Most of us stack our wood outside and expose it to the sun and wind to dry it over the course of a few seasons to a few years. It's simple, cheap and not so fast. I bumped into this video on large solar food dehydrators. If they were made a bit sturdier and larger they could hold most of a cord. I wonder how much faster the wood would dry?
Solar wood dryer?
- Thread starter larry3228
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iceman
Minister of Fire
I often think of framing a small greenhouse lime wood shed but use plastic on the sides with a vent on top. Then use a solar panel to run a cheap fan ... Box fan or 2. And wonder how fast the wood would dry out ...? It would have a constant breeze ? Or put a dehumidifier with.a box fan in a wood shed?
fishingpol
Minister of Fire
Here is the link to Build it Solar website. Careful-it is an addictive site like this one.
I'm building a solar passive space heater for my basement.
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WoodDrying/wood_kiln.htm
I'm building a solar passive space heater for my basement.
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WoodDrying/wood_kiln.htm
woodchip
Minister of Fire
Welcome to the forum
I have dried splits of Birch down to under 20% moisture in 6 months in our open greenhouse which acts as our solar drier.
Make sure you have good air circulation, warmth and lack of circulation will be a real mould factory.
Best way if you are thinking about spending money is to buy extra wood, get yourself 2 or 3 years ahead, and stay ahead.
That way you won't have to think about how dry your wood is or what variety dries the quickest.
When I started I spent good time measuring moisture when I should have been stashing away several years supply ;-)
I have dried splits of Birch down to under 20% moisture in 6 months in our open greenhouse which acts as our solar drier.
Make sure you have good air circulation, warmth and lack of circulation will be a real mould factory.
Best way if you are thinking about spending money is to buy extra wood, get yourself 2 or 3 years ahead, and stay ahead.
That way you won't have to think about how dry your wood is or what variety dries the quickest.
When I started I spent good time measuring moisture when I should have been stashing away several years supply ;-)
Wood Heat Stoves
Minister of Fire
That looks pretty nice. Here in Northern California, it's so hot and dry that the atmosphere acts like a giant dehumidifier. You can season most wood in a few months in the summer if it's split and stacked.
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