Kiln Drying lumber with wood heat?
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Time is cheap, shim it and cover it and leave it alone.
I bought some lumber from a guy recently and it was advertised as kiln dried. I asked him what sort of set up he had. He explained that he heated his house with a woodburner which is outside the home. He simply fills up his basement with wood, fires up the woodburner, and monitors the humidity inside and the moisture of the wood.
I suspect that if you have a woodburner and a building, you could simply put the woodburner in the building with the wood and fire it up. You would have to allow some ventilation so the moisture can escape. I also would consider providing outside air to the firebox if the room is tight.
I suspect that if you have a woodburner and a building, you could simply put the woodburner in the building with the wood and fire it up. You would have to allow some ventilation so the moisture can escape. I also would consider providing outside air to the firebox if the room is tight.
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Ayuh,.... I gotta agree,... Kilns dry wood with Steam, not just dry heat...
Forced air dryin', like yer talkin' 'bout causes alota splittin', 'n twistin' in the wood...
When I have bought air-dried wood, it was dried for 2 years.
I think if you put 20,000 bf of wood up, and plan on selling it for $3/bf, most guys don't want to wait 2 years for that money to roll in. Hence the kilns.
There is also the possibility of a solar kiln. I think the deal here is you keep it in a dry, protected, well ventilated area, but with the south side glassed in.
The other disadvantage of air drying, which was explained to me, is the rot factor. Seems the softer woods such as basswood will get a bit moldy during the natural air drying process.
I think if you put 20,000 bf of wood up, and plan on selling it for $3/bf, most guys don't want to wait 2 years for that money to roll in. Hence the kilns.
There is also the possibility of a solar kiln. I think the deal here is you keep it in a dry, protected, well ventilated area, but with the south side glassed in.
The other disadvantage of air drying, which was explained to me, is the rot factor. Seems the softer woods such as basswood will get a bit moldy during the natural air drying process.
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