VIDEO: Our Off Grid Solar Kiln By Tuftex ~ We make our own lumber on the Homestead
In this video we show you our newly constructed solar kiln we built with Tuftex. At the beginning you can see Steemit user @thehomeschoolkid running the tractor. :)
We were contacted last year by the makers of Tuftex Panels about any upcoming projects they could help us with. We informed them that we had plans of a solar kiln to be built on the property to work in conjunction with our saw mill. The Tuftex material would be a perfect fit for our solar kiln and they shipped us some supplies.
This particular solar kiln is the brainchild of Virginia Tech and the plans are available for free online.
http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/420/420-030/420-030_pdf.pdf
Tuftex Panels: http://tuftexpanel.com/
Solar Fan: http://www.ussunlight.com/products/solar-attic-fans
The Solar Kiln will house between 750-1000 board feet of cut lumber. The building is fully insulated. We used mostly reclaimed lumber for the framing. The inside of the outside walls are treated with used motor oil/diesel mix for a preservative. The outside is painted with a latex waterproof exterior paint.
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Great video, great plans.
I had a Logosol chainsaw mill a few years back and had some Cherry that would have benefitted from a kiln. Still had some 2" x 10" slabs but they were somewhat warped and end checked.
You do great work, very professional.
Thanks. glad you like the video. We have some cherry on the property that is going to be perfect for the mill. I won't cut it down until winter. But I'll do a video when I do.
Use it for something special. I like to think the trees grew there for a reason. ;-)
Oh yes, Everything we grow is special. If you cut them down...its amazing in that they grow more. :)
Love the homesteading but I am having a problem. Videos will not run for me in Steemit. Usually not a problem because I have a youtube link. Do you have a youtube channel?
The videos won't run on Steemit? That is wierd...what are you browsing with?
My browser is Firefox but my OS is Linux Mint. Again it not a big problem I don't find time to watch many videos and usually I have a youtube link. Just thought I would check out yours tonight while I had a minute. Video or not I will continue to support your work because I fully support the homesteading lifestyle. Thanks American Homesteader.
Is it necessary to cure lumber?
Depends what you are using it for. If you're going to use it for furniture, absolutely! It just depends. It's always best to cure/dry and then plane the lumber.
great thanks for the info! Also great work by the way your homestead is looking amazing!
We aim to please! Thanks for watching. It means a lot!
Hi! I am a robot. I just upvoted you! I found similar content that readers might be interested in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iDj_CeschwGreat job on your kiln. I would consider using one for a greenhouse but what would you suggest as changes that would need to be made in order to make it a greenhouse?
As I have come to expect from you, great info. Really, your posts are so raw and informative. I look forward to the next topic each time. Keep up the great work! A passion of love from what I can tell.
Zac, how does Tim do the planing of the wood? What does he use? Not sure I ever saw anything on how he does that. Thanks