MRDucks2
Member
I was not sure if this would work, but it appears to be a low cost, viable solution to drying blanks for $20 or less without heat.
Caveats for the critics:
- Yes, I know it is not technically a kiln
- I am using a low cost, General MM1E pin type moisture meter from WoodCraft
- I did not have true, green wood to test so used some blanks in storage as well as some cut from a wet but dead limb that was laying outside off of a maple tree.
Now the theory:
If you take one of those ZipLoc storage containers with a foam seal and a room sized container of DampRid will it dry pen blanks. The short answer is yes.
The Experiment:
DampRid available in various forms at most hardware stores
ZipLoc Weather Shield storage container available in various sizes. This one may larger than needed but it was on clearance. Key is, it has a foam seal to keep humidity out. We use them to store Christmas cookies.
Exterior view of lid seal
Interior view of lid seal
Basically arranged a variety of jar and soft maple blanks on supports or "stickers" as if air drying normally. Placed DampRid in container and sealed it up.
View of closed container.
I took initial moisture readings on each blank then checked them all at random intervals.
The Results:
A-golden soft maple
B-curly hard maple
C-punky wet soft maple
D-golden soft maple
E-curly hard maple
F-punky wet soft maple
G-golden soft maple
H-curly hard maple
I-punky wet soft maple
Initial readings 10/12/19 9:30pm
Second readings 10/17/19 5:15pm
Third readings 10/20/19 8:15pm
Fourth readings 11/4/19 5:20pm
Percent WME
A-21, 10, 8, NR <7
B-10.5, 10, 8, 7
C-35, 12, 10, NR <7
D-10, 8, 7, NR <7
E-11, 10, 8, NR <7
F-19, 13, 11, 7
G-10, 8, 7, NR <7
H-10.5, 9, 7, NR <7
I-27, 11, 9, 7
Control samples
Golden soft maple remained at 10
Curly hard maple remained at 10
Pinky wet soft maple down from 16 to 10.5
Condition of DampRid - no water deposited in bottom of container.
Conclusion:
From my observations this is a viable, low cost method of lowering wood moisture content in small batches of wood. Next year I will run the test with green blanks and see what happens but I believe I will see a quick but steady drop during the first 30 days to the point the blanks could easily be baked off in a toaster oven or left for a couple more weeks to get close to zero WME.
Benefits: small, cheap at $20 or less, way to store/get out of the way, portable and I believe we may be less susceptible to warp or cracks due to the process being heat free.
Give it a try and let us know what your experience is!
Caveats for the critics:
- Yes, I know it is not technically a kiln
- I am using a low cost, General MM1E pin type moisture meter from WoodCraft
- I did not have true, green wood to test so used some blanks in storage as well as some cut from a wet but dead limb that was laying outside off of a maple tree.
Now the theory:
If you take one of those ZipLoc storage containers with a foam seal and a room sized container of DampRid will it dry pen blanks. The short answer is yes.
The Experiment:
DampRid available in various forms at most hardware stores
ZipLoc Weather Shield storage container available in various sizes. This one may larger than needed but it was on clearance. Key is, it has a foam seal to keep humidity out. We use them to store Christmas cookies.
Exterior view of lid seal
Interior view of lid seal
Basically arranged a variety of jar and soft maple blanks on supports or "stickers" as if air drying normally. Placed DampRid in container and sealed it up.
View of closed container.
I took initial moisture readings on each blank then checked them all at random intervals.
The Results:
A-golden soft maple
B-curly hard maple
C-punky wet soft maple
D-golden soft maple
E-curly hard maple
F-punky wet soft maple
G-golden soft maple
H-curly hard maple
I-punky wet soft maple
Initial readings 10/12/19 9:30pm
Second readings 10/17/19 5:15pm
Third readings 10/20/19 8:15pm
Fourth readings 11/4/19 5:20pm
Percent WME
A-21, 10, 8, NR <7
B-10.5, 10, 8, 7
C-35, 12, 10, NR <7
D-10, 8, 7, NR <7
E-11, 10, 8, NR <7
F-19, 13, 11, 7
G-10, 8, 7, NR <7
H-10.5, 9, 7, NR <7
I-27, 11, 9, 7
Control samples
Golden soft maple remained at 10
Curly hard maple remained at 10
Pinky wet soft maple down from 16 to 10.5
Condition of DampRid - no water deposited in bottom of container.
Conclusion:
From my observations this is a viable, low cost method of lowering wood moisture content in small batches of wood. Next year I will run the test with green blanks and see what happens but I believe I will see a quick but steady drop during the first 30 days to the point the blanks could easily be baked off in a toaster oven or left for a couple more weeks to get close to zero WME.
Benefits: small, cheap at $20 or less, way to store/get out of the way, portable and I believe we may be less susceptible to warp or cracks due to the process being heat free.
Give it a try and let us know what your experience is!
)
