heat treat box and firewood kiln.

doc henderson · April 14, 2025, 07:48:29 AM

Well. spring is sprung and I got the old wood furnace from my brother and started cleaning it up and testing things out. In just a few minutes the heat blown from around the firebox was enough to make you not want to keep your hade too close too long. Some rust to converter and a few firebricks needed and off to the races. at least the heater part. I plan to make it maybe 6 x 6 x 16 feet long. I will be getting corrugated roofing from my uncle Jerry's place as we clear out his 70 years of saving for a rainy day. this should allow pallets of wood, or my ICT totes with firewood placed 4 at a time.

Old Greenhorn · April 14, 2025, 09:40:53 AM

:

doc henderson · April 14, 2025, 11:08:05 AM

so my thoughts now are open on one end, the top, or a side? the end might be more stable. I want it mobile. can be moved, but not necessarily a trailer. prob. on skids. paint metal black for some solar or add insulation. pseudo-solar. would not work if the collector (metal) was insulated. I can slide 4 crates from one end and pull out with a chain. some guides along the edges to keep centered.

LeftFinger · April 14, 2025, 02:13:04 PM

Did you announce this heat box build with the immortal words

"I Have a Plan"

say that and watch people sidle away and hide behind things

I too have a plan I am going to try and make a mobile kiln out of an old 5th wheel RV

SwampDonkey · April 14, 2025, 04:26:39 PM

Someone is getting serious about firewood. Every man needs a project, or come up with a new one once the last is complete or in an advanced stage.

doc henderson · April 14, 2025, 04:50:41 PM

LF, I said things like "hold my beer" and "we should video this" and those are mortal words.

Swamp, I tend to think about things for 15 years, then get stuff together and start, then move to the next project with all the crap from the first, second, third, and so on, lingering in my shop. now semi-retired I am getting some stuff done.

I will decide on the final dimensions in part based on the free corrugated steel I will get. I want it to double as a firewood kiln and wood sterilizer heat treat box. It will not be well controlled like a kiln. the firewood does not care. cracks will help it dry and burn. considering a solar panel either as one wall with others insulated or outside so it can hold heat from the wood furnace independently, and only use solar when the sun is up, and the remote solar panel kicks in as fans turn on to that.

LeftFinger · April 19, 2025, 08:10:03 PM

I dragged my 300 dollar trailer home . It's a 26 ft model so lots of room to dry the size of loads I have. It has a forced air gas furnace that could prove useful.

The fridge and A/C unit both work so resale for them should pay back purchase price.

LeftFinger · April 27, 2025, 04:24:56 PM

How's yours coming Doc
I got a little farther

doc henderson · April 27, 2025, 05:14:23 PM

You are way ahead of me!

LeftFinger · April 28, 2025, 07:16:47 PM

Tiger Tiger

Coming Up 40 more to go

doc henderson · April 28, 2025, 07:25:54 PM

I have seen you kids with the big diesel exhaust!!! how fast will thar trailer go?

doc henderson · April 28, 2025, 07:28:16 PM

what is the heat source? I cannot remember if it was the furnace in the trailer or a wood stove.

Old Greenhorn · April 28, 2025, 07:31:16 PM

This is interesting now.

LeftFinger · April 28, 2025, 09:14:02 PM

Oil field trick Tiger Torch in a pipe with an elbow in the end .

All that comes out is heat no flame. Fan behind the pipe to spread the heat through the pile. Once the big heat cycle is done I'll use the forced air furnace to keep it warm. Besides it's an RV closest thing to a solar kiln you can get