In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

solar powered kiln

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by sirbuildalot, Jan 28, 2020.

  1. sirbuildalot

    sirbuildalot

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    Has anyone here made a solar kiln to dry firewood? Did it work?
     
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  2. papadave

    papadave

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    There were some who dabbled in it a few years ago and there were some good results.
    Here's one thread..........Hillbilly solar kiln.
     
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  3. sirbuildalot

    sirbuildalot

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    Getting IBC totes and wrapping them in shrink wrap, stored in a sunny open spot seems like it would work pretty good.
     
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  4. Rush Battle

    Rush Battle

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    Good topic. I have investigated this myself. I have too many trees blocking my sunlight though. Still working on that. Check out this design. I think it would hold two totes, or you could easily modify if not.

    Design and Operation of a Solar-Heated Dry Kiln

    I went to VT, so I’m biased, but the design seems to be well regarded. I think it would be easy to (un)load it with forks on a machine.
     
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  5. Jim Barry

    Jim Barry

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    The solar heating shouldn't be the problem. Its more important to pay attention to the air circulation.

    I built a passive solar box as proof of concept. Building an air solar panel

    Then I redesigned it to dry hardwood slices. Wood slice dehydrator Worked like a charm.
     
  6. DaveGunter

    DaveGunter

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  7. Brad M

    Brad M

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    I did a pallet sized one last winter to see how it would work. It worked great. I put 37% moisture wood in the last week of Oct 2018 and unwrapped it May 2019. I wanted to see how much it would dry just during the winter. The wood was 19-21% by May. Here in Missouri we have plenty of good sunny days in the winter and I wanted to see if I could take advantage of them. The temp inside would hit 137* on a good sunny day. Now that I'm getting closer to being 3 yrs ahead I haven't fooled with it any more.
     
  8. FatBoy85

    FatBoy85

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    I read that thread, good stuff when you need to have wood dried very quickly. Other than the ...show :emb: seemed solidly informed. ​
     
  9. Skier76

    Skier76

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    My neighbor up north uses one for drying wood he cuts from his chainsaw mill that he makes in to furniture. It's a neat setup and he has it facing the sun for maximum exposure.
     
  10. Babaganoosh

    Babaganoosh

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    I've done it. It definitely works. I think I posted in one of those threads. I remember getting something around 140 degree temps inside the plastic.
     
  11. eko

    eko

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    I built some to dry barbecue wood down to absolute zero moisture. They work well.
    IMG_0625.JPG
     
  12. creek chub

    creek chub

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    Go Hokies!
     
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  13. Rush Battle

    Rush Battle

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    Ha, were you Fisheries Science? That is my degree, and we spent way too much time looking at chubs and darters!

    Go Hokies!
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2020
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  14. creek chub

    creek chub

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    Ha. Good guess but that was my childhood nickname because I was always in the creek
     
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  15. Eckie

    Eckie

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    When i started reading this thread the other day, i of course clicked on the link and read the one by Augie. Wondered if anyone who had stated interest in trying it had done so, and what kind of results they had seen. Thanks for posting. Anyone out there wrap green wood in early spring and have burnable wood that winter?
     
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