Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | Jan 17, 2004 03:02am | #1

   The initial rapid drying may cause checking, bowing, and/or warping.  Make a good level base outside, stack and sticker it, put heavy weights on top, cover it with  a waterproof cloth tarp, and let it rest for a year.  Stake out the edges of the tarp so there will be good air circulation.  Put the best grades on the bottom so the weight of the not so good lumber will help hold it down.  Have the 1st layer at least 12" off the ground (two concrete blocks high).  Use stickers that will not stain.  If you get a band saw operator to saw it up, ask them about sawing stickers out of the edge lumber.

   While it's resting, build the solar kiln!  :)

   I have no experience with bowl turning so can't help you there.

   NE huh?  What will -30 degree temps do to a stack of green lumber?

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   Biscardi | Jan 17, 2004 03:06am | #2

   Contact the Virgina Tech Forestry department. They have designed a simple  solar kiln you can make in your back yard. 

1. 
   Curtis | Jan 17, 2004 04:04am | #3

   Hello

   Ive had some good luck with a  dehumidifier and a fan set on low.

   I use the same steps listed above, execp I put the wood in a  small storage shed

   after the wood is smi-dry. "O" I also put the stickers one inch from the ends and every 2 feet, I find there is less ing.

   Im just a hobbiest.

   but Ive had good luck.

   sincererly.   C.A.G.

   Edited 1/16/2004 8:05:46 PM ET by curtis

2. 
   trialnut | Jan 17, 2004 05:26pm | #5

   "NE huh?  What will -30 degree temps do to a stack of green lumber?"

   Gee Mike, you never heard of freeze drying. ;°)The Professional Termite

1. 
   BG | Jan 17, 2004 05:43pm | #6

   Mike,

   "NE huh?  What will -30 degree temps do to a stack of green lumber?"

   It shivers....that is where we get our tiger maple from...rofl...

1. 
   rank48 | Jan 18, 2004 01:16am | #7

   Thanks PlaneWood for the advise. But I want to try doing this from wet wood. Maybe I can add a humidifier to the kiln for the first stage and bring the moisture content down slowly over a month or so to the level that one usually starts with in the kiln, ~25%. This would shorten the entire process from > 1 yr to 3 months or so. I want to benefit from anyone else's experience who may have tried this even if they failed but hopefully if they succeded. Thanks again

   Biscardi: I will look into the Vir Tsch Forestry dept, thanks

   Curits Thanks!

   Jako: yes green turnings start out great with very little dust but I have not had too much success with the placing in brown storage bag to sloooooooow drying as I still seem to get a fair amount of warpage and edge checking before the final turning, no matter how much I try to slow down the drying.

1. 
   PlaneWood | Jan 18, 2004 02:05am | #8

   John -

   Here's something that might be worth the investment.  This is just the first one I found doing a web search.  http://www.johnsherman.com/rh/LoveHS.html

   Rig it to turn on and off a large exhaust fan.  Probably need to connect it to something like an AC relay as 8 amps probably not enough for a large fan.  Turn off the fan when the RH drops to a certain value.  Turn on the fan when the RH rises to a certain value.  Through time, decrease both settings.  The off cycle time should get longer as the lumber loses moisture.   Decreasing the steps in 10% RH incrememts over 3 months might do the trick.  Probably would need to experiment with the delta (RH difference between lower and higher settings)

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

2. 
   rank48 | Jan 18, 2004 06:05pm | #9

   Thanks I will try that web site!

2. 
   jako17 | Jan 17, 2004 07:54am | #4

   Why kiln dry bowl blanks? rough turn them green ,air dry then finish turn.Turning kilned wood is much harder work,dusty too.