Lots of free plans for solar powered wood drying kilns to reduce the moisture content of wood. Can be used for both seasoning lumber and drying firewood.
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Solar Wood Drying Kilns | |
Virginia Tech Solar Kiln
Virginia Cooperative Extension -- Virginia Tech...
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![]() Including plans for what looks like a very well thought out solar wood drying kiln. |
WoodWeb -- Solar Kiln Designs
Kiln pictures from WoodWeb: |
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The Appalachian Solar Lumber Kiln, Dennis Scanlin, Appalachian State University Home Power Magazine, issue 63, Feb 1998 If the above link does not work, then here is How to get articles from Home Power ... |
![]() ![]() The design uses a solar air heating collector with a flow through absorber. The collector comprises the full south face of the kiln. Air is circulated though the absorber with 3 12 VDC fans driven by a single PV panel. (thanks to Loran for suggesting this article) |
A Look at Mother’s Solar Wood-Drying Kiln Mother Earth News Part 1: www.motherearthnews.com Part 2: www.motherearthnews.com |
Mother Earth News Article, Issues 89 and 90, Sept 84 An article on a large solar wood drying kiln, and some information on the ins and outs of drying wood. |
Processing Trees to Lumber for the Hobbyist and Small Business Plans for a Solar Kiln, Eugene M. Wengert and Dan A. Meyer http://owic.oregonstate.edu/solarkiln/plans.htm
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Constructing and Operating A Small Solar-Heater Lumber Dryer, Paul Bois, National Wood Drying Specialist |
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A Homemade Solar Lumber Kiln Edward A. Fassig Mother Earth News |
![]() Article on designing, building, and using a solar lumber drying kiln. |
A Solar Wood Kiln www.rutuonline.com/html/solar_kiln.html -- this site is no more, but... the Wayback Machine has preserved the kiln...
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![]() If you are into boat building, this site describes the building of a 45 foot sailboat -- very interesting. |
Wood Industry Fact Sheet -- Solar Drying Basics, West Virginia University
Extension Service www.wvu.edu/~agexten/forestry/wooddr1.pdf
Details (pdf) |
![]() From the West Virginia University Extension Service |
A couple large scale solar wood drying kilns
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Accelerated Seasoning of Firewood,
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Testing of this dryer showed that is greatly shortened drying time. This is from this interesting thread on firewood drying at Hearth.com... |