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Tommy Ellis

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Maybe I should have thought
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Solar Kiln
07/29/12 at 12:08:54

Well I have been thinking about it and now it is almost done. I built a solar kiln to speed up the drying time a bit. I have a shed to air dry but after a tree cutter dropped off a spalted elm log then came back with a bunch of box elder I had to do something.

Built one that is about 3 ft deep 5 ft wide and 4 ft high at the back tapering to 1 ft high at the front. By accident it worked out to a 45 degree slope for the top. I am sitting it in place today and finishing the top. Then I have a LOT of wood to cut up. Cheesy

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Robert Tewart Active Member Offline God Bless our Armed Forces! Posts: 146 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #1 - 07/29/12 at 18:17:30 Tommy, I would really love pics or drawings. I really need to do something like this and would prefer something that is free to operate. Thanks
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Jeff Hart WR Champion Offline Enjoy the ride! Posts: 66 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #2 - 07/29/12 at 19:01:30 I too would appreciate any pics/details. I have looked at plans on the web but yours sounds like a nice, manageable size.
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JimQuarles WR Administrator WR Patron Offline WR Rocks, BIG Time! Posts: 10825 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #3 - 07/29/12 at 19:12:59 I had kiln dried wood in a couple of days. I forgot a small fresh cut bowl blank in the back of my SUV in July.
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Rev. Doug Miller WR Patron Offline Working flat so I can support my addiction. Posts: 9602 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #4 - 07/29/12 at 22:01:47 JimQuarles wrote on 07/29/12 at 19:12:59: I had kiln dried wood in a couple of days.I forgot a small fresh cut bowl blank in the back of my SUV in July. I surprised that you didn't get spontaneous combustion.
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Tommy Ellis Active Member Online Maybe I should have thought this through. Posts: 224 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #5 - 07/30/12 at 03:26:53 I will have a post about it on my site hopefully this week with pics of the build. Not able to get the cover for the top I want now but using plastic until I can get the fiberglass panel to make it more durable. These are really easy to build and depending on size can dry a lot of wood.
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Rick Hutcheson Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 64 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #6 - 07/30/12 at 05:06:58 And what is the web site address where the pictures and description will be? I can't find it in your profile.
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Robert Harper WR Addict Offline WR doesn't rock, it RULES! Posts: 2969 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #7 - 07/30/12 at 06:50:54 There is a lot of information on solar kilns. From the very simple to some that are highly automated with active humidity and temperature controls. Most are designed for drying dimentional lumber but with some adjustments, you could make one that is very effective for bowls.
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Tommy Ellis

Active Member

Online

Maybe I should have thought
this through.

Posts: 224

Gender: male

Re: Solar Kiln
Reply #8 - 07/30/12 at 15:01:52

Robert Harper wrote on 07/30/12 at 06:50:54:

There is a lot of information on solar kilns. From the very simple to some that are highly automated with active humidity and temperature controls. Most are designed for drying dimentional lumber but with some adjustments, you could make one that is very effective for bowls.

There is a lot of info out there. Mine is very basic for a reason which is going in a book I am working on. I am drying wood for turning game calls for the most part and just got a fairly large pile of green wood dropped off that I can't wait years to dry. I am waiting on the tree guy tonight to come over and cut it into workable chunks for me. I have enough on hand now for several thousand blanks of all sizes.

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Tommy Ellis Active Member Online Maybe I should have thought this through. Posts: 224 Gender:	Re: Solar Kiln Reply #9 - 07/30/12 at 15:07:24 Rick Hutcheson wrote on 07/30/12 at 05:06:58: And what is the web site address where the pictures and description will be? I can't find it in your profile. Sorry Rich I haven't gotten everything filled out yet. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or is my site
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