Any one have a kiln?

[ndemge]

I purchase wood plugs, they are 1.93" wide, 1.5" thick <br /><br />I have about 1,000 that have sat through most of the year, and now they mic out at around 1.98<br /><br />I put about a dozen in the oven at 225, was going to let them go for about 5 hours and see if it makes any difference.<br /><br />Anyone here dry their own wood? what can I expect?<br /><br />We plan on building an air tight cabinet with a dehumidifer for future storage.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Any one have a kiln?

My uncle has a kiln, It is a low temp (nowhere near 225)dehumidifyer via air movment. <br /><br /> But I don't fully understand your question<br /><br />I assume you are trying to counteract the swelling?

 

[ndemge]

Re: Any one have a kiln?

neumanns, yes, they swelled up, and our press now has a hard time inserting them into the pipe.<br /><br />I put 10 of them in the over at 225 at 2:00, took them out at 4:30, and I'm very impresses with the results.<br /><br />Of the 10 samples, they shrank on average about .03" pretty much right on with what they are supposed to be.<br /><br />On the off season, we run into this problem where they sit around. I can probably fit about 100 in the oven on sheets at a time and not loose what I have in stock.

 

[ZodFutMk2]

Re: Any one have a kiln?

Got a spare microwave oven?<br /><br />It will dry them out faster. I use one of those cheap Samsung units with the rotating glass tray.<br /><br />I put the wood on paper towels on the glass tray. Any leftover sap will also boil and the towel catches it.<br /><br />Only problem is experimenting with the timing.<br /><br />Fir and maple leave a nice scent in the shop.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Any one have a kiln?

Any problem with the wood cracking? Never thought of using a nuker.

 

[ZodFutMk2]

Re: Any one have a kiln?

If you "heat" it too fast, depending on the water content, yep, it can split. Don't use highest power level...kinda like not turning the oven to broil.<br /><br />I tend to use the 50% power level, a lot. That way you don't have to stand and watch it. <br /><br />I started by placing a "standard" quantity on the tray, then 30 seconds at 50% power, test the diameter (or humidity of the wood), then back for 15 or 30 seconds at 50%, test, etc.<br /><br />Yes, it is a pain to find the right time / power per quantity, but once done, you've got the task done in part of the regular time.<br /><br />Dowels swell, out of round... 12 sections, 1 minute - 17 seconds on power level 8, warm and dry and as close to normal as can be.<br /><br />If you do doll furniture or small bent parts...soak the area to bend in water...then nuke it, while it's warm, bend it. You can soak the area to bend in wet rag. <br /><br />Gotta watch the type of wood and the sap content.<br /><br />You just gotta experiment with it. And it's a whole lot cheaper to use than the oven or a kiln.<br /><br />Keep me posted on your results.

 

[Chief101]

Re: Any one have a kiln?

If your wood plugs are small enough to go into the microwave oven you can do them quickly in there. Cook on high for a minute or long enough so that they are warm to the touch. Remove that batch and let cool while running the next batch. I use a scale to detect dryness, but not necessary. When they no longer get warm they are dry. I've done this for years with an old and large Sharp microwave to dry bowl turnings. It should work and save lots of time.