Small wood drying kiln plans, dry your own lumber - Page 6 - Woodworking Talk

Nukie Boy · 01-25-2011, 10:40 AM

I put a money order in the mail this weekend. It should be on its way if it isn't there already. Thanks!

**Daren** · 01-25-2011, 02:59 PM

It showed up today, thanks, check your email

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bugman1954 · 01-26-2011, 06:04 AM

I remember my first load of wood I dried in my kiln made from Daren's plans. I had bought a dehumidifier from Craigslist and it looked really good, No visible abuse and no manual. So when I dropped the top on the kiln. The dehumidifier kept shutting off. I had the percentage of moisture set in the wrong direction. I fixed it, closed up the kiln and got a great load of wood for my effort.

This is the first piece I made with wood I had completely processed myself. No more using someone else's kiln.. How much more satisifaction can you get from this? Now I am cutting and drying for other people. Not making alot of money but it has paid for the kiln and a trip to disney.

For all you waiting to buy the plans, just do it.

How do trees get on the internet? ( they log on )

Woodbizard · 01-26-2011, 06:15 AM

Well its been about a month since I had purchased the plans from Daren. He has been amazing at sharing his knowledge with me. Any emails or even phone calls he was quick with responses. I just pulled out my first load of dry wood out yesterday. 2 huge walnut crotches, now nice and dry! Loading up for another charge today. If you are thinking about drying your own wood this is the way to go.
Adrian

Nukie Boy · 01-26-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daren

It showed up today, thanks, check your email

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Got it. Thanks!

TexasTimbers · 01-26-2011, 10:22 AM

You only just *now* got the plans Nukie? Daren is getting awful slow. Used to, you ordered his plans and they arrived the before. Now, it's taking a day, sometimes two. Poor fella must be getting all stove up in his joints and such.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugman1954

How do trees get on the internet? ( they log on )

That's funny. You should leaf your current line of work and branch out into telling jokes - it's the root of comedy.

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**Daren** · 01-26-2011, 10:51 AM

I'm glad to hear everyone is having success (and fun) drying their wood. I've lost count of how many of these are running/have been built, but I am pretty sure it's over 1000, wow.

bugman I guess I never looked in your pictures until today. You milled all that 1/4 sawn stock ? Nice.

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fromtheforty · 01-27-2011, 11:42 AM

Hey Daren,

I happened to be on Wood Web a week or two ago and they had a survey about how many of their viewers had a kiln and if so what brand do they use. 3% of the respondents were using your kiln. I thought that was pretty impressive. Several lesser known brands that you see advertised in magazines had 0%. BTW, I bought your plan last spring but I am running my 1st batch right now. Too much work and didn't have time.

Geoff
From the Forty LLC

**Daren** · 01-27-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromtheforty

I happened to be on Wood Web a week or two ago and they had a survey about how many of their viewers had a kiln and if so what brand do they use. 3% of the respondents were using your kiln.

I saw that poll too (of course one of those votes was mine

)

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Nukie Boy · 01-29-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasTimbers

You only just *now* got the plans Nukie? Daren is getting awful slow. Used to, you ordered his plans and they arrived the before. Now, it's taking a day, sometimes two. Poor fella must be getting all stove up in his joints and such.

To be fair... I didn't check my mail until later...

custom moulder · 01-31-2011, 07:23 AM

First I want to thank Daren for the help he's been giving me over the past week to get my "Daren Kiln" fired up. He's been beyond great to respond to every email I've shot him.

Question- What size fan and what speed is recommended? Can there be too much air movement that would reduce the effectiveness of the DH?

Again, Thanks Daren.

**Daren** · 01-31-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by custom moulder

Can there be too much air movement that would reduce the effectiveness of the DH?

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I don't think there can be too much air flow, but there can be too little. You need the air mixing well in the chamber/moist air coming back to the d/h in the kiln. As far as ''reducing the effectiveness of the d/h'' with too much air I guess I have no plotted answer like ''X cfm per ft3'', it's more of a common sense thing. Air should be circulating well over/around the wood/in the chamber, but it doesn't need to be excessive to the point of turbulent high force wind...A good stiff breeze is my best description.

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reberly · 02-20-2011, 06:09 PM

Hi Daren,
I started my first dh kiln using your plans yesterday. Of course I had to hybridize it with some solar heat collecting but it seems to work fine.
Rich

joelsuraci · 05-19-2011, 03:18 PM

Hi Daren,
Just wondering, before I buy the plans, do you know how effective the d/h kiln will be on teak logs that are 10" diameter (only 5' long)? Or is is true, as a few have told me, for such thick stock my only choice is a vacuum kiln? Would appreciate your knowledge on this :)
Thanks, and congrats on your kiln's success!

**Daren** · 05-19-2011, 04:37 PM

Teak lumber is very hard to dry...whole logs, a dh kiln (low heat) is not the best for your needs IMO. Many people are drying softwood logs for rustic furniture in my kiln, and even some domestic hardwood logs-but they are smaller logs than what you are talking. So to answer your question even though I have no experience with drying teak logs, just from my reading, lumber yes (and that still takes quite awhile)...Teak logs

Sorry I couldn't help, I just don't think it will work out well.

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joelsuraci · 05-20-2011, 11:06 AM

Thanks for the honest answer. I'll still probably be building your kiln in the near future, as I have to dry smaller, more common size teak boards (some even as small as 2" x 3"), but for now I really am prioritizing finding a way to dry the logs, since there is now way for me to cut them down, as I will be using them for columns that are only an inch smaller in diameter than the initial log. I appreciate the info, and will be back for those plans soon :D

Bone · 06-25-2011, 01:08 PM

Daren,

I just paid for the plans from your website. I may want to modify to larger.

Tim

**Daren** · 06-25-2011, 01:19 PM

Tim
Plans sent, $5 refunded for the WWT discount. Sure, holler if you want to make changes, you have my email address we can work through it.
Daren

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bimini · 10-25-2011, 01:25 AM

Daren,
I just bought your plans on ebay. I also looked at your website and I would guess: elm. No need for the member discount if I am right.

vaultf600 · 11-11-2011, 01:29 AM

Hey Daren I have known about your plans for a while.. But now I'm getting more wood and the hardest part is waiting for it to air dry. That can be a long time in AK. So this leads me to my question; Will this work in the cold? and How cold, -20? I would imagaine the water in the dehumidifer will freeze.