Small wood drying kiln plans, dry your own lumber - Woodworking Talk

**Daren** · 02-05-2008, 08:52 PM

I have been selling these plans on Ebay since Jan of 2007 (check my 100% positive feedback) http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...edbackAsSeller, and my website. I never brought them up here because this is my "fun place" and I thought it would be like mixing business with pleasure.

But I am now because I am noticing more members looking at having lumber milled, and looking for sawmills instead of heading to the Big Box etc.. Wood workers can get some great deals on rough sawn lumber, but not all mills have kilns.

I will be brief. If you have wood to dry (or have passed on some good deals because it was not kiln dried) you should look into a kiln. My plan is not complicated to build or run. Doesn't take much room, basically how much you can spare 12'x3'x4-12'x4'x4' (whatever). It can be inside the shop, in the basement, behind the garage. It is based around a home dehumidifier unit, its a d/h kiln.

There is more info on my site, and the eBay listing I keep. Basically it is a hobby wood worker size kiln, mine dries 300bft at a time in 2 weeks. It cost around $200 to build in 2005 from easy to get parts (local hardware store/Big Box/Wal-Mart), I guess if a guy went nuts he could spend $400 ?

I will help you with any questions you have during the construction of your kiln if you would have any and getting you started drying wood.

I sell them for $25. There are 150 (?) running across the country right now. Here is my deal, Woodworking Talk members get them as an e-mail attachment for $20. If you found this site searching for small kiln plans, join and you get the discount.

EDIT: Trying to make this easier for everyone...how to order.

PayPal me $20 to dnelson@one-eleven.net if you use it or mail a check for the same to:

Daren Nelson
PO 724
Lovington Il 61937

Since this is strictly a Woodworking Talk. com offer (the discount of $5) mention your user name in your payment.

stuart · 02-05-2008, 09:00 PM

nice stuff.

**TexasTimbers** · 02-08-2008, 12:49 PM

I built my kiln according to Daren's plans (and a few phone calls

) and I am very happy with it.

No, he didn't ask me to give this "testimonial" I just figure y'all ought to know if you want a shop sized DIY kiln his plans will give all the info you need and then some.

doubleaction · 02-08-2008, 10:58 PM

I am going to be getting them from you for sure here in a week or two. Money is realy tight right now (damn Michigan economy) but hopefully i will scrape the cash togather, my land is full of black wallnut trees. I cut a few down this fall.

Richard · 02-11-2008, 04:16 PM

Cut the trees down build the kiln and you'll be rolling in money(well maybe not). But you'll have some money.

Marko · 02-20-2008, 07:32 PM

Guilty.....Mine was instigated er a inspired by Daren too.First load was 350 bf airdried hickory that dried from 19 to 6% in 10 days.My best advice would be to listen to every single aspect of what Daren tells you.I tried to cheat one of the golden rules of Daren and I believe we both lost alittle hair over my goof...........my hair is over 3' long too.Was it as much fun for you as it was for me Daren?
All BS aside this has turned out to be one of the fundamental tools for what I do.Without it I would be paying $250 mbf + the cost to haul and pick it up.My kiln paid for itself during the first load because I didn't have to pay for the gas to haul it.I did spend alittle over $400 but I coulda built it for 1/2 if I didn't have to have the fancy controls and Destaco hardware.Just think it all started with a

Turkey Call......

**Daren** · 03-08-2008, 10:15 PM

Well at last count 200+ are now in action in the US, Canada, the UK, Brazil ...(only 1 in Brazil, but I thought it was cool, language barrier and all

) I have met some interesting guys/gals as a bonus. For example one lady and I quote "Even though I am 81, don't let that fool you, I am still full of P&V" That tells me 2 things. One if she is using that term, she is 81 (it's been awhile since that has been popular slag, many of you may not even know what it means ?) Two at 81 and still stacking wet lumber in a kiln she ain't lying about being full of P&V, at 40 some times the tanks runs dry...ask me again in 41 years

.

dpmcreations · 03-19-2008, 07:40 AM

One of these days I may have to venture into the plans... Darn my silliness... But now that you mentioned P & V ... Love that term, it isn't used enough anymore... Oh am I dating a few of us... LOL..

**TexasTimbers** · 03-19-2008, 08:26 AM

You ain't dating me fella, I ain't that way. I am married anyway.

Marko · 03-19-2008, 10:28 AM

I'm married too.....but I'm hurtin' for cash!

Ray Dunn · 09-23-2008, 10:09 PM

just joined, have enjoyed reading this site for awhile,thought i would join in all the fun.
Daren have a few Questions about your kiln plans, would it work as good drying thicker pieces (turning stock 4-6"thick)

**Daren** · 09-23-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Dunn

thought i would join in all the fun.

Daren have a few Questions about your kiln plans, would it work as good drying thicker pieces (turning stock 4-6"thick)

Welcome, the more the merrier

Yes. I don't do it, but know guys who are.

rbthom · 02-14-2009, 08:38 PM

Okay Darren, I joined up, now how do I get the plans for the kiln?

**Daren** · 02-14-2009, 08:46 PM

Just shoot me a PM or email. (click my name for those options)

tman · 06-30-2009, 10:10 PM

daren, i am a new member and want your plans; and i want to get them as an email asap. what do i need to do; i went to your web-site and there is no where it tells me that the plans will be sent to me in a timely manner.

**Daren** · 07-01-2009, 07:57 AM

How, send me a private message here or email (Click my name for those options) and I will get them out asap/same day.

Arthur · 10-29-2009, 12:23 AM

Hi Daren
Have sent you a pm to apply for the kiln plans. Forgot to ask if following your plans, I could build the kiln as big as to dry 600 bft at lengths of 17 ft?

Arthur

**Daren** · 10-29-2009, 08:51 AM

Hello Arthur. Yes with some modifications what you are wanting to do is possible. You will go over the build budget $ some I mentioned in my original post of course, but we can work together and I will help you design a kiln to fit your needs.

Your question posed in the open forum gives me a chance to expand a little on what I do. When I first designed my own kiln it was for 300 bft of lumber so that is what I offered advice on...Well over the years that has evolved far more than I expected. I get emails/pms frequently from people wanting to do "more" either simply bigger in lumber volume or something quite different than I had planned. Right now my kiln plans (with additional modifications and free advice) are working in shops all over the world like I said not drying "lumber" at all. I have turners drying blanks, many rustic furniture makers drying sticks/limbs/logs for their work and using the kiln to kill bugs in them. One lady is using my kiln to dry pecan chunks, a hurricane destroyed her pecan orchard and she had the mess ran through an industrial chipper and is selling kiln dried BBQ/smoker wood.

I have not advertised my kiln plans for doing tasks other than drying sawn lumber. I guess that is partly laziness on my end, here is why I say that. I designed/built/ran my kiln for a full year before I sat down and typed out the plans. I had all the kinks worked out so when someone bought the plans all they had to do was read them and off they went into the world of kiln drying. I was always available for questions in the future, but drying lumber is easy. I may get a couple questions on the first load from a new person, after that no problems. Why I said lazy, was venturing into "new things" other than a small amount of sawn lumber posed challenges for me and the builder...we seem to be doing fine and it's been fun. Well over 500 are now running, many of which are not doing what this plan is advertised to do.

DerekG · 12-27-2009, 09:08 PM

Dumb question, but does the $200-300 to build the plans include the cost of the dehumidifier?

**Daren** · 12-27-2009, 09:40 PM

Yes.