For the quality of any type of structure, it is important that the materials used are also of high quality and durable. And when it comes to wood, it must be dry, durable and resistant to rot.
To give the tree such properties, it needs to be dried. But purchasing equipment for heat treatment of wood is very expensive, so many craftsmen are trying to build their own.
A DIY lumber drying kiln may be good value for money, but it is far from perfect. Indicators such as 6% humidity in a couple of days with less than 1% defects in it are clearly unattainable, since assembly is usually carried out from improvised means without the use of sensors and various smart systems for monitoring various parameters of wood, and most importantly, with virtually no experience in creating drying chambers.
A homemade drying chamber is a room in which a heater is installed. Now it’s worth thinking about, if for drying 1 cubic meter. m will require at least 16 kW of energy, whichever is required within 3-4 weeks (this is usually the standard drying time in such chambers. Costs can be many times higher than the prices of the materials themselves. Plus, if the temperature conditions are not observed, poor-quality heating length and without controlling the percentage of humidity, the boards are deformed in almost 100% of cases, which makes them very difficult to work with.
The design of such cameras must be realized using detailed calculations. If technology is not followed, various accidents occur. For example, the chamber body under the influence of vacuum can shrink like an aluminum can and other moments are often life-threatening for workers.
It is also necessary to take into account the source of energy. Running on electricity is expensive. It is more efficient to operate a drying chamber using wood using a solid fuel boiler.
The undeniable advantages include the possibility of significant cost savings. Since a high-quality camera is often expensive to purchase. But the expected savings may actually turn into significant losses.
There are many reasons for this.
For example:
Example.
Drying a cubic meter of lumber in a homemade chamber requires an average of at least 16 kW. Calculate monthly expenses (even with an 8-hour working day and a 5-day working week).
If an objective analysis has shown that the company is capable of solving all the upcoming difficulties associated with manufacturing, commissioning and subsequent operation, we can begin a detailed study of this issue.
To do this, you need to answer several questions:
The first group necessarily includes a humidification and ventilation system (supply and exhaust), heat supply. Secondly, psychrometric and insulated door blocks, electric motors for fan drives, stacking trolleys, etc.
All of the above issues are resolved in the context of the selected type of drying chamber. Today there are chamber and tunnel options (they implement convective heat transfer).
The former are shorter than the latter and, most often, one door is used to load raw materials and unload finished products. As a rule, this option is chosen.
Tunnel systems provide for the movement of materials during operation along the entire length of the chamber. Loading, on the one hand. Unloading from the opposite side. These cameras are used in large enterprises.
There are condensation type drying chambers. They have significant efficiency, but the drying process is very long (the equipment is not capable of operating at high temperatures). This leads to significant heat loss and increases energy consumption.
There are many more criteria that must be taken into account when making calculations:
Each of these issues directly affects the drying speed, the possible volumes of lumber loaded at a time, and the characteristics of the finished product.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account the type of wood, its initial moisture content, and the geometric dimensions of the lumber.
A careful analysis and detailed calculation will, with a high degree of probability, prove the economic feasibility of purchasing and installing a ready-made drying chamber. Although, in some cases, making it yourself can also be cost-effective.
The Falcon company has been producing vacuum chambers for drying wood for almost two decades. Cooperation with us is beneficial both for those who are going to make their own drying chamber, and for those who want to purchase a finished product in order to have guaranteed quality products in commercial quantities.
We are ready to offer our partners from the first group the equipment and units that are necessary for the functioning of the cameras in our range. An example is heating panels in which the coolant is water.
They can be installed in structures of any volume, are designed for operation in a vacuum environment, and are capable of operating at high temperatures.
Panels can be selected according to a number of characteristics:
In addition, we offer fully equipped heating units, pyrolysis boilers, liquid oil pumps, vacuum units and automation that are completely ready for installation.
We manufacture automation for chambers of each type: Convective, aerodynamic, vacuum, etc.
The significant advantages of purchasing a ready-made solution are:
If you need to design a vacuum dryer, it is better to seek the help of professionals. We are engaged in production:
It is possible to design not only drying, but we can also supply new equipment at an affordable cost. Powered by both electricity and industrial waste: slabs, firewood, etc.
For those who know how to count money, save their own time and pay primary attention to quality, a wide range of vacuum chambers of our production is available, the main characteristics of which can be found on the website, in the company catalog or by personally contacting the nearest office.
We also sell more budget-friendly options from heating plates. You can find out more from the manager by phone or email on the main page.
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Contents Features of do-it-yourself infrared drying There are many ways to dry wood to obtain the necessary qualities. One of the popularly known is the infrared method. It consists of the action of infrared radiation on organic matter, heating it, thereby evaporating moisture from the structure of the tree. At its core, it is a simple IR heater made from thermoplates or thermal film. Infrared drying […]
Contents Vacuum drying as an alternative to a DIY microwave chamber Today there are many known methods for drying lumber, each with advantages and disadvantages. As an example, do-it-yourself microwave drying of wood. The technology is no longer new and quite productive. Microwave chambers are used for drying hardwood, large-section lumber, veneer, timber, and logs. Basically, after drying the material […]
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Those who deal with wood, process it and use it in any way are forced to deal with the problem of drying it. Drying wood is always relevant and pays off, because “wet” wood is much cheaper, and dry, ready-made wood is very expensive. It is necessary to remove excess moisture from the wood so that the process of uneven evaporation of water and juices does not occur, which is associated with the heterogeneity of the wood structure along the longitudinal and transverse fibers. But damp wood is unsuitable for serious processing, much less for construction, otherwise it will deform, crack, warp, and “lead.” How can you make a wood dryer with your own hands?
If space permits, then it roughly looks like this:
If you don’t want to build a dryer yourself or you don’t have the opportunity to do this, then you can use a ready-made solution. 
There is a relatively recently used method of drying wood using infrared radiation. The process itself is as follows: the wood is heated with infrared rays using a tubeless cassette dryer. What is the design of such a dryer? It consists of several thermoactive cassettes 1.5 mm thick. The cassettes are stacked in a stack of wood prepared for drying, alternating with spacer bars. That is, the coolant is already among the lumber intended for drying. Therefore, there is no need for a separate heat source, ventilation, maintaining precise parameters, or complex electronics and automation. The drying is controlled by a thermostat, which sets the required temperature for individual layers of the stack. For more optimal performance of the drying structure, the stack is covered with a material with a reflective layer so that the condensate drains outside the stack. It is important that the process can take place both outdoors (preferably under a canopy to avoid possible precipitation) and indoors.
The advantages of this type of drying are
You can watch a video about this technology here:
So, if you have a constant need for dry wood, then you can build a dryer, it’s not that difficult. Or buy a ready-made one and enjoy the finished dry lumber, which can be used to make various useful and interesting products.
A lumber dryer is an industrial piece of equipment that is used to dry raw timber for further processing. Today, wood drying in drying chambers is carried out by several types of such devices, each of which has its own specific functional features. However, in fact they are all universal. With their help you can dry any type of timber. Using the latest drying chambers, we provide high-quality drying of wood of even the most exotic and expensive varieties, for example, rosewood, beech, wenge or teak. There is no cracking or other defects.
A large number of wood processing industries process almost 10,000 m³ of lumber every year. The wood drying chamber is a decisive link in the process chain for quality assurance. The volume of one-time loading of timber into the drying chamber varies greatly. Sometimes you need to dry 6 m³, and sometimes you need to dry up to 100 m³. The main factor when choosing the size of the drying chamber can be called production capacity.
Drying methods are classified according to the characteristics of heat transfer to the dried raw material, therefore the following types of chambers are distinguished:
Chamber drying of wood using various methods was invented in the 60s of the last century, however, due to high energy costs and the complexity of the design, drying became popular only in the last decade. Convection type cameras are the most popular all over the world.
A convector-type wood drying chamber is used for various types of timber. Such devices have a simple design, they are inexpensive to maintain and reliable. That is why they are most popular in production.
The work is carried out due to heating from a gaseous carrier (drying agent). When heated, the raw material dries out. The drying agent can be steam, flue gas or air. The moisture released from the timber serves to additionally moisten the agent, and the excess is sucked out with the help of ventilation.
The air exchange rate in a convection dryer does not exceed 2% of the total amount, therefore, energy savings are felt.
The camera body is made of metal and is placed on a monolithic columnar foundation. The metal used for the body is carbon steel or aluminum with anti-corrosion coating. The body is sheathed on both sides with aluminum sheets. The chamber is insulated using mineral wool in the form of slabs. You can purchase a convection chamber of both domestic and foreign production.
The vacuum drying chamber for wood is designed for valuable types of timber, such as teak, wenge, rosewood and others. This unit operates from convection heating of wood and vacuum removal of excess moisture. The process takes place at a maximum temperature of +65. However, due to a vacuum pressure of 0.09 MPa, boiling occurs at 45.5. Such conditions make it possible to dry the wood without the aggressive effects of high temperature. Thus, high internal stress does not arise and the wood is not subject to cracking.
During drying, when the temperature rises to 65 degrees, the automation turns on and the electric boiler turns off. The upper layers of timber slowly cool, and moisture from within flows to drier areas. During one drying period, about 250 such cycles occur. Under such conditions, moisture is evenly drawn out along the length and depth of the material. After drying, the material is characterized by a moisture level within 4-6%.
Chamber drying of lumber under aerodynamic conditions has become widespread due to its fairly low price and simple design. In addition, to operate such a device, no specific knowledge of maintenance personnel is required. Profitability is achieved by drying up to 2000 m³ per year of coniferous timber.
The disadvantages include:
This chamber is a quadrangular box. It is convenient to load wood into it by machine or along railway tracks. Drying occurs under the influence of aerodynamic energy. Warm air moves in the chamber under the influence of a special aerodynamic fan. Due to the compression of air in the chamber, the temperature on the centrifugal fan increases, namely on its blades. Consequently, aerodynamic losses become thermal energy. Heat can be pumped into the chamber reversely or dead-end, it all depends on the design features. The chamber opens only upon completion of the drying cycle.
Such devices were invented quite recently. They look like a closed metal container. The work is carried out under the influence of the reflective surface of microwave waves. The operating principle is similar to that of a conventional microwave. Using a microwave chamber, raw materials of any cross-section and dimensions are dried. Microwave cameras have a simple design; settings allow you to select any wavelength. 
Therefore, a wide variety of timber products can be dried. The mode of attenuation of microwave waves guarantees regulation of the temperature inside the chamber. Using reversible fans, excess moisture is removed from the system. Microwave drying is compared with dielectric drying, which is considered the most effective, but is not used in Russia due to high energy costs.
Any lumber is obtained by longitudinal sawing of a log. The result is bars, slats, and boards of various thicknesses necessary for construction and repair. Only dry lumber is used in construction. They have higher quality indicators. To dry wood at home, you can equip a special do-it-yourself lumber dryer. The construction process of this structure will take a lot of time. But as a result, the home master will always be provided with high-quality materials for performing various works.
The quality of the timber depends on how dry the wood is. The moisture content of the timber should be 12%.
Construction of a simple dryer for drying small volumes of wood with your own hands under natural conditions consists of several stages:
In such a dryer, the material is blown with air, the moisture gradually evaporates, and the humidity level decreases.
The most effective way to dry wood is in a special drying chamber. It is possible to install automatic systems that control the entire drying process of wood of specific species. At the output, the lumber will have a predetermined moisture level. You can also build such a camera yourself. But this building will cost a lot of money. For construction you will need:
Construction is carried out in the following order:
A small number of boards can be dried inside the house or cottage. The dryer is arranged like this:
Before drying, you need to check the moisture level of the material. This is done using a moisture meter. High humidity causes early deterioration of buildings and the appearance of mold and mildew. Overdried wood becomes deformed due to moisture absorption and swelling. Wood is usually dried to a moisture level of about 8-12%. To prevent it from cracking, experts recommend treating the ends of the boards with a mixture of drying oil and sifted chalk. The consistency of the mixture resembles thick sour cream.
Lumber can be dried either with or without bark. You just need to remember that birch, aspen, poplar and beech in the bark can be affected by rot. In general, the drying process can last up to 2 weeks. During this time, temperature changes in the dryer should not be allowed. There should be a fire extinguisher in the dryer room. This is required by safety regulations.
The chamber should not be immediately heated to a high temperature. In normal mode it works like this:
As additional equipment, you can install automation in the drying chamber. Its properties:
To operate the system, it is enough to set the thickness and type of lumber and the desired final moisture content. The system helps dry various types of wood: pine, spruce, oak, birch, beech, linden, ash, maple, alder, hornbeam, poplar, aspen, sycamore. Every 2 hours, the automation takes readings of humidity and temperature and makes the necessary adjustments to the operation of all air heating and ventilation systems. The approximate cost of such a system ranges from $400-450.
Building a dryer with your own hands is quite troublesome and expensive.
But the result covers all costs. This is especially important for those who make wooden products such as furniture and wood carvings. Dry wood costs several times more than raw wood. In addition, in your own dryer you can achieve a certain moisture content of the workpieces. Everything can be done independently if you have a strong desire and the availability of a suitable place.
Any lumber is obtained by longitudinal sawing of a log. The result is bars, slats, and boards of various thicknesses necessary for construction and repair. Only dry lumber is used in construction. They have higher quality indicators. To dry wood at home, you can equip a special do-it-yourself lumber dryer. The construction process of this structure will take a lot of time. But as a result, the home master will always be provided with high-quality materials for performing various works.
The quality of the timber depends on how dry the wood is. The moisture content of the timber should be 12%.
Construction of a simple dryer for drying small volumes of wood with your own hands under natural conditions consists of several stages:
Drying device for lumber.
In such a dryer, the material is blown with air, the moisture gradually evaporates, and the humidity level decreases.
The most effective way to dry wood is in a special drying chamber. It is possible to install automatic systems that control the entire drying process of wood of specific species. At the output, the lumber will have a predetermined moisture level. You can also build such a camera yourself. But this building will cost a lot of money. For construction you will need:
Scheme of drying wood in a drying chamber.
Construction is carried out in the following order:
A small number of boards can be dried inside the house or cottage. The dryer is arranged like this:
Drying wood at home.
Before drying, you need to check the moisture level of the material. This is done using a moisture meter. High humidity causes early deterioration of buildings and the appearance of mold and mildew. Overdried wood becomes deformed due to moisture absorption and swelling. Wood is usually dried to a moisture level of about 8-12%. To prevent it from cracking, experts recommend treating the ends of the boards with a mixture of drying oil and sifted chalk. The consistency of the mixture resembles thick sour cream.
Lumber can be dried either with or without bark. You just need to remember that birch, aspen, poplar and beech in the bark can be affected by rot. In general, the drying process can last up to 2 weeks. During this time, temperature changes in the dryer should not be allowed. There should be a fire extinguisher in the dryer room. This is required by safety regulations.
Scheme of infrared drying of wood.
The chamber should not be immediately heated to a high temperature. In normal mode it works like this:
As additional equipment, you can install automation in the drying chamber. Its properties:
Gas dryer diagram.
To operate the system, it is enough to set the thickness and type of lumber and the desired final moisture content. The system helps dry various types of wood: pine, spruce, oak, birch, beech, linden, ash, maple, alder, hornbeam, poplar, aspen, sycamore. Every 2 hours, the automation takes readings of humidity and temperature and makes the necessary adjustments to the operation of all air heating and ventilation systems. The approximate cost of such a system ranges from $400-450.
Building a dryer with your own hands is quite troublesome and expensive.
But the result covers all costs. This is especially important for those who make wooden products such as furniture and wood carvings. Dry wood costs several times more than raw wood. In addition, in your own dryer you can achieve a certain moisture content of the workpieces. Everything can be done independently if you have a strong desire and the availability of a suitable place.
