Kiln 4

[Joy Yeomans]

would that prevent discolour/mould on sycamore?

 

lovely wood, what will you be making out of that little lot

[Big J]

Hi Logbaron,

 

I used it on green sycamore for my last kiln and it all came out without mould or discolouration.

 

I won't make anything myself - I just sell the timber, predominantly to furniture makers.

[John Hughes]

Big J

Do you find your customers prefer waney edge boards?

I always mill at least one square edge as the boards take up alot less space when stacked. It also means I am not transporting bark and sapwood when I bring a load back from Wales to Essex.

John

[Brushcutter]

Some lovely bits of wood there. Was it difficult/costly to make a kiln. I just do green wood but i'd love to be able to kiln dry so i can do more with the nice stuff.

[Rob D]

I like that last board with the splash of spaulting Jon.

 

What is it? And do you have any more?

 

Haven't forgotten about your ratchet straps and splitting maul - there all here safe and sound!

[Big J]

Hi John - yep, most customers want waney edged. I had two different folk over this evening, both wanted waney edged stuff so various furniture, mantlepiece and window sill projects. Regarding transportation, I'm lucky that all the timber for this kiln came from within 1200 metres of the workshop.

 

Brushcutter - the kiln wasn't expensive to construct - perhaps about £1500 all in, including dehumidifier, fan, extractor, heaters, container and stickers. Assuming you put a good quality board in, you'll get that back on the first run, and then some.

 

Rob - it's actually Oak! It's very light for Oak, but I think it really brings out the spalting. I have one more decent sized log of it if it tickles your fancy, about 20 cubic foot, or thereabouts.

I hadn't forgotten about the maul and straps - take your time Rob!

[millmate.co.uk]

hi john

i am just constructing a kiln any pointers m8 its made from a 18ft curtiansider body roughly how long do u kiln oak slabs 2" thick for ?an what moisture content do u go down to ?

 

thanks in advance

 

ricky

[Big J]

Hi Ricky,

 

My kiln is an 18ft container too, albeit from the back of a refrigerated truck. It needs to be insulated, otherwise it won't heat up.

 

Oak is a massive pain to dry. It checks, it splits and it takes for ever. That said, good Oak, cut to less than an inch an a half, will dry with minimal distortion or checking on an 8 week cycle. The problems only arise with poorer quality stuff. I have dried 2 inch before (a leanish 2 inch), but it took 12 weeks.

 

My last kiln was on for 8 weeks, with sycamore at 1, 1.5 and 2, Oak at 1.5 and Elm at 1.5, 2 and 2.5. Moisture content was a fairly even 10-11% across the lot, bar the thickest elm that was around 14%.

 

Jonathan

[Rob D]

I'm sorely tempted but on second thoughts I need to sell some of that elm first.

 

I've almost finished that funny burry bit and it looks mental!

[slasherscot]

:001_smile:thats not some of that ash from Ninemileburn