After 20 years of milling with an LT40, it's time to build a kiln. I will be drying, almost exclusively, Douglas Fir 1x's and 2x's.
Does anyone have experience with an Outside Forced Air Wood Furnace, such as a Hyprotherm 4000? 200,000 BTU. Two 2000 CFM blowers. No water. 12" air ducts into the kiln, exhaust outside. I have an overabundance of softwood milling waste to burn that needs to go away.
The other option is a Nyle 200. Obviously a proven system.
Is a conventional kiln better for Douglas Fir than a DH kiln?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10813/FLFA-4000.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1642641526)
The initial cost of each is relatively close.
Any advice for helping me make a decision would be appreciated.
As there was for milling in the beginning, there is a lot to learn about kilns. The wealth of knowledge on this forum is invaluable. When I started milling over 20 years ago, this forum saved my butt!
Welcome to the Forum. Can't comment on drying Doug Fir, but @Wudman (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=624) has a forced air, outdoor, wood furnace he uses to heat his home and might be able to give you some input on that part of your question.
I have a wood burning furnace to heat my shop. Have to load it every 2 or 3 hours, especially with lower grade firewood. Would have to load it late at night and early in the morning to keep it going all night.
I'm kicking the same rock down a similar path. Except, I'm thinking of building a rocket mass heater to use with a dehumidifier. I'd really like to make good use of the scraps to improve the process.
How's the weather over on the wet side? I moved from Toledo about 3 years ago to north Idaho. I can work in a lot of rain, but the snow has my mill buried right now....
If you thinking of forced air in a conventional kiln, you need to think of 400,000+ btus/hour or it's not going to give much capacity. You vent a lot of heat that way, so you need a way to replace it.
Quote from: Crossroads on January 20, 2022, 11:56:45 PM
I'm kicking the same rock down a similar path. Except, I'm thinking of building a rocket mass heater to use with a dehumidifier. I'd really like to make good use of the scraps to improve the process.
How's the weather over on the wet side? I moved from Toledo about 3 years ago to north Idaho. I can work in a lot of rain, but the snow has my mill buried right now....
Good luck with your project. A kiln is a new adventure for me and need to wait to reinvent the "wheel" after I learn more. I am tending toward a Nyle, but still want to find a use for my waste wood.
Weather here in western Oregon is wet, sunny, foggy, muddy, nasty, awesome. We get everything. Just wait a few days for what you prefer. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else - we just need to fix the political climate. Idaho is where I would escape to, if necessary. Thanks for the reply!
Quote from: K-Guy on January 21, 2022, 08:08:48 AM
If you thinking of forced air in a conventional kiln, you need to think of 400,000+ btus/hour or it's not going to give much capacity. You vent a lot of heat that way, so you need a way to replace it.
Thank you for the input. That is exactly what I need. I think the idea of a forced air furnace has merit, but the details need attention. Maybe for my second kiln I will know enough to make it work. Again, your input is much appreciated.
Oregon
The heater you were looking at will work very well as a replacement heat source for the electric heater in a L200. This cuts your power usage quite a bit and done right speeds up your preheat and sterilization time.
Hopefully not too far off topic, @K-Guy (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=35658), an OWB hookup to an L200 must be old hat to you guys, is there a sketch and parts list somewhere of the best way to hook those two together?
@Don P (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=17)
Hi Don
No. It is not something that we supply parts for but I can advise you, it's not difficult.
@OregonTimberWerker (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=813)
I was wrong in an earlier post, You can use a OWB to supplement the heat not a forced air unit.