Solar kiln temps

[Newt243]

How long do you think to get this dead standing post oak to acceptable moisture content? It was around 28-29% when I split it.

 

[GG Woody]

Does that moisture have anywhere to vent out?

 

[Newt243]

Yep there are vents at either end on the top.

 

[MRD1985]

How long has it been in the kiln?

 

[Newt243]

It’s been in there I little over a week. We will have temps in the upper 90’s for at least another month or more.

 

[MRD1985]

What stove is the wood going in?

The only way you’ll know is to pull a piece at the end of September, split it, and measure it.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I'd like to see some blowers moving the air through

SEAFLO 12V In-Line Blower

Get the SEAFLO 12V In-Line Blower for high-output off-grid use. Due to demand, order now to ship mid-October. Cabin Depot has 24V in stock for immediate needs.

thecabindepot.ca

 

[gthomas785]

I'd like to see some blowers moving the air through

SEAFLO 12V In-Line Blower

Get the SEAFLO 12V In-Line Blower for high-output off-grid use. Due to demand, order now to ship mid-October. Cabin Depot has 24V in stock for immediate needs.

thecabindepot.ca

Too much airflow will cool it down. I think OP has the right idea with just enough vents to let the moisture out. Personally I would've wrapped the plastic all the way down with just an inch or 2 open at the bottom.

 

[Newt243]

The bottom couple rows have actually been seasoning for a year and the moisture was below 10% on a couple pieces I check so I wasn’t worried about them not being wrapped. I think a fan might be helpful on green wood but with this tree already being dead it wasn’t holding as much moisture. This is my second year doing a kiln so I’ll see how it goes. For some reason I didn’t cut near as much wood this winter as I usually do so I’m behind!

 

[Whitenuckler]

The bottom couple rows have actually been seasoning for a year and the moisture was below 10% on a couple pieces I check so I wasn’t worried about them not being wrapped. I think a fan might be helpful on green wood but with this tree already being dead it wasn’t holding as much moisture. This is my second year doing a kiln so I’ll see how it goes. For some reason I didn’t cut near as much wood this winter as I usually do so I’m behind!

Yes, I think a blower would help move the humid air out of the plastic tent. If you can see water droplets on the inside of the plastic, that means the water condensed and did not come out. If you wrap it all up but install a chimney pipe roof flashing on the side you can terminate the plastic there and mount the blower. Even better would be a blower on each end. It would suck air from the bottom and move it out. Even if the blower was not running, or not there due to rain, there would still be ventilation.

 

[EbS-P]

You need to circulate that air inside not vent it out. I bet I’d measure the temperature at the center of the stack it’s much much lower.

 

[Newt243]

Shooting with a temp gun through the openings and the temp only varied around 5 degrees or so even to the middle of the stack. It was a little cooler on the North facing side but still in the mid 130s. I’ll probably pull a piece out in a few weeks and split it and check the moisture level.

 

[bigealta]

Some solar kilns work, some don't. I'd read up on the solar kiln shown here by our member who has a good proven design.

Can someone help with finding the kiln instructions thread. I'm spacing on it and a solor kiln search is not pulling it up,

 

[Whitenuckler]

Some solar kilns work, some don't. I'd read up on the solar kiln shown here by our member who has a good proven design.

Can someone help with finding the kiln instructions thread. I'm spacing on it and a solor kiln search is not pulling it up,

Post in thread 'Getting firewood ready for this winter'

Jun 1, 2023

Okay you guys that are 2-3 years out. Some of us are not there yet . I am busy getting next winter’s wood ready and yes I am late but that is due to buying the property last October, redoing the kitchen, bathroom and floors myself….and yes I am tried of it already. Got three face cords of maple stacked and covered and this weekend will be building a solar kiln as per Mr @Woodsplitter67. Hopefully I’ll get it dry by Aug and also have 3 cords of red oak that may be dry enough by Sept-Oct in the second kiln. After this weekend, it’s time to build the wood shed as Iw ant to start...

• Woodsplitter67

• 

How about this?

 

[bigealta]

Yes thanks, Woodsplitteru67 has his build instructions posted here.

Thread 'Solar kiln for hardwoods part deux'

Jul 4, 2019

My first thread that was put together for the solar Kiln was not actually intended to be posted, so this time I took the time to try to put together more information.

The wood was split March 30th and the racks were set up on April 6th the wood that was split was all Oak and the moisture readings were between 34 and 37%. All of the wood that was split was Oak and over the course of the next couple of months some additional Beach was added to the top. The total amount of wood is over 2 cords

The racks are from the big box stores just regular 4 foot high wood racks raised slightly above...

• Woodsplitter67
• Replies: 150
• Forum: The Wood Shed

•