giXXer
ArboristSite Operative
Has anyone built one, used one, been successful, un-successful? Any input would be appreciated.
I am asking because I have a relatively large amount of oak in 8' logs that I have been working on bucking, splitting, and stacking. I already have enough wood for myself for this winter, but would like to sell some to help offset the cost of my CAD and procuring equipment in need of a good home. The wife says it's out of control and something needs to be done. I have successfully placated her by saying I will just sell more firewood this year. I have sold some in the past, just on a very small scale and always run out in December. I added firewood sales to my LLC's liability policy and already have two great retail locations (one is across from a huge campground that also rents cabins year around and the other has an awesome downtown location) that are already staffed so I won't have to sell it myself or pay any additional wages. My problem is the 12 full cords that I have split and drying will be ready, or very close to ready this late summer/early fall. The trees were dropped last summer, cut and split last fall, and have been drying in the sun since. All of the wood that I cut and split from here on will not be ready until next summer, unless I can come up with a way to dry it more quickly. I refuse to take peoples' hard earned money for wet wood...bad for them, bad for me, and bad for my other businesses' reputations that are the retail locations. I would rather just wait until next year to sell it, unless, this solar kiln idea will help.
I think it's cost prohibitive to build and heat a conventional kiln (for my uses), but I think a few solar kilns could be built pretty economically. I have a lot of really nice left over building and decking materials that could be used to help save money. I would have to purchase: a timer, a few crawl space vent fans with 12v motors, battery, RV type or larger solar panel to charge the battery, and corrugated plastic for the 45 degree roof slope. I'm sure it would only take a few beers (depending on how hot the day is) to build a 4' X 10' structure and maybe a couple more to install the electrical.
If you don't know what I am referring to with this idea a couple of examples can be found on Youtube and other sites on the web under solar kiln. I know that drying firewood takes time and patience and this brain fart is contrary to that. What do you think? Foolish idea? Think it might be beneficial? If it would work, why aren't more people doing it? Expense? Too much work? Drying in the sun works that well it's not worth it? Any input would be appreciated.
I am asking because I have a relatively large amount of oak in 8' logs that I have been working on bucking, splitting, and stacking. I already have enough wood for myself for this winter, but would like to sell some to help offset the cost of my CAD and procuring equipment in need of a good home. The wife says it's out of control and something needs to be done. I have successfully placated her by saying I will just sell more firewood this year. I have sold some in the past, just on a very small scale and always run out in December. I added firewood sales to my LLC's liability policy and already have two great retail locations (one is across from a huge campground that also rents cabins year around and the other has an awesome downtown location) that are already staffed so I won't have to sell it myself or pay any additional wages. My problem is the 12 full cords that I have split and drying will be ready, or very close to ready this late summer/early fall. The trees were dropped last summer, cut and split last fall, and have been drying in the sun since. All of the wood that I cut and split from here on will not be ready until next summer, unless I can come up with a way to dry it more quickly. I refuse to take peoples' hard earned money for wet wood...bad for them, bad for me, and bad for my other businesses' reputations that are the retail locations. I would rather just wait until next year to sell it, unless, this solar kiln idea will help.
I think it's cost prohibitive to build and heat a conventional kiln (for my uses), but I think a few solar kilns could be built pretty economically. I have a lot of really nice left over building and decking materials that could be used to help save money. I would have to purchase: a timer, a few crawl space vent fans with 12v motors, battery, RV type or larger solar panel to charge the battery, and corrugated plastic for the 45 degree roof slope. I'm sure it would only take a few beers (depending on how hot the day is) to build a 4' X 10' structure and maybe a couple more to install the electrical.
If you don't know what I am referring to with this idea a couple of examples can be found on Youtube and other sites on the web under solar kiln. I know that drying firewood takes time and patience and this brain fart is contrary to that. What do you think? Foolish idea? Think it might be beneficial? If it would work, why aren't more people doing it? Expense? Too much work? Drying in the sun works that well it's not worth it? Any input would be appreciated.