Sawing and Drying

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Ventilation for drying shed... blow in, or out ?

1/30/15       
Philippe Member

I wondered if the more experienced could help with this question. I am building a covered and enclosed shed (as on the drawing) to dry the wood, next to the sawmill. I left 2-3" of gap below the wall for air circulation and the red arrow points to a 1 sf opening in which I was planning to put a solar activated fan (those don't blow many cfm!). Should the fan blow the air "in" (to keep as much hot air in during the sunny periods) or "out" to help with the natural thermosiphon? The opening for the log entry will be a strip door. So not very tight closure.
Thanks or your help!


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1/30/15       #2: Ventilation for drying shed... blow ...
Gene Wengert-Wood Doc

Probably blow out, but I am not clear on where the lumber will be that you are drying. In fact, I am somewhat confused. Will lumber be there for a long time? If the sun is not shinning, will the humidity build up and rust the machines and nails, etc. In fact, with a small fan running, will the humidity be too high?

The fans (need a bunch of fans) probably need to run all the time except when the outside RH is over 90% RH. Note that a drying shed is usually without any walls except the wall with the fans

1/30/15       #3: Ventilation for drying shed... blow ...
Philippe Member

This is just to store a few logs at a time, not a high volume. The gap underneath is probably more like 4" in fact, so about 15 sf area, plus passive ventilation on top, and if needed the 20' door can be kept open. I was mostly wondering whether to exhaust the hot air or force it down and let the heavier moist air "leak out" underneath.

1/30/15       #4: Ventilation for drying shed... blow ...
rich c.

Better list your location as well as answering Gene's questions. Fill that thing with wet red oak, and red oak sawdust, and you can sit back and watch everything either mold or rust. Probably both! How you going to get all that lumber out? Haul it back through the door by the mill? If you need a wind break in the winter, I'd consider hanging tarps from a cable, like a shower curtain. Then you can open it up and let the air move through with no fans.

1/30/15       #5: Ventilation for drying shed... blow ...
Philippe Member

This is in Middle TN. The orientation of the shed is such that the wall on the right of the drawing is facing west. The long wall is facing north. Most of the rain would be coming North West in this location (hills around). I would take the boards back out into the tool shop for further drying. I realize that may not be ideal, but not many other easy choices that I could find.

3/1/15       #6: Ventilation for drying shed... blow ...
old 243

philippe, ,try to set your lumber piles so that you can , stack and sticker right off your mill. Then have your lumber storage so that you can move them to your storage area , with the loader or fork lift, that you will likely get as you r mill evolves. I went through the system of moving and restacking lumber several times. I finally bought a used forklift on a tractor,
My storage building has a single sloped roof the entire south wall is high and open. Lumber dries well and the north west winds keep the air circulating. Leave a 2 inch space in the soffit on the north side, this will create a positive pressure in the building and in my case keeps the snow from blowing in.
My building was from a plan designed for a dry heifer barn, I used it to store large round bales. before I sold my cows and got my mill.My mill sits facing north and south, with the one end inside th building about 5 feet, this protects the head when you are not milling. and you can load the logs on from the side, and the sawdust is outside so you can remove it with a tractor bucket. As I got older I was no longer able to lug stuff around, as much. Try and work smarter , not harder. Your back will appreciate it. old243

3/1/15       #7: Ventilation for drying shed... blow ...
Philippe Member

This will not be for drying a ton of wood just a few logs. This is what we ended up doing after the advise of Pr. Wengert. The large opening has a strip curtain divided into a stationary and a sliding portion, so we can increase air exchange when fresh lumber is introduced. The wood will be used in the toolshop (door visible on the rack image). So not much carrying around.


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