Filled my first kiln

[Robert_S]

Thanks Robert!

 

You are always welcome to come and see the operation - my workshop is just outside Uphall.

 

Jonathan

 

excellent, i will take you up on that offer mate after the apf is done:thumbup:

 

i am in Armadale so only 15 min away.

 

cheers

[harvey b davison]

you really have a good set up there jonathon, i'm really keen to have a go at milling once i can afford the set up. People like you really inspire the rest of us to try things out for ourselves. Am i right in saying your kiln is a converted fridge trailer, how long did that take.

[Big J]

Good stuff Rob - I'm there with increasing frequency at present and will be filling my kiln again the week commencing 20th of September.

 

Thanks Harvey. It is a converted fridge trailer, yes. It was from a local commercial hire fleet operator called MV commercial. Not the greatest of companies to deal with, but the two containers including delivery (which wasn't easy) cost £1000. They are both in excellent condition and one still has a substantial diesel generator on it that I need to take off and sell!

 

The kilning process for the next kiln will take 7 weeks at a reasonably well educated guess. The first kiln took far too long owing to an underpowered dehumidifier and insufficient air circulation. The new set up is altogether far more industrial, and will get teh job done more quickly.

 

Jonathan

[Big J]

Got the last stack of boards out of the kiln yesterday. Due to airflow issues with the first setup, the timber at the back didn't dry as well as at the front. A week with the new fan and dehumidifier sorted that though.

 

All timber is of good quality - some really nice wide elm that I had forgotten that I'd cut at inch and a half. Even the maple came out fine - I thought that it would stain for some reason.

 

Started the modifications to the box - added the plywood coving to aid airflow and built a splitter to sit over the fan to direct air around the kiln.

 

Question for those who have kilns using a fridge box - how did you get the inner workings of the fridge out of the box? It's sitting there impeding the airflow and it needs to go. I'm just a bit concerned about cutting any pipework due to the presumably toxic refrigerants in the machine.

 

Jonathan

[Rob D]

All the fridge gear is still in mine.

 

The only way you'll get it out the proper way would be to get some one in to drain the refridgerent first.

[Big J]

Sounds like a no go then. Nevermind then - I'll try to think my way round the obstacle

[Ian Flatters]

Big J, have you got any pictures yet? im keen to see how they came out.

[Big J]

I'm heading out there today, but unfortunately my wife dropped our camera, so nothing yet! I aim to have this remedied very shortly.

 

In other news, I'm invited to the private viewing at the Scottish Furniture Makers Annual Exhibit at Greyfriar's Kirk in Edinburgh on Friday. I will be attending with a stocklist and business card for each furniture maker! Better still, there is a piece being exhibited by a maker called Chris Scotland using cherry from my kiln. Hoping that the sales will pick up significantly after that. At about the £1000 mark now, but that doesn't begin to cover the setup costs (estimated £1800) or the timber.

 

I'll see if my neighbour has a camera that I can take with me to photograph some of the timber today.

 

Jonathan

[Big J]

Very positive reception at the Furniture Makers Exhibit. I spoke to around 20 different makers and most of them were very interested to see my stock. Had another timber sale as well yesterday, so I suppose 15% of the kiln is now sold.

 

I've put in my application for ASHS (Association of Scottish Hardwood Sawmillers) too. Speaking to Jim Birley of Scottish Woods, ASHS seem to operate in a very cooperative fashion, doing training days (for instance Kiln Drying at Falkirk Woods) and a lot of good marketing. Only £100 a year too.

 

Similarly, I've been recommended to become accredited with Scottish Working Woods. Looking at their website it seems very straightforward and worth doing.

 

I'm off up the workshop this afternoon complete with camera, so plenty of photos to follow.

 

Jonathan

[Big J]

Photos from the first kiln, with some photos tagged on the end showing the revised dehumidifier and fan set up.

 

New photos from Robinson Sawmilling | Facebook