The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: TreadsActual on July 14, 2020, 10:17:06 AM

Title: Kiln data to track
Post by: TreadsActual on July 14, 2020, 10:17:06 AM
Our iDry Vacutherm kiln arrives next month. 

For those of you with experience operating kilns, what data are you currently tracking and what data do you wish you had tracked from the beginning? 

I plan on tracking species, brdft, length of time in the kiln, starting and ending mc, time spent on low power and high power. 
Title: Re: Kiln data to track
Post by: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on July 14, 2020, 03:44:36 PM
Most kiln operators also record and display on a graph the temperature and humidity many times an hour.  At least four times an hour is reasonable.

Lumber thickness is important.  

You also should record the grain...mostly rift and q-sawn, etc.

You also want the daily MC of your samples to the closest 0.1% MC.  The wettest is most critical.

You also want the daily moisture content loss, compared to the published safe rate.