well, I started on the kiln finally.

hackberry jake · May 29, 2014, 07:03:48 PM

A friend of mine came down this morning and we worked on the kiln some more. Got another wall up. I ran out of boat dock foam... now I'm gunna have to figure out how to insulate the back, top, and doors. Guess I will just go with how wdh did it with batt insulation and foam board.

pine · May 29, 2014, 07:15:49 PM

What size loads (BF) are you looking at putting in there? Which Nyle unit are you considering?
Looking good so far. Still need to start mine.

WDH · May 29, 2014, 08:30:21 PM

Will it load from the end?

hackberry jake · May 29, 2014, 09:06:36 PM

Im thinkin itll hold around 800bf of 4/4. Yeah. I'm going to build a kiln cart. Load up the cart and then roll it into the kiln and shut the doors. Thats why its so tall. It comes out about ground level where I will be stacking lumber on the cart. I was considering the l-53 but I believe I will try a homebrew instead. It cant be that hard right?

Larry · May 29, 2014, 09:27:47 PM

You might check craigslist and look for used poultry house insulation. Its 1 1/2" thick 4' X 16' (or longer) sheets.

hackberry jake · June 01, 2014, 11:24:10 PM

I have been leary about starting the back wall or roof because I didnt know what insulation I was going to be using. I needed to know what joist spacing to use. Well, I picked up 100 12x12x19 styrofoam blocks off of craigslist today. So the joist spacing will be 12". And ill need to cut a lot of 12" blocks to 8" thick.

JB Griffin · June 02, 2014, 12:04:00 AM

Looking good Jake, let us know what you do about the home brew dehumid unit, still thinkin bout buildin a kiln my self.

hackberry jake · June 12, 2014, 05:44:26 PM

Made a little more progress...

WDH · June 12, 2014, 08:24:52 PM

I see a whack of styrofoam blocks

.

hackberry jake · June 12, 2014, 08:32:27 PM

The roof and back wall haven't been insulated yet. I just threw some tin on the top temporarily until all this rain lets up. And I still have doors to build...

bedway · June 13, 2014, 09:34:22 AM

Looking great Jake, man i wish i had the energy you do. ;D Im gonna find me a lamp and rub it and wish i was 40 again with a healthy heart. :D

hackberry jake · July 02, 2014, 03:01:47 PM

Got the roof insulated today.

WDH · July 03, 2014, 07:24:01 AM

I see less moldy, mildewed pine in your future ;D.

hackberry jake · July 13, 2014, 09:56:05 PM

Some more progress pictures.

I remember Poston saying sweet gum makes pretty good siding, I cut the tree down, milled it, and screwed it up all within a few hrs. I have always wanted to try board and batten siding. This is the first time I have ever screwed up dripping boards too.

LeeB · July 14, 2014, 04:14:25 AM

I can't tell, is the door insulated?

hackberry jake · July 14, 2014, 09:35:36 AM

The door has 7" of styrofoam and two 1/2" plywood skins making it 8" thick. Heres a pic before I put the last skin on.

LeeB · July 14, 2014, 10:02:07 AM

I figured surely it did. I just couldn't tell from the picture.

WDH · July 14, 2014, 08:15:59 PM

Things are about to get exciting.

Den Socling · July 15, 2014, 05:25:31 PM

I'm sorry but I find solar kilns as exciting as snails. :D I pulled a load of fresh-off-the-saw 8/4 White Oak today. 7.5% in 10 days with no apparent degrade. That's exciting!

hackberry jake · July 15, 2014, 06:48:32 PM

That was the main deciding factor for me to go the way of electric. I should be able to dry lumber fairly quickly and year around.

Den Socling · July 16, 2014, 08:12:31 PM

I stacked that 8/4 White Oak today. I only had a few pieces in with 4/4 to see how it would react. It was dry but had too many surface checks. I should have kept the humidity higher. But the 4/4 was picture perfect. White Oak will dry from fresh to 7% in less than 10 days. Too bad a solar kiln schedule can't do it without the vacuum. BTW the 5" thick stuff was around 12% and had a lot of cracks but it was boxed heart. This is really getting off topic but the wood is for a 1949 dump truck somebody is restoring.