got to 97 degrees a couple of days ago. I don't think you will regret building one. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@jakewatrous378]

Awesome video! I’ve been looking at building a kiln and can’t seem to find anywhere why there are two sets of vents, one up high and one down low. Also, how often do you adjust the vents, or is it set it and forget it? Thanks for putting out great content!

[@BrianBozak]

Thanks for leaving a comment. I put in the two vents up high and the ones down low, because I was following someone else's ideas. They actually work . You can feel the warm moist air exiting the upper vents when the load of lumber is just installed. I have tended to leave the vents all the way open at the beginning and close them not all the way as the lumber dries. Near the end of the cycle you want the temp. to get as high as you can . Good luck . Have any questions ,I'll try to help.

[@garywilser7802]

Nice Kiln !

[@BrianBozak]

It will be nice when I get the time to finish it. Thanks

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

looks like it is working out well. I suppose a concrete based kiln would have you loading it with a tractor. tHanks for the update.

[@BrianBozak]

Thanks for watching ,just checked out the kiln temp ,it reached 82 deg. today. That's good for this time of year.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

Hello @@BrianBozak Have you seen how people make window boxes? Rectangular box, angled up into a house window. Inside is painted black and there are water bottles inside. Sunlight heats the box and the hot air rises into the house. I haven't made one but when you said your kiln reached 82....I was thinking there is nice energy for the house in there!

[@BrianBozak]

Yes I am planning to use some sort of solar collector for my future shop.

[@pyrrhical3423]

I wonder how it would compare against other species of timber in terms of time taken to dry. Any problems with excessive cracking or twisting with it being so hot in there or do those breeze blocks weigh them down enough to mitigate that

[@BrianBozak]

I have been told that you can dry white pine as fast as you want. I talked about the oak ,that was in the first batch, and how i think it should be air dried a little first. Not an expert , just learning.

[@ricklarade3593]

ive been waiting to see how the moisture content is

[@ricklarade3593]

even sounds dry as kindling...lol

[@BrianBozak]

Rick ,the pine planed up nicely and it certainly feels dry. I still don't trust the moisture meter, even using the pine inside our house as a base line. thanks for the message.

[@toddcaskey9984]

Yeah I was surprised & didn't know your thinking, when you made it 14 ' & didn't make it 16' . I love the fact that you make timber frame stuff . Great job

[@BrianBozak]

Your right it should have been bigger ,but we are all cheep and I built it with stuff I had laying around.