Call all Kiln gurus

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

Mac

>Information on its way via e-mail....

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

John Lucas

>ONe of my friends just built a box out of 3/4" styrafoam and put a light bulb in it with a thermostatically controlled fan to keep it from getting too hot. He dries wood for making (god forgive) square boxes. I just can't get him on the lathe.

I'm going to use the same set up for storing my paints so they don't freeze in the winter.

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

Bob Moffett

>There was an article or it was in the tips section in a old AAW journal about making one from an old refrigerator. I don't know which issue, but I would think you could ask AAW and they would know.

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

Chris Andrew

>You can build a very effective kiln using a standard household dehumidifier. There are some good plans available (American Woodworker, June 2002 is one) but most of them are oriented towards drying lumber and are probably fancier than you need for this application. The kiln in American Woodworker uses an insulated plywood box, but you can also set one up in a closet or other enclosed space. The major requirements are the dehumidifier, a way to create/control airflow, and a thermometer/hygrometer. Most plans call for a source of additional heat (usually a lightbulb) but I find the dehumidifier itself supplies all the heat you need. The dehumidifier can supply the airflow but you need to baffle it so that the air flows evenly through the wood. You can get an excellent electronic thermometer/hygrometer for $15-20. As for running the kiln, again you can keep things simple. If you keep the kiln around 40% humidity you can dry green turned bowls down to about 9% moisture content in 3 weeks. You will have to experiment a bit so that you don't dry the wood too quickly, but it really doesn't have to be rocket science.

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

John Lucas

>Bob

I could put an old refrigerator and Washer and Dryer on my front porch and then I would look just like my neighbors. they don't have to know they hold wood and actually have a purpose.

Re: Call all Kiln gurus  *LINK*

Ron in Drums PA

>


Russ's Klin

I would like feedback on alcohol problems.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi CKap,

I would like to discuss with you the problems you are having drying bowls with alcohol. There are indeed a lot of factors that have not been fully explored but the basic process that I have described works for a large number of people with a variety of woods. Negative feedback helps refine the process.

Thanks.

Dave Smith

Praying for rain so I don't have to mow the yard again in Longview, WA.

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

Barry Irby

>If I gave this some thought, do you think I could make a dryer out of the dishwasher in my kitchen and still be able to use it to do the dishes? Hmmm? It has a drying cycle built into it. You don't suppose....? Probably too hot. Wonder if I could just slow it down a bit?

Re: I would like feedback on alcohol problems.

David Dixon

>I am interested in this thread also. I have several old dishwashers,refridgerator and a welding rod oven that might be employed. I would like to know the temp required and for how long if anybody has any ideas. I don't mean to hi-jack thread,please forgive me. I thought this was pertaining to the first thread. I also have a neighbor that used to make ceramics and has a kiln to sell,I wonder if that would work too. I don't know the temp range of a ceramic kiln it might not go low enough. The rod oven might. Thanks,David

Re: Call all Kiln gurus

Ron in Drums PA

>I guess you can soak your bowls in LDD and then dry them in the dishwasher all at the same time ;-)

Re: Back to the kiln issue. *LINK*

Gary Evans, Tallassee, TN

>David,

You can make a bowl kiln out of a plywood box with light bulbs under it to provide the heat source. The bottom and top of the box are open, but the top has a sliding lid to control airflow.

I can hit 110 degrees on a warm day with 4 100watt bulbs on a rheostat, turned all the way up.

More important than temperature, though, is the relative humidity. A digital temp/humidity meter will let you track the RH in your box and then you can adjust the heat and airflow to achieve the desired RH.

Lee Grindinger has a chart on his website that shows the equilibrium moisture content for various temp/RH combinations. Just be aware that some woods will withstand greater changes in RH than others. Also, as the wood dries it gets stronger, which means you can gradually drop the RH lower and lower till you reach your target EMC.

Gary


Grindinger's moisture chart