Boost my kiln temp.

[flip]

My kiln is working but I have found that it takes forever and a day to get the temp. up where I'd like to start at.  For most stuff I would like to start at about 90 and go from there.  I have a Ebac LD 3000 unit and it is in a well insulated kiln box inside  a barn on a slab.  I'm sure part of my problem is keeping the slab warm and dealing with a barn that is not climate controlled.  I don't think the unit is able to reach 140 either where I'd like to hang at for a couple of days to kill critters.  I have been helping things by using a couple of small electric heaters to boost my temps.  Wondering if a few baseboard heaters mounted to the wall will be worth the effort to get my temps up.  I am aware that durability is an issue in a kiln environment.  Any ideas or thoughts are appreciated.

Flip

[getoverit]

It may be as simple as installing a couple of "keyless" light fixtures to the ceiling of the kiln and then screw in a coule of 100 watt light bulbs. It is amazing how much heat those things put off. These are pretty durable since they are made out of ceramic. If even more heat is needed, a couple of heat lamps screwed into the same fixture should do the trick.

[Part_Timer]

I use a milk house heater in mine and it works well enough. 

You could also use a jar fixture with the 100w bulbs.  The jar light if installed right is fairly moisture proof.

[scsmith42]

Flip, in the past I've encountered a similar problem with my Nyle 200.  It has some heat strips in it, and occasionally the terminals will corrode (due to the tanic acid released from oak), or otherwise work loose.  I have to go into the unit and tighten up the screws a couple of times a year in order for the heat strips to stay functional.

Just a thought...

Scott

[flip]

I ran it up last night started at about 8 and checked it before work at 6 and I was at 120 on full blast which is what it is rated for but from my reading that will not kill all insects in the wood, right?  I think the heat lamp idea sound like the cheap and dirty trick I need, will rig that up this weekend and let you know the results.

Thanks,

FLip

[LeeB]

I don't have a kiln but i seem to remeber reading in here somewhere that youcan get the temps up to 140 by turning the cycle up to full or some such. do a search and see if you can find the info I think I remeber. LeeB

[oakiemac]

I have the same problem with my Ebac. The Nyle that I have will easily reach 145 but the Ebac's heaters are too small. This is just one of the many problems with the Ebac kilns. If anyone is interested I can list a bunch more.

[Don_Lewis]

A 100 watt light bulb will give off 341 BTUH regardless of the type of light bulb. If you put in 40 of them, you will get the same amout of heat that you get with the 4000 watt heater in a Nyle L200.

Most electric heaters that you can buy will have a temperature safety that will cut out before the kiln gets to 140F. You should not try to bypass these safeties.

Some people use construction heater for preheating the kiln. I have even seen the torpedo type stuck though the wall of the kiln, bringing in outside air. That is a really bad idea because they cannot usually heat the air from outsdie temps to the temp in the kiln, they waste a huge amount of energy that way and can overdry your wood. If you use that type of heater, make sure it recirculates the air in the kiln but keep a door or vent oven as it wil use up the oxygen really fast. Make sure the circulating fans are running while heating or you could have an implosion.

[Den Socling]

Some of you might not know about implosion. If you get a 'cloud' of water vapor in a kiln and then start the fans, the 'cloud' can be circulated to a cooler area where it can condense very rapidly. This condensation creates a vacuum that can suck the door in. I have seen many doors damaged this way.