Hi all. As part of my retirement goals,I would like to begin selling kiln dried ,debarked firewood.I have 100 acres available,so have purchased a winch/grapple skidder (more on that later) and a debarker( still need a generator,no 3 phase power here) I am partners in a builtrite 40 processor.
My questions concern a dry kiln . I would like to build something out of a shipping container,rather than buy a new kiln. I am not planning for large volume,(40/50 cords per year) but would like to use bio-mass to heat the kiln,mostly chips from the tops.Does anyone have any experience in doing this. I am most interested in types of heat exchangers ,fans, controllers, venting,etc.
I still have a couple years until retirement,and this would only be supplemental income(instead of commercial snowplowing), I would still do excavating in the summer.
Any information would be appreciated .thanks
Why kiln dried debarked and where are you from ? The way I look at it you are going to have to get $ 10 - 15 a cubic ft. to break even .
Why debarked?
Why chip the tops?
A wood boiler could be a cost effective way to go burning the tops (and wouldn't need to be chipped), but will require more time in the kiln as it won't get as hot as the commercial models. For low volume like you have planned, it would work fine.
I live in the southwest corner of N.H.,15 miles to Ma.,15 miles to Vt. Debarked wood is easier to move across a state line after its been kiln dried ,I'm told.The other reason for debarking is to gain additional fuel for the kiln,to mix with the chips.
My hope is to pull the entire tree out of the woods,cut off what is usable for processor wood,then chip the rest for kiln fuel,for use with an automatic feeder.
I hope to do this only in the late fall and winter(thus the reason for the kiln).I can make more money setting on an excavator than I can with firewood.
Every logger around here sells green or semi -seasoned wood;to my knowledge,there is only one other place selling true dry firewood.
My question for the members of the forum is : Has anyone tried to feed a boiler
with this type of chip,through an automatic feeder(belt or screw),and how did it work?
Should I be posting these kiln questions in the "Drying and processing" section of the forum?
The term I know for what you are doing is called 'hog' fuel. This might help with your search.
I have seen systems for this comprised of open top screw auger conveyors running chips (and wood junk) up an incline around a central furnace where they were then dumped in at the top and fell some 2-3 stories onto a forced air burner.
Hog fuel has certain undesirable characteristics for even feeding. Stringy fibers make for bridging.
I have built feeder bins but not for material like that so I can't really comment further. Be careful, what you are trying to do isn't the easiest from what I have seen.
Thanks for the tip on the name "hog fuel" ,I have never heard that term before. I too am concerned about the fuel being too stringy,as well as the possibility of it freezing in the hopper. I had thought about taking the water that ran through the kiln and circulating it around the hopper before sending it back to the furnace.
Have you considered building 2 solar kilns and get an extra year ahead on wood?
Before you invest in a large wood burning facility you should investigate EPA regulations. It can cost a lot more to comply with their requirements.
I don't see this being anywhere near profitable for 50 cords.
I dont know if you found the info you were for here is a old post on ff. https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=48700.0
hope it helps you
Bill
There's a firewood kiln in the for sale section
Bill Saf , I thank you for that heads up,I hadn't seen that one.
pclem,thanks,but I am afraid the shipping from Wisconsin to New Hampshire would probably offset the reasonable price he is asking.Thanks for thinking of Me
woodmaker,
twister industries in Minnesota has quite a bit of knowledge about kilns, fans, motors, etc. He may be able to give you some advice or leads. I have a number if you need it.
glassman_48, I would appreciate any help you (or anyone else) could give me. Kilns are entirely new to me.I am fair at fabricating,wiring,and hydraulics,but have no knowledge of the components necessary to make a kiln function properly,or how to make those components interface and function correctly.I would certainly appreciate his contact info. If you e-mailed it to me ,it would be a great help in my search for information. Thanks