Finding rough timber and logs to mill is a lot easier than you may think.
Build a kiln to dry wood.
Kiln dry lumber at home step 1.
Building your own wood fired kiln this is a major project that includes taking a large area of your property to build the actual kiln.
A solar kiln is the simplest and safest way to dry green wood quickly.
Once the kiln has reached the ideal temperature place the wood one by one inside the kiln.
This video is a compilation of my series on build my kiln chamber for the woodmizer dry kiln.
Building a backyard solar kiln is relatively inexpensive and they are easy to operate.
Because the wood is protected from the elements this solar kiln offers more control with much less chance of defects than air drying provides.
Allow the kiln to reach the ideal maximum temperature to dry wood.
Careful measurements of the kiln the area where it will be placed and how long the chimney is should be considered.
For a detailed explanation of this process click on the link be.
Construct a floor frame using 2 by 6 lumber with joists every 16 inches and lay in insulation between each pair.
Unlike air drying it ll dry wood to the moisture level needed for interior use.
Air drying however can take several months and will generally not achieve a low enough mc without the additional step of kiln drying.
How to build your own wood drying kiln step 1.
You could use a solar kiln to dry the wood for your fireplace saving up on money.
Use a thermometer to find out the temperature inside the chamber.
It should have a tall rear wall a low front wall a sloped roof of clear polycarbonate usually.
The walls of the kiln represent a double skin of plywood with sheep s wool insulation in between them.
A simpler cheaper and safer way for woodworkers to dry green wood quickly is with their own solar kilns.
Start off by.
Close the kiln door to keep the temperature inside the chamber.
If you don t seal the end grain of your logs and timbers they will crack and split as moisture.