Hey splitoak I hope you, and anyone else for that matter, will report back on how it works for you, with pics of course, maybe in a new thread.
http://www.conradlumberco.com/pdfs/ch12_Drying_Control_of_Moisture.pdf Some food for thought, read the portion on drying mechanism. *note* this is for lumber, but the process is the same thought. Also, all wood will dry at a different rate depending on the species of the wood.
Please refer to table 12-3 in the article you posted. If you notice the first line of the chart shows at 120F and 86% relative humidity lumber will equalize at 14.4% moisture content. I am seeing temps in excess of 150F at times and humidity at that time was measured as 84%. Thanks for finding something that so accurately backs up the information I have presented. At any time you are welcome to admit you didn't have a full understanding of the process and were incorrect
In addition the same table shows staring at 50% MC it takes approximately 12 hrs for a 1-2 inch thick piece of duglas fir to equalize to 14.1% MC at 170F. In a 90 day time period in the summer you will have in excess of 50hrs of 150+ degrees. and every cooling cycle more water condenses falls to the bottom of the kiln and is removed from the system.
Augie, first off… I'm not incorrect, second, I'm not arguing or trying to dispute "some of the things posted" The facts are you need evaporation for adequate moisture displation, Give it a rest bud! Back in the early 80's some meatball thought it was a good idea to line your walls in a house that was being constructed with plastic, and said "this is great" it will stop drafts etc, etc, etc…. Guess what, peoples walls rotted because there was inadequate ventilation! Thats why we don't button up an attic, we let it breath, I read the above article. Nite.
Please refer to the design to understand how water is removed with no ventilation, just weep holes. At this point you are just not grasping the basic design and operating principles as the have been laid out. If you have specific questions regarding a design element I would be happy to help you understand, but if you are failing to, or refusing to, understand the basic concept that every cooling cycle, every night, the water in the moisture laden air condenses onto the cooler plastic sheeting, falls to the bottom of the solar kiln, and exits the kiln through the weep holes never to return.... I can not help you any longer. Ventilation is not needed, in any form
Thank you, I guess you can't help me. "all" your moisture "does not" fall through the bottom, some stays on the wood, some collects on the plastic, some re evaporates… Augie… It's a gallant effort and if people want to follow your way, I think thats cool… Nor am I refusing to look at your points. I did an element of ship studies with rust, condensation, transfer of cooler and warmer climates, hull condensation, bla, bla, bla, etc.etc.etc. The only way to get rid of moisture correctly is evaporation through ventilation, I think were done here. Enjoy your wood pile.
Nope, at 150F mold and the spores are killed. I saw that temp the first sunny day I closed up the plastic. And with 40hrs @170F wood will equalize at 14% even at 90% humidity according to the article that weldrdave posted. I never saw 170, but at 150 even if we triple the time required to 150 hrs we are still only talking 20-30 full sun days to have fully seasoned wood. He doesn't realize wood and steel are not similar, wood has pores and internal water, steel is not porous and only has surface water. Wood doesn't rust.... Lol
Yes sir. Makes for clean wood. My father just took down another 60ft cherry that I am milling up for lumber and will be tented up. Hoping to end up with enough lumber to make an entire dining room, living room and new bedroom set of danish modern furniture for my place. Hoping to get a live edge table or two as well. I priced out the cost to buy kiln dried cherry for this project and it would have been over $5000 just for the wood.
No need for arguments or a pi##ing match. I think it's a good idea and we're only a few weeks away from the results. The truth will be known soon enough.
