My project list usually has quite a bit of turnover, so I'm not sure this idea will ever find it's way into reality, but I'm really intrigued by kilns for drying wood. I considered a solar kiln, but don't really make big projects often and a small solar kiln may be difficult to control. Then I found the insulated cabinet type, using a light bulb as heat. This would obviously be easier to control and probably big enough for my needs. Then I stumbled upon the vacuum kiln, now that looks neat. The speed of drying looks awesome, less than a week. Also, since the drying is done at or near ambient temperature the result is less cracking and more stable woods. Obviously this would be good for burls and difficult to dry stuff. I found a book that is basically a plan for a hobbyist DIY version, looks pretty neat. Anyway, do any of y'all have experience with either a vacuum kiln or one of the heated cabinet style kilns? I am looking to up my game a bit with stabilization, but figured I should get drying right first... Any nuggets of wisdom will be appreciated.
DIY Kiln Drying Wood
- Thread starter Dehn0045
- Start date
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Wildman
Member
Light bulb versus DIY vaccuum kiln, I would go with the light bulb kiln.
Light bulb kilns only require a box, light bulb (heat source) and either natural circulation or simple fan.
Vacuum kilns, require much more expense to build and operate, and technical knowledge required. Lot of good information online so do check into it before deciding.
Neither light bulb nor vaccum kiln is a set it and forget it proposition. While both will exceed at drying pen blanks, when move into thicker wood different story. When talking about bowls and hollow forms your talking rought turned items, not just sticking parts of a tree in a the kiln.
Tried to find DIY You Tube video but all I found were small commercial units. You may have better luck than I did.
Vacuum Kiln or Atomic Bomb -- You Decide: 8 Steps (with Pictures)
Vacuum Kiln Drying - Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers -- How to build and use a vacuum kiln for drying wood
Here is the basic idea behind a light bulb kiln. We have had guys here use different boxes like beer coolers computer fan and light bulb, to all kinds of old appliances, and assorted boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-vpg1iyB4c
To get basic principle on drying wood various chapters of this reference will get you started.
https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/products/publications/several_pubs.php?grouping_id=100&header_id=p
Light bulb kilns only require a box, light bulb (heat source) and either natural circulation or simple fan.
Vacuum kilns, require much more expense to build and operate, and technical knowledge required. Lot of good information online so do check into it before deciding.
Neither light bulb nor vaccum kiln is a set it and forget it proposition. While both will exceed at drying pen blanks, when move into thicker wood different story. When talking about bowls and hollow forms your talking rought turned items, not just sticking parts of a tree in a the kiln.
Tried to find DIY You Tube video but all I found were small commercial units. You may have better luck than I did.
Vacuum Kiln or Atomic Bomb -- You Decide: 8 Steps (with Pictures)
Vacuum Kiln Drying - Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers -- How to build and use a vacuum kiln for drying wood
Here is the basic idea behind a light bulb kiln. We have had guys here use different boxes like beer coolers computer fan and light bulb, to all kinds of old appliances, and assorted boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-vpg1iyB4c
To get basic principle on drying wood various chapters of this reference will get you started.
https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/products/publications/several_pubs.php?grouping_id=100&header_id=p
leehljp
Member Liaison
This is a good thread! Like it.
1. Bill, what is your recommendation for bowl blank wood? I don't like the "year in the attic" time line but accept it.
2. the vacuum tank looks interesting and simple enough. I have built more complicated things through the years! (I built my own stereo amplifiers and radios in the 60's and '70's from schematics only.) I also have access to large PVC pieces from the local town.
Now if I can only get the time. Looks like maybe a late next year project for me.
1. Bill, what is your recommendation for bowl blank wood? I don't like the "year in the attic" time line but accept it.
2. the vacuum tank looks interesting and simple enough. I have built more complicated things through the years! (I built my own stereo amplifiers and radios in the 60's and '70's from schematics only.) I also have access to large PVC pieces from the local town.
Now if I can only get the time. Looks like maybe a late next year project for me.
Thanks for your input Bill. Great links, thanks for passing them along. My most pressing concern is that since I'm in Houston and EMC is probably in the neighborhood of 13%, I worry that if I don't dry blanks out prior to stabilization I'll have troubles. I have done the microwave trick, but the extremely high temperatures worry me a little, especially with the higher density oily woods (only a concern for drying, not stabilization). This morning I had an epiphany, why not use a food dehydrator? This would probably be too fast for freshly cut wood, but just zapping stuff that is already at EMC it might not be too aggressive. I still like the idea of vacuum drying, but maybe that is something I'll tackle when I have more time, money and space.
MRDucks2
Member
I am early in consideration of an electric smoker. You can get stable control, low heat,ventilation and moisture control. Those things are now badly priced.
Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
Wildman
Member
Folks please forget the 1" per year to dry wood that is nonsense. That so called rule of thumb only good for some pines but not all.
Hank Lee, can only tell you what works for me and where I live. Harvest my own wood for turning, for bowl blanks simply rough turn store them on floor back of my unheated or air condition shop. I shoot for a uniform thickness which does vary by size & design of bowl rough turning. Normally those blanks ready to go in two to six months but may not get to all of them in one year. I shoot for uniform ¼" thickness on hollow forms which just started turning couple years ago. This long leaf pine lamp developed developped couple cracks at the base which filled. Can only see one of those on bottom lower right.
Another Pine Lamp - by Wildwood @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community
This pine vase has pith crack on one side but not the other.
Pine Vase - by Wildwood @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community
Did live in Mc Comb and Jackson for brief period so no expert on weather or relative humidty there. My introduction to weather in MC Comb was a "Tornato," back in mid 1970's. While loved MS and many fine folks I met, had to leave or be fired for non-productivity. Mobile Al, was my salvation on that tour of duty.
At one time there were many great articles on light bulb kilns on the internet sadly not as many today. Met a man at a turning symposium in Stateville NC in early 1990's that built one and got an outstanding class on how to build and operate one.
Nice article: Please pay attention when Cindy tells just because wood has been cycled thru a kiln doesn't mean will stay at same MC.
http://www.cindydrozda.com/handouts_Pdfs/handouts/demo handouts/drying_kiln.pdf
different aproach:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNKlD6fTPVI
Cardboard box kiln. Listen to what gentleman says about heat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYogSkXQgEw
Do I see vacuum kilns as a viable solution to drying wood? Yes I do for those folks that have the skills, money, and not afraid to fail and give it a try.
Hank Lee, can only tell you what works for me and where I live. Harvest my own wood for turning, for bowl blanks simply rough turn store them on floor back of my unheated or air condition shop. I shoot for a uniform thickness which does vary by size & design of bowl rough turning. Normally those blanks ready to go in two to six months but may not get to all of them in one year. I shoot for uniform ¼" thickness on hollow forms which just started turning couple years ago. This long leaf pine lamp developed developped couple cracks at the base which filled. Can only see one of those on bottom lower right.
Another Pine Lamp - by Wildwood @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community
This pine vase has pith crack on one side but not the other.
Pine Vase - by Wildwood @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community
Did live in Mc Comb and Jackson for brief period so no expert on weather or relative humidty there. My introduction to weather in MC Comb was a "Tornato," back in mid 1970's. While loved MS and many fine folks I met, had to leave or be fired for non-productivity. Mobile Al, was my salvation on that tour of duty.
At one time there were many great articles on light bulb kilns on the internet sadly not as many today. Met a man at a turning symposium in Stateville NC in early 1990's that built one and got an outstanding class on how to build and operate one.
Nice article: Please pay attention when Cindy tells just because wood has been cycled thru a kiln doesn't mean will stay at same MC.
http://www.cindydrozda.com/handouts_Pdfs/handouts/demo handouts/drying_kiln.pdf
different aproach:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNKlD6fTPVI
Cardboard box kiln. Listen to what gentleman says about heat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYogSkXQgEw
Do I see vacuum kilns as a viable solution to drying wood? Yes I do for those folks that have the skills, money, and not afraid to fail and give it a try.
Herb G
Member
FWIW, I saw a show on TV where a guy made chairs. All kinds of chairs.
He had a drying oven made from 2" thick foil faced foam board.
He dried out his rungs and spindles in it using a 60 watt light bulb.
It was plain & simple, but it worked well for him.
He had a drying oven made from 2" thick foil faced foam board.
He dried out his rungs and spindles in it using a 60 watt light bulb.
It was plain & simple, but it worked well for him.
tonylumps
Member
An old undercounter Refrigerator.A 60 or 100 Watt bulb Keep the door cracked open about 1\2 " Works great .And also kept my Welding rods dry.I got the Fridge out of the trash
tonylumps
Member
An old under counter Fridge from the trash .A 60 Or 100 Watt bulb .Keep The Door open 1\2".Works Good And Keeps my welding Rods Dry Tip .Do Not Use led Bulbs LOL
tonylumps
Member
Double post sorry
Wildman
Member
If you buy your wood to turn, and not sure of MC, a small incandescent light bulb kiln will serve you well. Components entirely up to you concerning size, vent, racks, light bulb wattage, size fan, and timers if desired. You don't really need much heat just want cycle of heat and air circulations. If took a look at DIY solar & commercial kiln's operation in Wood Handbook or other references will see need to operate a kiln in on & off cycles. Well your cycling schedule entirely up to you. Procastanation has kept me from building one for years! Besides have had pretty good luck air drying and turning thin bowls, which don't turn any more.
Monitoring results probably easier with a scale and weighing items before and after you determined a decent period of time. Yes moisture meters will also get you in the ball park too.
Food dehydrator look interesting some come with digital temperture settings other come with adjustable temperture thermostats and timers. Could not find any with lower temperature setting less than 90 degrees. Unless did a lot of food items would not buy one to try but I am sure other turners have tried. I tried microwave and pretty much gave up on that idea.
Still like to read more about vacuum driers not sure that useful if buy or harvest small quanities of wood. Know both carvers and woodturners have been kicking around the idea since early 2000's.
Once undertand few basics of drying wood pretty easy to find which method is for you. Wood dries from the outside in! Drying wood simply a water removal process thru evaporation. You don't want to stop this, just slow it down a little. Wood shrinks a it dries, but will always contain some moisture even after turning and fnishing.
Monitoring results probably easier with a scale and weighing items before and after you determined a decent period of time. Yes moisture meters will also get you in the ball park too.
Food dehydrator look interesting some come with digital temperture settings other come with adjustable temperture thermostats and timers. Could not find any with lower temperature setting less than 90 degrees. Unless did a lot of food items would not buy one to try but I am sure other turners have tried. I tried microwave and pretty much gave up on that idea.
Still like to read more about vacuum driers not sure that useful if buy or harvest small quanities of wood. Know both carvers and woodturners have been kicking around the idea since early 2000's.
Once undertand few basics of drying wood pretty easy to find which method is for you. Wood dries from the outside in! Drying wood simply a water removal process thru evaporation. You don't want to stop this, just slow it down a little. Wood shrinks a it dries, but will always contain some moisture even after turning and fnishing.