solar kiln idea

[SPIKER]

I've built industrial ovens for the past 15 years.   so with this info and the easy is better this is what I was thinking I would do first.
1. get one of the inexpensive car houses, that are made from light weight tubing & covered in plastic/tarp like material, this would be used to cover the pre-stacked pile for air drying prior to completely covering it up for solar effect, there is a zippered end door in them already & are pretty rain tight.   using solar fans (advertized now for green houses & attics.) ( like this one  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6029671629&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D6029671629%26fvi%3D1 ) or better this one ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6030106312&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D6030106312%26fvi%3D1
)



which run for X hours on the stored suns energy.   place one or more inside the kiln for circulation, then mount more for exhause.   modified one with a thermostat should be easy enough to turn them ON/OFf when sun is hottest or when it colls to shut it off. (not sure they may have this built in)  cost for these are ~30 bucks each. 

the wood can be left in place the drying shead picked up off the top, (or dissassembled) and one with clear sheeting put in it's place.  while it is not glass and would be subject to high winds if not secured well it would be easy to put into place.  and the stack can be checked often.   

I don't know if this would work but it sure would help the air drying process I would think...   

the sliding glass doors would work great if you had access to them...   lots of surface area & could be made with wall sections.  7' high by x feet wide.

the roof could be mounted on one (back side with poles into ground so it stays vertical or made with the floor as a ridgid section to prevent wall & roof movement when roof is raised) so it hinged up/down.   raise the roof up & prop it up for loading & unloading, then put end walls in place & last south side wall in place with screws & lower roof back down on top, air gaps are needed anyhow for air exchange so keeping it really tight is not needed.   sponge rubber could be used to sealing when it is winter out for higher heat in full day light...   the solar vents would be useable year round for free energy after bought first time.   a larger 12 unit could be made with 12 volt battery for days when sun is lower and keep a charger on battery and use the thermostat to turn on/off...


anyhow just thoughts from someone who doesn't know how solar kilns work, only gas fired kilns for pottery that are 2500 degrees F running 10' wide and 100 + feet in lenght and batch ovens in the 250 deg F + range... ;)


mark M
mark M

[D._Frederick]

clegaux

FINE WOODWORKING magazine had an article on using patio sliding door windows to build a kiln simular to what you built. If I remember correctly, it was an early eighties issure. I built one and used it only one time, it ruined a load of ash that I had sawn. I got suckered in on the drying process, the article said that no monitoring was required because of the the equallizing drying taking place between day and nite.

I loaded it up with freshly sawed ash and it was too hot and caused the wood to badly warp. I found out that you want to air dry the lumber first before putting in a solar kiln.

[metalspinner]

D.Frederick,
Yes, I saw that article in FWW.  It is strikingly similar to my set up. I guess when you design around the same size panel,you get simularities.  Sorry to hear about your Ash.  I messed up some lumber by loading green in the kiln as well.  Lesson learned I guess. :'(