Drying shed will become a real Kiln with an L53

doc henderson · September 18, 2020, 02:57:22 PM

I am not a pin meter expert. so for what it is worth, I have heard they become unreliable under 6. but maybe ok up to that. The MC can be read on the surface (barely in or uninsulated), or average (insulated pins in 1/4 depth of the thickness of the wood), or core (1/2 the thickness of the wood). if a chunk is badly warped, you can always get a weight before and after oven drying and calculate the MC although not much you can do about it. adding some moisture back can relieve the case hardening. I think 5% average MC is the big no no. so hopefully it is more surface and will mello out to 7%. how far and what type of pins are you driving in?

firefighter ontheside · September 18, 2020, 04:55:32 PM

Doc's comment made me think to go out and cut an inch off a board to see what the moisture was in the core. The center of a 4/4 piece of walnut was 7% and i checked from there to the outside and it gradually went to 6%, so I think I'm good or at least it will even out in a couple days.

To answer the question about my meter, I have a pin type Lignomat with pins that are about 3/16".

doc henderson · September 18, 2020, 04:57:54 PM

OMG! PERFECT!!! 8)

:P

:D :D :D

firefighter ontheside · September 19, 2020, 10:07:46 PM

I sold "kiln" dried lumber yesterday and today. Yay me.

WDH · September 20, 2020, 08:24:00 AM

Nother notch in the belt.

firefighter ontheside · November 05, 2020, 07:48:58 AM

A second, larger load of wood is in the shed and drying. There is walnut, maple and cherry in there. They are all about 15% moisture to start, at least according to my current meter with short pins. I called Stan and asked about ordering a Delmhorst from him. He had me place the order on Nyle website, which I did. When that comes in I will get a better idea of where the lumber is now. I will reserve my old meter for checking wood that is drying outside. I don't really think I need to be as precise with that, but just to track it as it dries.

K-Guy · November 05, 2020, 10:14:13 AM

Quote from: firefighter ontheside on November 05, 2020, 07:48:58 AMHe had me place the order on Nyle website

How was it to use? Easy or difficult?

firefighter ontheside · November 05, 2020, 12:28:04 PM

Quote from: K-Guy on November 05, 2020, 10:14:13 AM
Quote from: firefighter ontheside on November 05, 2020, 07:48:58 AMHe had me place the order on Nyle website

How was it to use? Easy or difficult?

Very easy. Took me 5 minutes or less. Probably should have ordered some extra pins and I've read about using the shorter pins to help keep from breaking them.

Walnut Beast · November 05, 2020, 12:44:47 PM

Did you check it against your other meter

Walnut Beast · November 05, 2020, 12:55:57 PM

How many times can you use the pins before they need replaced

K-Guy · November 05, 2020, 01:30:10 PM

Quote from: Walnut Beast on November 05, 2020, 12:55:57 PMHow many times can you use the pins before they need replaced

That depends on if you bend or break them or the coating wears off

Walnut Beast · November 05, 2020, 04:10:11 PM

Thanks Stan. I had called the company before I seen your post and found out what you said. When the Teflon gets off of the very tip then that's where the reading will be. It sounds like the Teflon stays on pretty good from what I told. Sounds like the best unit out there and the some of the tips that come with it will go in a little over an inch. Any other feedback or info on the unit would be great

firefighter ontheside · November 05, 2020, 04:42:32 PM

I just ordered it yesterday, so I don't have it yet. I assume it will be a week or so til I get it. I will compare it to my old one, at least at the surface.

WDH · November 05, 2020, 07:50:25 PM

Oh, you will need some extra of the long pins, because, trust me, you will break some.

firefighter ontheside · November 21, 2020, 11:27:10 AM

Ive had a mixed load of lumber in the shed for about 3 weeks. Theres a stack of red maple 4/4 on one side and the other larger side has walnut and cherry 6/4 and 8/4. The maple appears to have dried much quicker, not surprisingly since its thinner. The walnut and cherry I just measured was from a high reading of 13 down to a low reading of 8. It was 95 deg and 21% RH in there. I turned the dehumidifier down to raise the rh some and hopefully even out drying a little. Still, I'm happy with how its doing.

firefighter ontheside · January 11, 2021, 08:40:22 PM

I learned something about starting my kiln while its very cold out. I loaded up the shed and then turned on a heater and the dehumidifier. I didn't think about the fact that it was 36 in there. A day later I noticed that nothing was coming out the drain tube thru the wall. I went into the shed and there was a puddle of water on the floor and the coils of the dh were completely encased in ice. Turned off the dh, soaked up the water, and left the heater on for a while. After it was warm in there I turned it back on and its working great now. Spent a day at about 50% rh in there and now its about 45%.

firefighter ontheside · February 17, 2023, 07:48:15 PM

I just turned on the lights to sanitize a load of lumber in the kiln. I'm concerned that I won't get as hot as I need to. Its gonna be below freezing tonight, but into the 50s tomorrow. Normally I start early in the morning and finish late that night, but I"m starting tonight tonight to improve my chances. This may be my last run in the kiln as it is. I'm probably going to buy an L53 this year and re-design the chamber to be more effective.

firefighter ontheside · February 18, 2023, 09:29:56 AM

I turned on the lights last night at about 6pm and it was 90 in there at the floor from running some space heaters to get it warm. Turned the heater off, 2000watts of lights on and a small fan on to circulate the air. This morning it is 125 in there and 23 outside. I'm sure that as the outside air warms to 50 today, it should get to around 150 in there.

firefighter ontheside · February 18, 2023, 09:48:33 PM

I reached 145 in the kiln tonight and according to the oven thermometer I have drilled into a short piece of 6/4 walnut the temp of the wood got to 133 about 5 hours ago and reached a max of 138. I'm happy with that.

Crossroads · February 20, 2023, 08:59:01 AM

I too am thinking of upgrading to a real kiln unit this year. I'm on the fence on buying a shipping container or just building a shed. If I build it, I can use side lumber from custom orders and would only need to buy the roofing and insulation. But, then need to calculate my time into the build. With a container, I would just need to buy the insulation and build the rail,cart system and fan/baffles

firefighter ontheside · May 03, 2023, 04:46:54 PM

Well, I ordered an L53 today so after a little remodel to my shed, it will be an official kiln. Still have some decisions to make on the remodel of the chamber to account for the 53. Seems like the unit will be here in a few weeks, so I better get to work on some decisions and get to work on the remodel.