• Knowledge Base Search Results: 162
    • Your search for solar kiln found 162 documents (of 12641 searched).
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    Solar Kiln Designs 2 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 2
    An in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

    Drying lumber - selecting the best method
    Is a solar kiln the best choice for this startup sawmill? December 17, 2003

    Solar Kiln Designs 3 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 3
    An in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

    Building a Small Drying Kiln
    A long discussion of the considerations involved in building and operating a small backyard or garage kiln. August 8, 2008

    Solar Kiln Designs 1 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 1
    An in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

    Solar Kiln Designs 4 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 4
    An in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

    Dehumidifier Kiln Advice
    Detailed conversation about building, equipping, and operating a dehumidifier kiln to dry lumber. September 10, 2007

    Developing Software to Calculate Wood Kiln Schedules
    The wood drying process is complex, and involves many inter-related variables. So creating software to determine drying schedules is a challenge. June 13, 2014

    Solar Electric for Kiln Fans
    Kiln builders kick around ideas for an all-solar kiln using passive solar heat and photovoltaic panel-powered fans for air movement. January 28, 2014

    Vacuum, Dehumidification, and Microwaves — in One Kiln?
    Here's a long, highly speculative, but informative discussion of the concept of using microwaves, vacuum, and dehumidification for drying wood in a prototype kiln. April 20, 2011

    Why Insulate a Solar Kiln?
    A long discussion delving into the mechanics of how a solar kiln creates proper conditions for drying wood. January 28, 2014

    Processing Trees to Lumber -- for the Hobbyist and Small Business
    Two experts share their secrets of success for small-scale milling operations. January 19, 2002

    Achieving Sterilization with a Solar Kiln in a Humid Climate
    A woodworker struggles to get his lumber pile hot enough to kill beetles. April 15, 2012

    Improvements In solar dry kiln design
    Interest in solar drying of lumber has increased in recent years because previous results had indicated that: Drying times are shorter and final moisture contents are lower in solar drying than in air drying; much less lumber degrade occurs in solar drying when compared to air drying; and the cost o ......

    Air-Drying Versus Kiln-Drying for High-Value Wood
    Done right, kiln-drying gives you better control over quality. June 9, 2007

    Solar Kiln Designs Compared
    Thoughts on roof angle, dimensions, and other considerations for solar drying kiln construction. January 8, 2010

    Home-Built Dehumidifying Kilns
    Practical issues and concerns with building a drying kiln that uses an off-the-shelf dehumidifier or a salvaged commercial air conditioner instead of air venting. July 13, 2006

    Running a Solar Kiln
    Advice from old hands on operating a solar kiln. August 22, 2005

    Solar kilns - putting it all together
    Compiling and analyzing information on the efficient design and construction of a solar kiln. November 22, 2003

    Solar Kiln Collector Design
    Keep it simple: as long as the wood is protected from direct sunlight, painting the kiln interior black works as well as more complicated heat-absorbing rigs. July 28, 2006

    Solar Drying Kiln Q&A
    Basic questions and answers on vent sizing and temperature conditions in a solar kiln. January 18, 2011

    Kiln Drying Large Timbers
    An extended discussion of the technical issues involved in drying big beams for various uses. July 28, 2006

    Home-Built Dehumidification Kilns
    Here's a long discussion of small, inexpensive dehumidifier kiln design, including a consideration of the fire risks involved. September 17, 2012

    Adding Supplemental Heat to a Solar Kiln
    Extra heat for a solar kiln could help in some circumstances, but hurt in others. February 12, 2007

    Vacuum kiln drying
    How do vacuum kilns work and how effective are they? (From WOODWEB's Sawing and Drying Forum) January 21, 2003

    Kiln insulation
    A discussion of good insulations types for kilns and information on R values. February 7, 2001

    Paint for Solar Kiln Interiors
    Details for painting the inside of a solar drying kiln, and some resources for kiln design. June 9, 2007

    Fanless Solar Kiln?
    Natural convection is not a practical way to power air flow through a drying kiln. August 1, 2011

    Fan Speed for Solar Kilns
    Advice on maintaining appropriate air flow over the stack in a solar drying kiln. March 26, 2013

    Miniature Solar Kilns
    Very small solar kilns are indeed practicable, if you only need to dry small pieces of wood. December 31, 2012

    Drying Lodgepole Pine in Colorado
    Detailed advice on air-drying and kiln-drying lodgepole pine (some logged green and some killed by beetles). April 21, 2008

    Solar kiln kits and plans
    A discussion of various solar kiln plans and kits. June 20, 2000

    Exploring Alternative Kiln Technologies
    Sawmillers try out, wonder about, and report on the Green Dri desiccant-based drying kiln from Japan. June 8, 2011

    Is it Worth Kiln-Drying Firewood?
    Considering the cost of kiln construction and energy inputs versus the value of extra-dry firewood, it's hard to see how the dollars make sense. January 27, 2008

    Optimizing Fans in a Solar Kiln
    Advice on housings and shrouds for kiln fans. December 31, 2013

    Acid Condensation Issues with Drying Kilns
    This discussion of drying Oak for iron-and-wood furniture purposes takes an interesting detour into a discussion of acidic conditions in wood and kilns. October 15, 2010

    Solar Kilns and Wood Sterilizing
    Solar kilns don't get hot enough to sterilize wood (for that you should have an artificially heated supplemental chamber).July 7, 2011

    A Small Solar Kiln
    Report and photos of a small, just-finished solar kiln. November 8, 2007

    Moisture and Wood Movement In Kiln-Dried Versus Air-Dried Lumber
    In principle, wood's response to moisture changes is the same, no matter how the wood was dried. In practice, there may be a slight difference. July 23, 2014

    Boosting a Solar Kiln with Propane Heat
    Thoughts on modifying a solar kiln with supplemental propane heat to kill bugs and set pitch. April 30, 2009

    Wood Drying Conditions and Musical Instrument Sound Quality
    Instrument makers, musicians, and sawing and drying pros discuss whether kiln-dried or air-dried wood affect the way a musical instrument sounds. February 14, 2010

    Processing trees to lumber -- for the hobbyist
    A primer on sawing and drying lumber for projects at home. March 13, 2001

    Glazing for a Solar Kiln
    Clear glazing works much better than translucent white, a solar kiln owner discovers. December 15, 2005

    Automatic vents for solar kiln
    Can vents be left open at night or must they be controlled? (Sawing and Drying Forum) April 29, 2003

    A Detached Solar Collector for a Lumber Drying Kiln
    A discussion of whether to add a detached solar collector to an insulated drying shed, or to use a dehumidifier instead. January 28, 2014

    Adapting a Greenhouse for a Solar Kiln
    Thoughts on converting a polycarbonate-glazed greenhouse to use it as a wood drying kiln. April 18, 2009

    Solar Kiln at Work
    Here's a look at a newly completed backyard solar wood drying kiln with its first load of lumber. March 28, 2012

    Solar Kiln Q&A
    A few basic questions about solar drying kilns, answered. December 8, 2012

    Solar and Dehumidifier Kiln in Winter
    Thoughts on how to improve the poor performance of a solar drying kiln during winter. December 31, 2012

    Hawaii Solar Kiln Show and Tell
    A forum member from Hawaii shows his backyard solar drying kiln and gets some advice on improving it. May 27, 2014

    Drying Willow in a Solar Kiln
    Challenging scenario: a tricky wood to dry and a difficult kiln to control. February 14, 2010

    Solar kiln materials
    Advice on types of materials for letting light into your solar kiln. June 24, 2001

    Solar kiln glazing
    Best material choices for a double layer of glaze. April 9, 2003

    Solar Kiln Fans Question
    An airflow management problem in a solar kiln. April 15, 2012

    Home-built solar kiln
    Fully illustrated details of a solar dry kiln. May 5, 2003

    Solar kiln instruments
    Advice on controls for monitoring a solar kiln. October 2, 2001

    Supplemental Heat for a Solar Kiln
    Kiln owners suggest ways to "bump up" the heat at the end of a drying cycle. October 20, 2005

    Troubleshooting Drying Stress
    Some general instruction about the causes of drying stress for the owner of a dehumidifier kiln. April 2, 2013

    Venting and Fans for a Solar Kiln
    A quick expert explanation from the Wood Doctor of how and why vents and fans are used in a solar wood drying kiln. April 20, 2011

    Solar Kiln Show and Tell
    Photos and descriptions of small solar kilns. August 31, 2005

    Whether to Run a Dehumidifier in a Solar Kiln
    Solar kilns usually run too hot to be suitable for a dehumidification approach. Correct venting is the key. January 17, 2011

    Solar Kilns in Humid Climates
    Solar kilns work well even in humid climates, because heating damp air lowers its relative humidity. April 30, 2006

    Kiln Drying in a Heat Wave
    When conditions are wrong, a solar kiln can easily be too hot for good results. Here are tips on controlling drying conditions during hot weather. May 15, 2012

    Kiln venting
    Are vents needed in a condenser kiln? March 20, 2001

    Heat considerations in solar kilns
    Solar kilns get hot enough to handle some aspects of lumber drying, but not all of them. March 6, 2000

    Drying Oak Lumber: Step 7, Storage
    The Wood Doctor discusses how to protect dried lumber from damage during storage. August 27, 2012

    Selecting Fans for a Solar Kiln
    Advice on picking fans that will move the right amount of air and not fail from overheating. February 8, 2008

    Solar kiln construction
    Specifications for a solar kiln. March 11, 2000

    Solar or dehumidification kiln?
    A discussion of the merits of two types of kilns for lumber processing. March 12, 2000

    Controls and Venting for a Dehumidifier Kiln
    Advice on controlling the conditions in a dehumidifier kiln. August 1, 2011

    Setting Pitch with a Solar Kiln
    If the kiln doesn't get hot enough from sunshine alone, try some supplemental electric heat. July 10, 2007

    Geothermal dehumidification kiln
    Can water piped from below ground help with dehumidification? July 24, 2001

    Night-time Reconditioning in Solar Kiln Operation
    The nightly humidity increase in a solar kiln is not harmful to the drying lumber, but helps to relieve stress. December 31, 2013

    Adding Heat to a Solar Kiln in Winter
    Supplemental heat is tricky, because there's a risk of over-drying and casehardening. May 13, 2009

    Winter Operation of Solar Kilns
    Solar drying kiln performance slows significantly in the winter. Here are tips on wintertime operation. July 15, 2012

    DH kiln preferences
    A look at dehumidification kiln construction, and manufacturers of DH units. July 26, 2000

    Solar Kiln Glass
    Are different types of glass more or less suitable for solar kilns? May 11, 2005

    Hardness and Kiln-Drying Temperature
    Higher drying temperatures affect the hardness and machinability of wood. December 12, 2008

    Fan Placement in a Solar Kiln
    High or low? January 8, 2010

    Drying wood in a tent
    Recommendations on how to use the sun's rays and a plastic tent to dry lumber. November 7, 2001

    Drying Beech in a Dehumidifier Kiln
    Beech needs an aggressive drying schedule, similar to Oak or hard Maple. January 25, 2013

    Setting up a milling business
    How much land, what equipment is needed, and in what order, for a startup sawmill. April 24, 2002

    Minimum Sticker Thickness
    How thin can stickers be in order to maximize kiln capacity without creating drying problems? May 11, 2005

    Operating Solar Kilns on a Rainy Day
    On rainy days, close the vents and switch off the fans. March 16, 2015

    Using a Corn Drier as a Kiln
    Lumber drying is a controlled process, that an agricultural corn dryer probably cannot accomplish correctly. February 15, 2009

    Low-cost kiln plans
    Information sources for constructing low-cost kilns. 1998.

    Solar Kiln Insulation^ and Vapor Barrier Materials
    Closed-cell foam insulation and plastic vapor barriers are necessary to withstand a kiln interior's moisture load. August 21, 2006

    Solar kiln construction - and more
    are answered.

    Solar Drying Basics (PDF)
    Illustrated article from the West Virginia University Extension Serivce on solar drying and kilns, in PDF format. June 19, 2003

    Reality Check for Urban Wood Sawmilling Idea
    What a cool idea — invest in some equipment, saw up "free" logs, and make a tidy profit. If it were only that easy. December 11, 2007

    Getting Into Flooring Production
    The owner of a rough lumber business has been getting a lot of requests for hardwood flooring. Here's a discussion of what equipment he would need to start producing it, and what markets he should cultivate in order to make money. November 13, 2005

    Monitoring Progress in a Dehumidifier Kiln
    Collecting and measuring the removed water is not a reliable way to gauge drying progress, especially when drying mixed thicknesses of wood. June 4, 2012

    Firewood kiln
    Methods and facilities used to dry firewood. November 26, 2001

    Checking in Oak
    A discussion of kiln conditions and other factors that can cause Oak to check while drying. October 29, 2008

    Drying Walnut Crotch Slabs
    A light coat of sealant? Or a slow, careful spell in the kiln? February 26, 2005

    Aluminum paint for kilns
    Options for aluminum paint for use on solar lumber kilns. March 9, 2000

    Sticker Thickness
    Three quarters of an inch is the practical minimum. April 10, 2005

    Stored Lumber, Ambient Moisture, and Lumber Moisture Content Changes
    Kiln-dried lumber stored in a non-conditioned space will equilibrate with the natural relative humidity conditions of the ambient air. April 21, 2011

    Longevity of Clear Roofing for Kilns
    Clear roofing panels vary widely in composition, quality, and durability. December 8, 2012

    Lumber Storage After Kiln Drying
    Advice on storing kiln-dried wood in the proper humidity conditions. November 14, 2009

    Slabbing and Drying Big Logs
    Preventing cracks in Monterey cypress. April 18, 2004

    Organizing Logs and Flitches for Bandmill Operation
    Here's a long thread on bandmill workflow: stacking and laying out logs and flitches for loading, edging, sawing, and off-loading efficiently. June 18, 2010

    Measuring/Monitoring Moisture Levels
    The hows and whys of monitoring moisture content in lumber. 1998.

    Finish Over Air-Dried Pine
    Soft resin and volatile natural solvents in softwoods will interfere with finishes unless the wood is kiln-dried at a high enough temperature to "set the pitch."August 17, 2009

    Optimizing Airflow in a Solar Kiln
    Ideal airflow in a kiln varies by wood species. Here are some rules of thumb. December 31, 2012

    Kiln Baffle Material
    Canvas or carpet works well for directing air through the wood stack in a kiln. January 14, 2009

    A facility for storing kilned lumber
    What's a good facility for storing kilned lumber without raising its moisture content? May 6, 2000

    Purchasing kiln-dried lumber
    Getting the quality and MC level you need . January 16, 2002

    Forced Air Circulation in a Solar Kiln
    An example of a fan-and-plastic-sheeting setup that forces air through the lumber stack. May 14, 2006

    How Much Heat is Enough to Kill Insects?
    Information on the ranges of temperature and time required to kill bugs in wood. November 8, 2007

    Drying Eucalyptus
    Eucalyptus is a fussy wood to air-dry or kiln-dry. Here are some clues about its character. October 14, 2006

    Drying Koa
    Insight on the ins and outs of drying Koa wood in Hawaii. April 20, 2011

    Drying Rates of Different Wood Varieties
    Drying rates are complicated because they depend on wood density as well as other factors. October 19, 2013

    Oak cupping and warping
    When during drying does oak lumber stop cupping and warping? July 4, 2000

    Air-Drying Hard Maple
    Handle maple carefully and keep an eye on it, if you don't want sticker stain or lumber degrade. October 12, 2007

    Utilizing Municipal Trees -- Ideas from Across the Country
    How municipal tree removals are being utilized for traditional wood products. May 26, 2002

    Whether or Not to Condition Lumber after Drying
    It's not always necessary to condition a load of dried lumber at the end of the drying cycle — only sometimes. February 22, 2011

    From Log to Furniture
    A newcomer has logs and wants to make some furniture. The sawmill forum has advice for him. January 14, 2013

    Milling for shares
    Sawyers discuss the practicality and profitability of share-cutting. March 4, 2002

    Mixed Drying Loads
    Mixing wood of different moisture contents in the same kiln load causes big problems, but mixing different lumber species at the same moisture content can be okay. May 15, 2012

    Drying with Moderate Heat
    Here's info on how various types of wood will respond to conditions in a home-built drying room that doesn't get much warmer than 120°F. There's a useful lecture here on how case-hardening occurs. May 16, 2008

    Comparing moisture meters
    An assessment of the performance of pin and pinless moisture meters made by major manufacturers. July 11, 2000

    Air-Drying Wood in a Grain Bin
    A discussion of air-drying sheds light on issues relating to target moisture content. July 28, 2008

    Starting a portable sawmilling business
    Advice on making a living with a start-up sawmilling business. June 24, 2001

    White Pine Versus Yellow Poplar for Interior Paneling
    A bandsaw mill owner gets advice on which wood species to use for interior wall and ceiling paneling. October 19, 2014

    Storing Wood in an Unheated Building
    Is kiln-dried lumber that has been sitting in an unheated shed still dry enough to use? November 27, 2006

    Blue Stain in Red Oak
    A discussion of staining, drying odor, and related problems in a large oak tree blown down by wind. December 12, 2008

    Drying and Sawing Sycamore Logs for Beams
    Advice on how to get useable large-dimension lumber out of Sycamore logs. January 8, 2010

    Drying Half Logs for Benches
    Unfortunately, large logs crack as they dry. It's unavoidable. March 16, 2015

    Understanding Drying Stress in Wood
    A complaint about cupping in mahogany door stiles after machining leads to a discussion of what causes drying stress and related movement in kiln-dried wood. June 23, 2006

    Thinner Sticks in the Lumber Drying Pile
    Reducing the thickness of spacer sticks in the lumber stack could reduce the drying effectiveness of the system and create quality issues. October 19, 2014

    Portable Sawmill Comparisons
    Users share views and experiences on portable sawmill types. November 13, 2005

    Lumber Handling in Sawmill Operations
    Stacking and re-stacking lumber takes its toll on your time and your back. In this thread, sawmillers talk about smarter ways to handle lumber. October 20, 2005

    Drying Walnut and Cherry in the Garage
    A garage or attic is an okay place to air-dry small quantities of hardwood. January 2, 2012

    Drying hardwood lumber
    Drying Hardwood Lumber focuses on common methods for drying lumber of different thickness, with minimal drying defects, for high quality applications. This manual also includes predrying treatments that, when part of an overall quality-oriented drying system, reduce defects and improve drying qualit ......

    Sawing and Drying Sweet Gum
    Sweet Gum is a troublesome wood to work with because of its tendency to twist and move, but the effort can be worth it for some uses. February 14, 2010

    Wax to Seal Turning Blocks
    Thoughts on selecting and applying wax to preserve turning blocks during storage. February 8, 2008

    Planer is tearing-out -- on white oak, but not red
    What could be the culprit when a planer is tearing out on one type of oak, but not another? June 14, 2000

    Managing Fungus on Cedar
    Advice on handling and cleaning a Cedar slab that wasn't properly dried and now harbors fungus. October 19, 2014

    Dimensional Framing Lumber from Mixed Hardwoods
    Thoughts on using local hardwood to produce framing lumber for outbuildings. October 4, 2011

    Dehumidifiers and Lumber Storage
    A dehumidifier in the storage room will keep lumber at the proper moisture content, and will do no harm. December 6, 2012

    Drying green tongue-and-groove pine
    Success in drying green, already-machined lumber has much to do with the species. 1998.

    Storm Door over Wood Entry Door
    Will a glass storm door installed over a wood entry door increase the risk of damage from the sun? November 14, 2014

    Suggestions For Marketing Lumber
    02/10/2007

    "True honeycomb" defined
    What is "true honeycomb" and what causes it? November 7, 2001

    Base and Shelter Ideas for a Bandsaw Mill
    Descriptions, pictures, and advice about setting up a bandsaw mill. May 21, 2009

    Dr. Gene Wengert - Giving Free Advice Became a Habit
    How Gene Wengert became the Wood Doctor, and how he helps woodworkers on and offline. July 16, 2002

    Bug Control: Pesticide, or a Salamander Heater?
    Warnings: Pesticides will likely not penetrate lumber and kill a particular pest, and heating wood with fuel combustion exhaust can cause discoloration. January 28, 2014

    Wing Back Chair Show and Tell
    A carpenter learning as he goes on a set of wing-back chairs shows his work, and gets feedback from a tough crowd. October 19, 2013

    Shopping for Portable Sawmills
    Portable sawmill owners and would-be owners discuss equipment preferences, operating characteristics, and why they even bother in the first place. November 13, 2005

    Shopping for a Starter Bandmill
    Advice on taking that first step down the road to sawdust addiction. October 4, 2011

    Why is Walnut Purple Sometimes?
    The purple color of some Walnut boards is natural. Here's more background with comments and observations from woodworkers. February 16, 2014

    Sawing Old Down Logs
    A sawmiller gets advice on whether to saw storm-downed trees that have been on the ground for several years. December 12, 2008

    Stickering and Spacing
    No need to space boards when air-drying small batches. February 26, 2005

    Thoughts on sweetgum
    A quick primer on sweetgum. July 4, 2000

    Selling Basswood to Carvers
    Woodcarvers pay good money for Basswood in the right size and condition. February 3, 2011

    Lumber drying options and efficiencies
    The Wood Doctor's favorite references for making decisions among lumber-drying options. 1998.

    Building a bandsaw sawmill
    Recommendations on where to find parts and how to construct a mill from scratch.

    Drying hickory lumber
    Avoiding sticker stain and bugs in hickory lumber. December 12, 2000

    Glue Choice for Fabricating Stave Core Doors
    Many different glues will work for this relatively simple task. March 18, 2006

    Durable Wood for a Screen Door
    A craftsman's question about screen door materials kicks off a long discussion about the qualities of various wood species, old growth and second growth. October 4, 2005

    Air drying sycamore
    What steps to take, from stickering to weighting. October 31, 2000

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