University of Minnesota Kiln Wood-Drying Short Course

[Ed Davidson]

Passing along the following announcement...

Kiln Drying Short Course

The 33rd Annual Kiln Drying Short Course will be held August 16-19, 2010 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. The University of Minnesota’s Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering sponsors the course in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Forest Ecology and Management, and the Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association.

The course is designed to provide basic training for dry kiln operators and supervisors, but anyone desiring to learn more about kiln construction, kiln operation and wood-moisture relations is welcome and encouraged to attend. No previous drying experience or training is necessary.

Instruction will include lectures, demonstrations and “hands on†kiln drying experience. Conventional kiln drying of hardwood lumber will be emphasized; however, dehumidification drying, solar drying and air-drying will also be covered. Ample time will be available for group interaction as well as individual consultation.

For further information contact:

Harlan Petersen
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
University of Minnesota
2004 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Phone: (612) 624-3407
Fax: (612) 625-6286
E-mail: harlan@umn.edu
Website: http://www.bbe.umn.edu/kdsc

 

[Doug Stevens]

Ed,
Thanks for passing that info along.

 

[robo hippy]

Wish I could go as well. Surprised that there is no mention of a vacuum kiln. Wood from one of them and the solar kilns work like air dried lumber, far superior to heat kilns.

robo hippy

 

[MichaelMouse]

Wish I could go as well. Surprised that there is no mention of a vacuum kiln. Wood from one of them and the solar kilns work like air dried lumber, far superior to heat kilns.

robo hippy

As it says, it's about commercial methods. Has to be some pretty expensive wood to make vacuum kilning worthwhile.

Solar Kilns can get as warm as commercial heated kilns if not properly handled, setting the fiber and making it more brittle. Cool work is still the best at giving you a smooth shaving.

 

[robo hippy]

There was a guy locally who has a vacuum kiln. Takes about 8 days to dry a load of wood. Far less checking and movement because the wood is under compression in the vacuum, some thing like a veneer vacuum press. Resaw an 8/4 board down the center, and there was no spring in any direction. Not as popular as the heat kilns. Not really sure about how often the solar kilns are used, but also found one locally. I do know that radio frequency (microwave) kilns were used for a while, but not practical I guess.

robo hippy