How Do You Build A Wood Drying Kiln?
Because fresh-cut wood contains a large amount of water, it is important to dry the wood before use in construction, furniture making or other woodworking projects. Doing so can make the wood lighter, stronger and less likely to change shape or size over time, in addition to increasing its value and usefulness. The easiest and most effective way to dry wood is with a wood drying kiln, and solar kilns are especially efficient, because they use sunlight for heat and simple vents or fans for airflow. Determine your kiln size. The kiln is basically a wood box with a full-size back wall opposite a very short front wall, and roof sloping at a 45-degree angle between them (see Virginia Tech site in References for photos and illustrations). The roof, which is made of clear, corrugated polycarbonate that is greenhouse-rated, provides the drying power by allowing sunlight to heat the air in the kiln. Ideally, you want to have 1 square foot of roof area for every 10 board feet of lumber being dri
