What are you using for air dams/baffles in your kiln?

[DR Buck]

I'm in the process of putting my NH4000 kiln facility together.  I understand the need to close off the air flow to ensure it passes through the stacked boards.  Hinging the board off of the circulation fan mounts as shown in the manual is OK for closing off the top of the pile as long as you always stack your boards high enough to reach the hinged board.

What do you do for the ends of the pile when the stacks are not always the same length and you need to close in the end as well?   Do you just block it with plywood or a curtain for canvas ?

[Brad_S.]

I have a friend who was GM at a Gortex plant. I have Gortex curtains that I draw up on either side of a short stack. I think he said it was worth $34 a square yard. ;D
Left to my own devices, they would have been canvas or painters tarps.

[Ironwood]

Dr-Buck

  Try USED heavy rubber roofing or the like. I also keep alot of thick closed cell foam around to fill the large voids. I also seal the top above the hinge board with foam pipe insulation and recently filled that long void with some thin plywood held in place with just a few screws should it need to be removed. Used rubber roofing is also great for palletized stacks of sticked lumber just be sure to allow air flow above the stack by using pallets or the like as the first layer BELOW the tarp. Condensation will occur there and I have had great sucess with this set up. Try to get the rubber from your local flat roof specialists, try to avoid the stuff that when peeled off the roof deck you see long fiberglass shards glistening in the sun attatched by the glue on the underside.  That stuff still works but those little shards can get in your clothes and be torturous

                  REID

[Back40x2]

I agree with Brad.  I used to work at a Paper Mill and got a piece of the dryer felt for mine.  Works GREAT 8) 8) 8) ;)

[TomFromStLouis]

I am using $4/sq. yd. rip stop nylon in my solar kiln, the stuff you would use to make a kite. Cheap and windproof. I tacked it to the corner walls and just use clamps or plain old safety pins to hang it aroung a smaller load. It also stays in place with strategically laid 2x4s.

Google "rip stop nylon fabric" - cheaper and better than plywood!

[SawDust_Studios]

Rubber roofing here. Stuff is great. Should last a long time!!!

[FeltzE]

I use some left over closed cell foam boards to baffel the ends and prop up a short board or 2 to keep them from moving around,

Along the top is a roll of heavy plastic that rolls up to the fans, unrolls down to the load and stays there just fine (has a 2x2 for a spool lean a 1x12 on the edge of the roll to keep if from moving inadvertantly

Eric