Final Piece of the Puzzle, Solar Kiln Build !

[Andy White]

Started Friday cutting purlins and battens to finish kiln walls. Made several cuts from a 14"x6"x12' cant I was running an experiment on ,and now think I will have enough to finish the outside. Put purlins up, and started the flat black painting, with Nancy doing the lower half, and me on the ladder up top! that hurts. I had a few pieces of aluminum coil stock left from the siding on the shed, so I broke them up for flashings. This thing will be watertight for sure! Naturally, I will need to get a few more feet of it to finish! Nancy -painted the collectors till it started to rain, so we called it a day. Next weekend should be finishing insulation, and wall sheets, then more painting. Now pictures


  

 
The fourman thinks this is his new house!


  

 
It's already getting warm in here even with cloudy weather!



 
She sure does good work!


  

  

 
At least now the neighbors know what this thing is, cause one asked me if she could grow tomatoe plants until I get lumber in it!!! >:( >:( ???

[Magicman]

What lumber species are you planning to dry first??   ;D

[Andy White]

Lynn,
I've got my mind on some nice fresh Walnut to break it in with, then some Red Oak I have had stored for about 8 months. When the weather gets too hot to saw, I'll turn on the AC and work in the shop 8) 8)  Andy

[Magicman]

Lynn,  I've got my mind on some nice fresh Walnut to break it in with, Andy 

After your first encounter with Walnut, I sorta figured that you would have that in mind.   :D

[Planman1954]

I'm enjoying the way you are documenting your progress. Keep it up!

[caveman]

Your kiln is coming along well.  I enjoy looking at your pictures and reading about your progress.  Caveman

[wwsjr]

Looking good Andy. Building a solar kiln is one of my "round-to-it" projects. Been on my list for about 8 years I think.

[Gadrock]

Thanks for documenting and sharing your desires such as not installing a large rear access door. For you that may make good sense as others decide for themselves their outcome if their project is handled differently.

Myself I am going to make a solar kiln soon as some of this wood that is air drying gets safe to use. Your pics help describe some of the decisions I will make.

David G

carry on

[Andy White]

Work resumed on the kiln today. Started cool, and felt warm inside kiln, so I put thermometers to check.

  

 
Finished flashing roof panels, now let it rain!


 
Insulated rear wall, after running wiring for fans and dehumidifier, then a drain out the back. Installed osb sheets.


 
Installed last two runs of collector panels, overhead work on my knees is like working off a ladder!


  

  

 
Next is to paint above fan plenum, and install fans. Then insulate and panel end walls and front. This thing is getting bigger every day! I'll finish soon, because I'll take one bite at a time, like eating an elephant!!!    Andy

[WDH]

You are doing a first class job with this kiln.  I bet that it works great given your attention to the details.

[Magicman]

That kiln looks hungry for some Walnut.   ;D

[caveman]

The kiln looks good.  I hope it works well for you.

[Andy White]

Finally got back to lake today, and walked out to the kiln. Noticed what looked like water drops on the top purlin. Climbed the ladder, and it was sap! Felt really hot, so put up thermometers. Mid 70s outside, and over 120??? inside. This is at 5.30PM. How hot does pine need to get to set pitch? Is this what it is doing??? Have not even finished three walls, or the door! this thing should really cook when it is complete!

  

  

 
I might need a higher thermometer for this!!    Andy

[samandothers]

Yep need a bigger thermometer that one is swelling on the end and is gonna blow!

[Bill Gaiche]

Andy, take a look at this. It will give you a little info. Also the book that Gene has written. bg

http://www.woodbusiness.ca/sawmilling/setting-pitch

[Ianab]

Regarding setting the pitch.

What happens is that "pitch" is a mix of various oils and resins. If you heat the wood, some of these become liquids. and start running. This messes with any finish you have put on the wood, so it's a bad thing. Now if you heat the wood for a while, the lighter compounds start to evaporate. This is the smell you notice when pine is drying. So you are left with the harder and higher melting point stuff.

Now when the wood is exposed to heat again the remaining compounds wont turn back to liquid unless it goes over the temperature that you fix the pitch at. So if you can set the pitch at say 120F, then basically the wood should be OK unless it's heated to more than that temp.

So once the wood is dry (and the kiln complete) then give it a few cycles at high temp and you will be fine with the pitch.

Ian

[Jemclimber]

Your kiln looks great!!  I really like those meaty saw horses in the background too. They look like timber frame saw horses. Very nice!!

[pineywoods]

Oh yeah !! another believer.. In the texas summertime, you will need a cooking thermometer in there  ;D As stated before, we have documented 180 ° Be sure to shut down the dh when it gets that hot. Fire ants tried to build in a corner of mine. Roasted ants anyone ?

[Andy White]

After yesterday's walnut detour, it's time to finish the kiln! So much to do, so little time! Installed ledger strip on back wall and collector, then cut and fit header strips for the panel sections. There is a 2' section, then a 2' section the fan will be mounted in. The center section is 4', then another 2' fan panel, then a 2' panel at the other end to seal the plenum. Painted all the tops black, and all surfaces above the frame. The two fan panels will have the fans mounted in them tomorrow, and will be hinged off the rear wall, so I can loosen two screws on front to swing fans down to connect wiring, and to service them in the future. Gotta work fast in there now cause it's HOT in there!! Won't be long now, we'll be cooking walnut!      Andy  8) 8) 8)


  

  

  

  

 
More later.

[AK Newbie]

Andy, very much enjoying your thread just read it from start to finish!  Thank you for taking the time to photo document your journey and share it with us.  Hmmm I wonder how hot a kiln could get up here in the North country?  ;D

[Bill Gaiche]

Welcome Ak,If the sun shines a kiln can get pretty hot no matter where you are if the outside temp is reasonable. bg

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

Without lumber in the kiln, temperatures can easily get to over 180 F and melt any plastic around the fans, etc.  So, keep the vents open when empty.

The first VT kiln I designed used doors on the rear.  So did the one in Colorado that i instrumented for my Master's Thesis at CSU40 years ago.  The second VT kiln used doors in the front as there was not enough room in the rear.  We also added doors on the ends.

I am very impressed with the construction of this kiln here.  Superb.

Incidentally, a dry kiln is a piece of equipment, which could have importance on April 15 for someone in the business of drying.

[Andy White]

Got the fans mounted on the panels, and installed hinges. This works very well, hooked up wiring and didn't even have to get on ladder! Tested circuits and everything works as it should. I bypassed the thermostats on the fans, because I didn't know if they had a high temp shutdown or not. This will not matter, because I am putting them on a timer set to come on at 9.00AM and shut down at 9.00PM. The dehumidifier will come on after the fans shut down, and go off before the fans come on. I have ordered a data logger that will help me determine the exact times for all this, It will plug into my laptop, and print charts for times that I program into it. It will record up to 180° F. , and humidity from 0 to 99% With a load in there, I don't think it will exceed that temp. A little conduit work, a door, and it's cooking time!!! Work has stopped for today, because of thunder storms and high winds with hail! Will be covering up the glazing!! More later.     Andy

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

[bedway]

I see someone uses pocket hole methods, best thing sense sliced bread. ;D

[Andy White]

Started wiring and mounting timers for the fans and DH. Had some bad storm last night, hail, high winds, lightning, but no damage . The neighbor got a 12" pine across his roof, and crushed a large section of his roof! Had to study a bit on the wiring to get line, and fan load, and DH load sorted out where I only had 2 conductors in each conduit. Hooked temporary power, and all switches and clocks run as they should. Now I need Nancy to dig 65' of trench, and run conduit and wiring to tie in at shop wall.A little work to build and hang the door, and it's time to cook wood!!!! 8) 8) 8)     Andy

  

  

 
Will do a final wrap up of this project when I get the first weeks chart from the data logger.    Andy