I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 stg) price bracket.
The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the idea totally.
Are you in the USA? If so, I think your first hurdle to jump will be having the refrigerant (Freon, usually) removed in a manner consistant with federal regulatory standards. You would not want to be telling people to do anything with the refrigerant that they were not supposed to be doing and risk yourself to liabiltiy exposure. Dealing with this material can be pricey.
Other than that, if you can find your market and your market is willing to pay the money, more power to you, I hope it works out.
Steve. -- Steve Tiedman stevetied...@qwest.net St. Paul, MN, USA remove "NOSPAM" from address line to reply -----------------------------------------------
> I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge > into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely > controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 > stg) price bracket.
> The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
> There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale > dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
> Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the > idea totally.
The refrigerant or refrigeration system would not need to be touched. The system can remain as is. The customer would source there own insulated chamber. By the way my e-mail address is c.edm...@ntlworld.com.
The web address for the company in the uk www.arrrowsmiths .co.uk for those people who have e-mailed and asked.
Chris
"Steve Tiedman" <stevetied...@NOSPAMqwest.net> wrote in message
> Are you in the USA? If so, I think your first hurdle to jump will be having > the refrigerant (Freon, usually) removed in a manner consistant with federal > regulatory standards. You would not want to be telling people to do anything > with the refrigerant that they were not supposed to be doing and risk yourself > to liabiltiy exposure. Dealing with this material can be pricey.
> Other than that, if you can find your market and your market is willing to pay > the money, more power to you, I hope it works out.
> Steve. > -- > Steve Tiedman > stevetied...@qwest.net > St. Paul, MN, USA > remove "NOSPAM" from address line to reply > -----------------------------------------------
> Chris Edmond wrote:
> > Hi everyone
> > I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge > > into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely > > controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 > > stg) price bracket.
> > The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
> > There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale > > dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
> > Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the > > idea totally.
You mention that your heat(or Drying) source is solar. How are you drying the air using solar power? Are you using a fan? Their has been allot of discussion in in rec.craft.woodturning on making a freezer kiln for less than $50 in parts.
Don't know what type of "kiln" you could make out of a refrigerator, as most these days have a lot of plastic in them, even the insulation is probably foam insulation. Put much heat into one of these and you would have a large puddle of melted plastic on the floor. ------------------------------------------------------------
"Chris Edmond" <c.edm...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge > into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely > controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 > stg) price bracket.
> The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
> There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale > dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
> Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the > idea totally.
> I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge > into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely > controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 > stg) price bracket.
> The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
> There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale > dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
> Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the > idea totally.
Just a note to relay a thingy that happened to me when drying with a de-humidifier.I "burnt" mine out by removing too much moisture which according to the store is not a good thing.Their answer to my problem was that a de-humidifier needs moist air to operate and will malfunction if the air is too dry.Prolonged use with this condition will send the coil to the scrap-heap.
Not sure if the explanation was correct or not,but perhaps someone could enlighten me.
Having spent 6 years with a company supplying dehumidifiers for drying timber I know that you can't use domestic dryers for drying timber for the following reasons
1. At the temperatures that you need to get to dry timber a standard dehumidifier's life expectancy is measured in hours.
2 The atmosphere is so corrosive that a normal dryer won't last more than a few months.
As for the store telling you that the dryer can't operate in a dry environment. That's rubbish. The system should be designed to cope with that situation. if not it was a design fault. If you did run your domestic dryer at over 30 degrees C the dryer will expire prematurely.
If you still wish to follow this avenue see www.arrowsmiths.co.uk they can supply dryers to dry as little as 50ftcu
"Knotsburls" <knotsbu...@aol.com> wrote in message
> Just a note to relay a thingy that happened to me when drying with a > de-humidifier.I > "burnt" mine out by removing too much moisture which according to the store is > not a good thing.Their answer to my problem was that a de-humidifier needs > moist air to operate and will malfunction if the air is too dry.Prolonged use > with this condition will send the coil to the scrap-heap.
> Not sure if the explanation was correct or not,but perhaps someone could > enlighten me.
> Just a note to relay a thingy that happened to me when drying with a > de-humidifier.I > "burnt" mine out by removing too much moisture which according to the store is > not a good thing.Their answer to my problem was that a de-humidifier needs > moist air to operate and will malfunction if the air is too dry.Prolonged use > with this condition will send the coil to the scrap-heap.
> Not sure if the explanation was correct or not,but perhaps someone could > enlighten me.
You really don't need a dehumidifier at all. I wrote an article some time back in More Woodturning that you can see at http://www.alaska.net/~atftb/moisture.htm on moisture and wood. For drying turning woods, particularly roughed out vessels, you really only need to raise the temp a bit to lower the humidity. For this, a light fixture and perhaps a timer are sufficient. There's a downloadable spreadsheet on the page (MS Excel) that lets you play with the various values to get the moisture content you need...
Thanks for the insight,Chris.The "rubbish" part is what I expected also .I did make a style of drying shack similar to Kevins suggestion.I use a 6' x 8' insulated shack with a thermostatically controlled heater ,which is a successful set-up for me. I rough-turn all my burl-work,spray them with WD-40,put them on shelves and then finish, usually in 4-6 wk.average.
I've had a look at the links and your system is pretty similar to the system I will employ. The only difference being the control aspect. I have designed a temperature and humidity control sensor that will monitor and control the temperature and humidity inside the chamber (either an old fridge or any insulated chamber).
> > Just a note to relay a thingy that happened to me when drying with a > > de-humidifier.I > > "burnt" mine out by removing too much moisture which according to the store is > > not a good thing.Their answer to my problem was that a de-humidifier needs > > moist air to operate and will malfunction if the air is too dry.Prolonged use > > with this condition will send the coil to the scrap-heap.
> > Not sure if the explanation was correct or not,but perhaps someone could > > enlighten me.
> You really don't need a dehumidifier at all. I wrote an article some time > back in More Woodturning that you can see at > http://www.alaska.net/~atftb/moisture.htm on moisture and wood. For drying > turning woods, particularly roughed out vessels, you really only need to > raise the temp a bit to lower the humidity. For this, a light fixture and > perhaps a timer are sufficient. There's a downloadable spreadsheet on the > page (MS Excel) that lets you play with the various values to get the > moisture content you need...
> I've had a look at the links and your system is pretty similar to the system > I will employ. The only difference being the control aspect. I have designed > a temperature and humidity control sensor that will monitor and control the > temperature and humidity inside the chamber (either an old fridge or any > insulated chamber).
Be interesting to see when you get it ready for prime time. Going to do a web page?
Just my opinion, but.... It sounds like you think you have a very good idea, and one that will make you money. But considering what your kit would cost, along with removing all the plastic parts from the "old refrigerator or freezer" to turn it into a KILN, you would be better off using a 55 gal. drum.
Like I said, just my opinion!
Dennis Adam PA Wood Carver
"Chris Edmond" <c.edm...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge > into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely > controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 > stg) price bracket.
> The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
> There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale > dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
> Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the > idea totally.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I would like to answer your comments if I may.
Firstly no plastic will need to be removed from the fridge or freezer. You need not use an old fridge or freezer you could build yourself an insulated chamber.
Secondly the cost will be mostly attributed to the control system which I believe to be the key to successful drying.
Many of the drying systems described on this and other news groups are fairly hit and miss (with certain exceptions). The secret to any drying setup is airflow, temperature control and moisture extraction. Unfortunately there is no easy way to control the drying process with ant degree of accuracy, cheaply.
Chris Edmond
"Dennis Adam" <northernbe...@talon.net> wrote in message
> Just my opinion, but.... > It sounds like you think you have a very good idea, and one that will make > you money. But considering what your kit would cost, along with removing > all the plastic parts from the "old refrigerator or freezer" to turn it into > a KILN, you would be better off using a 55 gal. drum.
> > I am considering putting together kits to convert an old freezer or fridge > > into a kiln. The system would be relatively foolproof and infinitely > > controllable. Current cost for the kit looks like being in the $210 (£150 > > stg) price bracket.
> > The cost of running will be very low with solar power being an option.
> > There are company's such as Arrowsmiths in the uk that supply small scale > > dryers but these can be pricey for the hobby turner or carver.
> > Depending on the response I will start to put these together or forget the > > idea totally.
I have had very good results from my drying boxes made from an insulated box with holes around the top and bottom and a light bulb or 2 inside. Convection causes airflow, moving moisture out (I think that's how it works). The boxes are a quickly made one of 2" blue construction foam (no plywood skin or anything) glued together with PL400 construction adhesive. I drilled holes through the box to hold square section pieces of wood for shelves. The next one is an old chest freezer on end with the freon removed and similar shelves. Holes in the top and bottom are 1" diameter. The quantity and wattage of the bulb(s) and/or the quantity and size of the holes adjust the temperature (I like about 85 F) and airflow (drying rate). Very low-tech and unscientific, very successfull! At least in this dry climate. A 3/4" wall roughout stopped losing weight in 5 days, 5" diameter freshly cut aspen is as dry as it will get in 6-8 weeks. Not a way to reduce cracking in woods that are prone to cracking, however.
