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  1. Basics of Solar Lumber Drying | Oklahoma State …

    • Principle aspects of kiln and air-drying of lumber were presented in two previous fact sheets – FAPC-146 Fundamental Aspects of Kiln Drying Lumber and F-5042 Practicalities of Air Drying of Lumber. Bec… See more

    Greenhouse Kilns

    A solar collector is a device that extracts energy from the sun, not indirectly, and converts it into a usable form. A common type of greenhouse kiln is a simple constructio… See more

    OSU Extension
    External Collector Solar Kilns

    The overall process of the external-type collector solar kiln is more complicated than … See more

    OSU Extension
    Further Information

    Detailed information about solar drying of lumber can be found in the following literature: Drying Wood with the Sun: How to build a solar heated firewood dryer. USDA Dep… See more

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  1. Solar kiln wood drying is a process that uses the sun's heat to dry lumber. Here's how it works:
    1. During the day, the sun heats up the inside of the kiln.
    2. An electrical fan circulates the heated air, which absorbs moisture from the wood.
    3. At night, the lumber cools down, and some of the expelled moisture reabsorbs into the wood.
    4. A solar kiln can significantly reduce drying times compared to air-drying1234.
    Learn more:
    The solar kiln dries lumber in gentle cycles: When the sun is out the fans circulate the heated air, which absorbs moisture from the wood. At night the lumber cools way down, the fans are off, and some of that expelled moisture in the air reabsorbs into the wood.
    www.finewoodworking.com/2024/04/03/drying-woo…
    A solar kiln is the simplest and safest way to dry green wood quickly. Because the wood is protected from the elements, this solar kiln offers more control with much less chance of defects than air-drying provides. Unlike air-drying, it’ll dry wood to the moisture level needed for interior use.
    www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/solar-kiln/
    However, with moderately good conditions, a solar kiln can reduce wood drying times down to about a month, which is almost a 92% reduction in drying time compared to the year that it would take without.
    housegrail.com/how-to-dry-wood-fast-with-a-solar-…
    During daytime, the sun will heat up the inside, an electrical fan will push the heat towards the wood stack heating them so they will release moisture, then recirculating the air trough the back, up again through the roof and so on until the evening when the vents needs to be opened for some minutes so the HOT/HUMID air formed inside will come out through the upper vents, and COLD/DRY air gets in through the bottom ones.
    www.adrianpreda.com/blog/solar-kiln
  2. Solar Kiln Plans | Oregon Wood Innovation Center

    Learn how to build and use a simple solar kiln to dry lumber from logs for hobby or small business projects. Find designs, tips and guidelines for obtaining, sawing and preparing lumber for drying.

  3. How to build a solar kiln - FineWoodworking

    Apr 4, 2024 · The solar kiln dries wood far faster than air drying alone, and it gets the lumber to a much lower moisture content. My solar kiln takes four to five warm, sunny summer weeks to dry a load of 5/4 green wood to 8% MC.

  4. Design and Operation of a Solar-Heated Dry Kiln - Virginia Tech

  5. Drying wood in a solar kiln - FineWoodworking

    Apr 3, 2024 · Learn how to build and operate a solar kiln to dry your own lumber from green logs or boards. Follow the step-by-step guide and tips from a woodworker who has been using a solar kiln for years.

  6. How to Dry Wood Fast with a Solar Kiln - House Grail

    Feb 26, 2024 · Solar kilns are one of the most cost-effective ways of drying wood fast, and they don’t require the use of flame, which is always a tricky prospect when working with wood. The most popular solar kin design is the Virginia …

  7. Build Your Own Solar Kiln: Sustainable Wood Drying Plans

  8. How to build a solar kiln for drying wood

    Nov 23, 2022 · The solar Kiln can hold up to 1,000 board feet of 1-inch lumber per charge (or loading) and can dry an order in about one month of mildly sunny weather in the mid-latitudes.

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