Vacutherm iDry input

[Glenn1]

We use 2” ratchet straps every 3’ to put some pressure on the top boards.  It seems to work well and does not take up any extra room.

[Glenn1]

We opened the kiln today and the quartersawn sycamore was ready.  The boards are spectacular! They range from 6” to 15” wide.  These were some really wide logs.
We cut the boards at 1 1/4” thickness.  Going with the theory that the IDry can dry 1” per week, we thought that it would take 9 days to dry from green.  Sycamore initially has more than 100% moisture in the log so that will also affect the drying time.  This load took 13 day to get it to 8% Mc.  I am very pleased with the results.  

 

 

 

[PA_Walnut]

Why no other controls than a big "GO" button?  PCS vac kiln has a control that looks like a NASA command center. What are we missing here?

Calling @GeneWengert-WoodDoc  Calling @Den Socling 

[Just Right]

Looking good Glenn and Busy. .. . . so maybe a silly question,  if you are going to be putting sawed lumber in the kiln quickly . . . . do you still anchor seal?

[Glenn1]

Looking good Glenn and Busy. .. . . so maybe a silly question,  if you are going to be putting sawed lumber in the kiln quickly . . . . do you still anchor seal?

Yes I do.  I would rather be safe

[Just Right]

Thanks Glenn.  I was just wondering with how the wood dries in this kiln did the anchor seal impede it any.  I did notice that you had your kiln on a gravel flood.  What do you have the kiln sitting on to level it?  JR

[Glenn1]

Thanks Glenn.  I was just wondering with how the wood dries in this kiln did the anchor seal impede it any.  I did notice that you had your kiln on a gravel flood.  What do you have the kiln sitting on to level it?  JR

The kiln is actually on crushed concrete.  We rented a 3 ton double roller system and packed it down with a little sprayed water.  Then we added 6x6 for the kiln to rest on.  We were able to shim it just barely to have the water run to the back right corner of the kiln.  I don't believe that the crushed concrete is going to move.
The anchor seal dissipates with heat so it is basically gone by the time that the wood is dry.  No mess, no residue.

[ellmoe]

   Just received notice that my kiln is scheduled to be completed on Monday. This is three + weeks ahead of schedule . Now I have to hurry to make a home for it. 

[Stephen1]

  Just received notice that my kiln is scheduled to be completed on Monday. This is three + weeks ahead of schedule . Now I have to hurry to make a home for it.  

Thats great. Mine is scheduled for completion March 11. I am on vacation till March 8. I  will have its home all ready before I go. I am starting to paint my shop this week 

[jfric]

Exciting to hear of everyone’s results so far. I’m expecting delivery of mine on Monday. I’ll probably start milling some 8/4 pecan tomorrow for my first load. 

[farmfromkansas]

Watched the Canadianwoodworkers kiln video, and noticed they are using no stickers.  But the pics using this vacutherm IDry is using stickers.  Can someone explain?

[canadianwoodworks]

Watched the Canadianwoodworkers kiln video, and noticed they are using no stickers.  But the pics using this vacutherm IDry is using stickers.  Can someone explain?

I'm not an owner of an Idry but I have done my research, I do run a Vacuum kiln going on 2 years.
These are types of Vacuum kilns:
Discontinuous - Wood is stickered, heated with air. Then a vacuum is drawn the wood dries and cools, then the vacuum is released, the wood gets heated again with air, then repeat.
Hot Plate - Wood is NOT stickered with heating plates filled with hot water between each layer, a vacuum is drawn and is held until the wood is dry. The vacuum and heat is a constant, no cycling from no vacuum to vacuum. So this is faster and better quality then discontinuous.
High temp steam - I don't know much about this type.
RF - Wood is NOT stickered with a thin .050'' plate between each 12'' of lumber, this provides heat by high frequency. Think microwave, but not exactly the same. The electricity is not floating around in the chamber heating the wood, the electrical signal travels from one plate to the other in a direct path.
The Idry and Idry plus seem to be different then a discontinuous, it sounds like a vacuum is held the entire time, but leaving enough air in the chamber to heat the wood. This is why the wood needs to be stickered, because they are using air being blown through the stack to give the lumber the needed heat.
Once a vacuum is pulled, you can't heat the wood with air because there is no air left in the chamber. This is why hot plate / super heated steam / RF kilns exist. Once the wood starts drying, the energy used to convert liquid water into vapour leaves the wood in the vapour, so we need to continually add heat to the lumber. Most Vac Kilns pull such a strong vac that there is no air in the chamber to heat the wood.  Vacutherm has created a "new" type of vac kiln which pulls a "weaker" vacuum leaving enough air inside the chamber to give heat to the lumber, while drying under vacuum conditions. 

My interest is peaked!

[Glenn1]

Canadianwoodworks, your post seems to be right on the mark....well done

[Busysawyer]

After a very pleasant and informative conversation I had with Mr. Parker I need to clarify a couple things. First of all I was dead wrong about a major feature of the idry.  We as end users do have control over some key functions of the kiln if we desire.  I made a huge assumption based on a lock icon on the setup screen. I saw the little padlock icon on the bottom left hand corner and assumed these key functions were locked . I was wrong.
You can slow down the drying by limiting vaccum and max temp. Both are adjustable by the end user. I believe the fan settings can be adjusted as well but I didnt clarify or try to change those yet. Mr.Parker said you could essentially use the kiln as what he would consider a pre drier for those species that need to be dried slowly. He reccomend partially air drying as a more efficient and economic option but said the idry could be used. Pushing start is a great way to go but knowing I can "play" with the settings is going to make this toy more fun to play with. Sorry to all for making an erroneous assumption and spreading misinformation. 

[Busysawyer]

Here is a pic of the setup screen where you can input what temp and pressure you want. That lock in the bottom left corner is what led to my assumption of not being able to change these settings.

 

[briankingsbury]

Here is a pic of the setup screen where you can input what temp and pressure you want. That lock in the bottom left corner is what led to my assumption of not being able to change these settings.
(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)
 

The settings for Temperature and Vacuum are not locked, you can change then anytime. The lock is to setup remote access connection. This setup is usually done before shipping but if it ever needs to change it can be.

[Stephen1]

The settings for Temperature and Vacuum are not locked, you can change then anytime. The lock is to setup remote access connection. This setup is usually done before shipping but if it ever needs to change it can be.

Is the remote access for IDRY, or is that for the owner?
Can we change anything from a remote location?

[briankingsbury]

The settings for Temperature and Vacuum are not locked, you can change then anytime. The lock is to setup remote access connection. This setup is usually done before shipping but if it ever needs to change it can be.

Is the remote access for IDRY, or is that for the owner?
Can we change anything from a remote location?

The remote access is for the owner and from any location using the internet you can see, run, and change anything.

[Stephen1]

When we are drying pine, what temperature do we need to set the pitch? 

[ellmoe]

Received my kiln yesterday , three weeks early ! Unfortunately , I've had to change its future location , so I have to find time to do some construction. Hope to get this completed soon , we have a lot of thick wood to dry.