Forty's Drying box / Kiln

[forty_caliber]

The weather turned out to be much nicer today than the weather man said it would be. A balmy 73. I decided to get this build done today instead of tomorrow. 

 

 

 

Box with shelving and rear baffle removed. Removed and discarded OEM low voltage fan. Installed 110v 210 CFM axial fan. Air flows to the rear of the box into a plenum. Air is diffused through the vent at the top.

 

 

Baffle reinstalled.

 

 

Hygrometer / Thermostat power distribution control.  Fan is wired to the hygrometer, light bulb is wired to the thermostat.  Set controls to run the fan until it drops below 10% RH.  The light bulb runs until the temperature reaches 110.  These are initial settings and will need to be adjusted based on actual performance. 

 

 

Sensor

 

I used a 4 1/2" hole saw to make two ventilation holes.  I installed a 4" louvered vent with bug screen on the outside and a dust collection blast gate on the inside of each hole.  The blast gate provides air flow adjustment. 

 

 

 

Added some rough turned bowls.  Using a moisture meter, each was marked with today's reading.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2023 by forty_caliber

[lew]

I’m assuming you captured the old coolant 

[forty_caliber]

No coolant in the system when I got it.

 

.40

[lew]

[Cal]

Pretty slick set up 40

[RustyFN]

Make sure you have a way for water to drain out. Looks good. Can’t wait to see a review.

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by RustyFN

[forty_caliber]

Update:

 

The drying box has proven itself...after some tom foolery and messing around with it.  Added 10 bowls and numerous spindle blanks.  All below 10% after about two weeks.  No checking on the bowls.  Some minor surface checking on the spindle blank stock.  

 

Cut a larger hole behind the baffle to increase air circulation.  Added added a temperature and humidity sensor to track data.  

 

 

.40

[lew]

Cool instrumentation!