All woodworking enterprises profit from the sale of their products. And the deeper the wood processing, the more profitable the production. Before buying equipment, each entrepreneur asks questions: What kind of drying chambers for wood are, what devices are equipped, and which one to choose for their production?

If you choose the wrong equipment, the profitability, on the contrary, will fall. A larger assortment drying chambers for a tree on the market makes the selection task even more difficult.

The main types of drying chambers are:

1. Dielectric.
2. Convection
3. Vacuum
4. Aerodynamic

Wood drying method different ways was invented back in the 60s, but due to the high costs of electricity and the complexity of the design, technologies have only recently come into use. Convector dryers are most often used all over the world. Why is this happening? The rest of the designs can be used with a number of restrictions and subtleties of use. The main disadvantages of using inductive, condensing and vacuum dryers for wood:

1. Aerodynamic chambers require more energy consumption;
2. Condensing constructions are expensive, and drying in them lasts 2 times longer than in convector ones.
3. Vacuum dryers are expensive and expensive to maintain.
4. Dielectric ones require high energy costs, although they are considered among the best.

Convection dryers

Convectors are used for drying wood of various species and sizes. Due to the simplicity of the design, the convection chambers are inexpensive to maintain, which speaks of reliability. Therefore, in order to increase profitability, in 90 cases out of a hundred, they are purchased.

The principle of operation of the convection dryer

Heating comes from a gaseous carrier (drying agent). When heated, the raw material is tapped. The drying agent can be steam, flue gas, air. The moisture released from the wood serves as an additional humidification of the agent; the excess is drawn into the atmosphere by means of ventilation.

Air exchange in a convection dryer is not more than 2% of the total amount, so the energy efficiency is noticeable.

Complete set and equipment of the convector dryer

There are many configurations from various manufacturers, but there are basic options:

1. Equipment for an already built or just under construction hangar of a drying structure.
2. Fully structured with hardware.

Equipment case

The body is completely made of metal, assembled on a monolithic-columnar foundation. The metal used for the manufacture is carbon steel or aluminum with a corrosion-resistant coating. Outside and inside, the hangar is sheathed with aluminum sheets. Individual elements inside the structure (deflectors, false streams, amplifiers, etc.) are also made of aluminum. The chamber is insulated with mineral wool in the form of slabs.

The construction is being assembled in compliance with GOST and SNiP. Options requiring additions and extensions are carried out according to an additionally developed scheme. The basic assembly is designed for an average snow load.

Convection chamber models

Convection drying chambers are produced by domestic and foreign companies. The most common are Helios: ASKM-7, ASKM-10, ASKM-15, ASKM-25. They are used for drying any type of wood of drying categories I, II, III and 0. According to reviews, these models work quickly, since German fans are used in the mechanism. And the installation and maintenance of the ASKM models is simple. Price from 700,000 rubles, depending on the size and capacity.

Vacuum drying chambers

The constructions are specially designed for expensive types of raw materials (teak, wenge, rosewood, oak, anger, etc.). Vacuum dryers can also be used for any softwood or hardwood.

The working principle of a vacuum dryer

The vacuum dryer operates from convector heating of wood and vacuum removal of excess moisture. Temperature regime maximum +65 0С. But because of the vacuum, 0.09 MPa boils at 45.5 ° C. This allows the drying process to be carried out without the aggressive effects of high temperatures, which does not create high internal stress, and the wood does not crack.

In the process of operation, the temperature has risen by 65 ° C, the automation is triggered and the electric boiler is turned off. The upper part of the wood begins to cool down and moisture from the inside begins to flow to the drier parts. During the entire drying process, such processes can occur up to 250 times. So the moisture is evenly drawn along the entire length and depth of the raw material. Maximum drop moisture in different parts of the tree can be 0.5-1.5%, and completely dried has a moisture content of 4-6%.

Models of popular vacuum structures

The most common model vacuum chambers this is Helios. Drying chambers for wood Helios differ in power, load volume and other technical characteristics. More information about TX Helios in the table:

Aerodynamic wood drying chambers

These drying chambers are reminiscent of metal box finished with aluminum profiled flooring. An aerodynamic chamber of various modifications is used for drying all types of wood, with a loading of 3-25 m3. Custom-designed chambers with a loading capacity of up to 43 m3 are available on request.

The good thing about the aerodynamic chamber is that the work is fully automated and a minimum number of hands is required.

The frame of the aerodynamic chamber consists of a solid metal sewn onto supporting frame... The camera is made in the form of a quadrangular box, into which it is convenient to load a tree by a car or by rail. paths. All internal structure equipped with automatic condensate collectors.

Principle of operation

Drying is carried out under the influence of aerodynamic energy. The heated air circulates in the chamber under the influence of a specially designed aerodynamic fan... The air in the chamber, due to compression, increases the temperature by centrifugal fan, specifically on his shoulder blades. This is how aerodynamic losses are converted into heat energy.

Heat is brought into the chamber, depending on the design, in a reverse or dead-end manner. The operation of the aerodynamic chamber is started by one button “start” and opens only after the complete completion of the cycle.

Models of aerodynamic dryers

The most common dryers of the aerodynamic type Gelos CKV-25F, SKV-50F, CKV-12TA, SKV-25TA, SKV-50TA, as well as Italian EPL 65.57.41, EPL 65.72.41, EPL 65.87.41, EPL 125.72.41, EPL 125.87.41. Developed by Helios, specially for drying coniferous material. They cost from 1,500,000 rubles.

Microwave dryers

Microwave cameras were invented quite recently. Such a dryer resembles a closed metal container. Works under the influence of a reflective surface of microwave waves. Reminds the principle of action microwave oven... Using a microwave camera, you can dry material of any section and size. Microwave cameras have simple design and you can adjust the wavelength to any length. This made it possible to dry any raw material using a microwave chamber. The microwave attenuation mode allows you to adjust the temperature inside the chamber. And reversible fans remove excessive moisture from the system. They compare microwave drying with dielectric, which is considered the most effective, but due to the high costs of electricity in Russia it is not used.

The main disadvantages of microwave chambers include wood moisture control and the high price of microwave dryers and electricity costs.

Microwave Dryer Models

In Russia, this drying technology is offered by an engineering company in Moscow "Investstroy" - "Microwave-Les". A similar installation costs from 1,300,000 rubles. You need to serve the microwave-wood once every six months, at a price of 100,000 rubles.

Only half of the future profit depends on which camera the buyer chooses. Building and insulating the box is only part of all the work. it is important that the component equipment is of high quality.

Equipment for drying chambers

Equipment for dryers can be divided into types:

1. Thermal system.
2. Exhaust hood and humidification system.
3. Rail structure for loading and unloading

Ventilation equipment plays the role of uniform distribution of heated air. Installing a low-quality fan causes uneven drying of raw materials. According to GOST, the movement of air inside the chamber should be optimally about 3 m / s. This can be achieved by using high quality and powerful fans. All fans have a rotary or axial connection system.

This equipment depends on the capacity and model of the drying chamber. An electric heater or a heat exchanger can serve as a heat generator. They are installed only by specialists, and are used to pump and transfer heat energy to wood. A system such as a mini-boiler house on liquid, gaseous or hard fuels can also act as a heat generator. It is convenient when the work is carried out on the waste of wood production.

The electric heater has a structure consisting of a pipe and a chrome spiral wound around it. This generator has a slight advantage: a simplified process for controlling the temperature inside the chamber.

Humidification system

To ensure a constant uniform air humidity in dryers, humidification and extraction equipment is used. Humidification is carried out at the expense of a complex system of nozzles, a pipeline, an electromagnetic valve.

Exhaust is carried out using a fan (usually rotary). Equipment for next technology: When the humidity drops, the fan automatically turns off and the hood does not function. In this case, the air is humidified by the vaporization of the liquid that enters the nozzle automatically when the valve is opened.

When the humidity rises, on the contrary, the valve closes and the fan turns on.

Rail loading and unloading system

This equipment is installed during the camera assembly phase. The system consists of rails that are permanently mounted. On top of them are attached under-stack carts, which are needed for storing wood. Raw materials are laid on them, and placed in a chamber, after drying, the carts are rolled out onto the street and packaged.

When choosing a chamber for drying wood, it is better to use the services of professionals, but do not neglect the information of specialists on the network.

Drying is an obligatory stage in the preparation of wood before processing. So that the logs do not deform, they are dried under certain conditions, which are created in drying chambers. For a home workshop, you can make a wood dryer yourself.

The importance of drying

Since ancient times, wood was used in the manufacture of wood products, cut down several years ago. Furniture made from damp or improperly dried boards will warp or crack and crack. Drying, the material shrinks, raw wood beams will lead over time, and cracks with a palm width will appear in the walls of the log house. Mold grows in raw wood. But overdried boards are also bad - the material begins to absorb moisture, swells.

Drying is carried out with hot air or steam, the process is long and expensive, but it gives the wood additional strength, prevents changes in shape and size, the lumber is stored longer.

Drying modes

There are several modes of drying sawn timber. In self-made chambers, the temperature rises in stages, removing moisture from the raw materials. Drying technology is selected taking into account:

• wood species;
• dimensions of lumber;
• final and starting moisture;
• dryer features;
• quality categories of raw materials.

The drying process can be high temperature or low temperature. In the second case, the primary treatment is carried out at a temperature not reaching 100 degrees.

Low temperature modes are divided into categories:

• soft - during the drying process, lumber retains all its properties, strength and color do not change;
• normal - the color changes slightly, strength decreases slightly;
• forced - when chipping and splitting, fragility is possible, the color darkens.

The change in the temperature of the medium at low-temperature conditions occurs in three stages. The transition to the next stage is possible when the wood reaches the specified moisture content.

High temperature processing is carried out in two stages. The second stage occurs when the moisture content of the raw material drops to 20%. This technology is used in the preparation of wood for the construction of secondary structures, which make it possible to make a change in color and a decrease in strength.

Types of drying chambers

Drying of wood on an industrial scale is carried out in special chambers. Moisture is removed from the lumber by heated air and carried out into the street. A complete cycle of wood drying takes place in the device. The room can be:

• prefabricated metal;
• erected from building materials.

The latter are installed directly in the carpentry shops or as detached buildings. The walls are made of reinforced concrete or bricks. At large enterprises, several cameras are equipped, combined into a module with a common control system and communications wiring. The air circulates horizontally or vertically in the dryer. Wood in industrial dryers can be transported on rails on trolleys, laid out by forklifts.

Heat sources in the dryer:

• hot steam;
• radiant heat from special devices;
• heated shelving racks;
• electric current that passes well through wet logs;
• high frequency electromagnetic field.

The camera is equipped with basic and additional equipment. The main one consists of systems:

• ventilation of the supply and exhaust type;
• heat supply;
• humidification.

Additional equipment is insulation of walls and doors, trolleys for stacking material, psychometric equipment, and an electric drive.

Industrial dryers are controlled automatically, small homemade dryers are controlled manually. Humidity is regulated by supply and exhaust ventilation and humidifiers. To measure the humidity in the room, a moisture meter is installed, which collects data simultaneously in several places.

As an energy carrier for heating air, you can use: electricity, wood processing waste, liquid, solid fuels.

Types of dryers

According to the method of air movement, cameras are divided into:

• with natural;
• with forced air exchange.

Chambers with natural air exchange are ineffective, the process in them cannot be controlled. Therefore, they are used less and less.

By the principle of action, the following are distinguished:

• convective;
• condensation dryers.

In convection chambers, the wood is blown by streams of hot air, heat is transferred by convection. They can be deep tunnels or chambered. In the tunnel chambers, logs are loaded from one end and unloaded from the other, moving along the chamber, the material is gradually dried. The cycle time is 4 to 12 hours. Such cameras are installed in large sawmills. Chamber dryers are more compact, a uniform microclimate is maintained throughout the volume. Allows to prepare any type of wood to the required condition. Therefore, most industrial dryers are chamber type.

According to the technology of condensation drying, moisture released from the material is deposited on coolers, accumulates in containers and is drained out. The efficiency of such a device is very high, but the process is long, accompanied by high heat losses. The technology is good for preparing solid sawn timber in small batches. The price of equipment and the prime cost of condensation drying is lower than that of convective drying.

Arrangement of a homemade dryer

In order to make a dryer with your own hands, you can do without drawings. It is necessary to provide:

• camera room;
• insulation;
• heat source;
• fan.

The area of ​​a hand-built dryer usually does not exceed 9 square meters. meters. In a square room, it is easier to ensure optimal flow of warm air. It is desirable that one wall of the chamber is made of concrete slabs others are made of wood. All walls are insulated from the inside in two layers: expanded polystyrene and foil board. Excellent and free insulation - wood shavings. And the foil can be replaced with penofol, which perfectly reflects heat.

A separate room of the dryer with your own hands can be built from aluminum, such a structure will last a long time. The frame is made of a profile, it is sheathed sheet metal, which is insulated from the outside. The thickness of the insulation is at least 15 cm. The floor is covered with roofing felt, and a thick layer of shavings is poured over it as thermal insulation.

Care must be taken to carefully seal the front door!

The heat emitter can be made in the form of pipes or heating radiators. The water temperature should be 65-95 degrees. She heats up with an electric boiler, wood stove, gas boiler... Even a two-burner electric stove is enough for a small camera. If the stove is located directly in the room, you need to cover it with bricks. The bricks will accumulate heat and gradually radiate it into the dryer. It is easy to equip a convection chamber with your own hands by installing a fan heater as a heat source.

When equipping a dryer for a home woodworking workshop with your own hands, it is important to observe fire safety measures. There should always be a fire extinguisher near the building.

Constant circulation is important warm water provided by the pump. To distribute the heat evenly throughout the room, a fan is installed. Workroom Equipped with a wet and dry bulb thermometer.

For the convenience of loading the board into the chamber, you can use a cart on the rails. And to increase useful area racks are being built on the walls.

The step-by-step instructions are as follows:

1. We build the foundation.
2. We are building a frame.
3. We sheathe the frame with sheets of metal.
4. Installation of thermal insulation.
5. We cover the floor with foil and sawdust.
6. Installation of supports from bars.
7. Installation of heaters and fans.

The construction of a homemade lumber drying chamber in the video:

7 Reasons Every Craftsman Should Start Their Own Wood Dryer

The better the wood is dried, the better ready product... Therefore, you spend a lot of money on drying wood. You give only to the checked places and patiently wait for the end of the process. But this stage can be accelerated and made less costly. Moreover, get 20% more high-quality material at the output! If you start your own FlexiHIT board dryer - our production.

Why do you need your personal FlexiHIT lumber dryer?

• 20% more quality material! The output is flawless wood without deformations, internal stresses, warpage and cracks. 15-20% more work pieces than drying industrially... What is the reason? Drying occurs in the most natural way. Infrared radiation acts as gently as the rays of the sun. But thanks to the special design and innovative solutions, it dries faster and more evenly.
• From one board to 10 cubes... For the first time in the history of professional drying, you can dry any volume of wood! From one board to stacks of a large number... You no longer need to waste money on drying or accumulate a large amount of wood for loading. Moreover, the cost of our kit is several times lower than the cost of a drying cabinet.

Material readiness in 3-7 days... Assembling a wood dryer takes no more than a day. Installation is simple, thanks to detailed instructions... The drying time depends on the type of wood and the amount of moisture in it. On average - from 3 to 7 days. The drying period for soft woods the drying time will be from 3 to 7 days to 6 - 8% humidity, for hard woods from 13 to 20 days to 6 - 10% humidity. Stable result - up to 8% humidity in 7 days!

• Automatic drying process... The drying procedure is absolutely comfortable and does not require your participation. After loading the material, the wood dryer is completely autonomous - you do not need to constantly monitor the drying process of the wood as when drying in an induction dryer. No special seat is required either! Dry wood even in the open air in the yard of the house, even indoors. Anywhere and unattended.

Wood dryer cost calculator

Wood dryer price:

1. Infrared cassettes: 29700 rubles.

2. Control cassettes: 12,900 rubles.

3. Control panel: 12002 rubles.

4. Cable routing: 8286 rubles.

5. Lathing: 1257.76 rubles.

Total: 64,146 rubles.

The price calculated by the calculator is indicative, to clarify the price of wood dryers

4 reasons why you shouldn't make your own dryer

• For a long time... It will take a lot of time to experiment, design and build. We have been building the dryer for 10 years with other successful developments in infrared heating behind us.
• Dreary... It will take a lot of time to debug the dryer so that the lumber turns out to be of high quality. We've done thousands of experiments.
• Risky... You may never be able to create a normal dryer. This is a tricky business, believe us.
• Expensive... There is a possibility at first to spoil the lumber being dried, which will lead to even greater monetary costs.

FlexiHIT - 3 years of improvements!

• Our wood dryer has been improving for over 3 years. You don't need to walk this path yourself. It is enough to assemble the device according to the detailed instructions.
• There are many materials on the Internet about infrared devices created by amateurs - and you are assured of the high efficiency of the process. But there is no convincing evidence.
• We have been doing IR heating for ten years. We manufacture functional equipment for industry, construction, medicine. We have serious production facilities and professional designers. At the same time, the development of the dryer was not easy for us. A high-quality dryer cannot be created on the knee!

How does the FlexiHIT wood dryer work?

As a result of 10 years of testing and development, the board dryer is a set of special thermoactive cassettes with a thickness of 1.5 mm. The cassettes are placed in a stack of lumber prepared for drying in a certain sequence.

Wood is dried by heating the wood with infrared rays. This drying method does not require a heating medium. Therefore, there is no need to maintain its exact parameters, ventilation and complex automation.

The service life, subject to the instructions and careful operation of the heating cassettes, is at least 3 years, 1-year warranty.

Video of the FlexiHIT dryer device and instructions for assembling and drying wood

Comparison of modern wood dryers and drying technologies

Stack guard

The pile shell consists of polystyrene insulation located under the stack and on its upper part, as well as from a reflective fence that covers the stack around the perimeter. The casing is not supplied in the kit and can be designed for specific dimensions of the stack.

You can also familiarize yourself with (one of the design options).

Examples of correct and incorrect stacking of wood drying cassettes

Do you have any questions about home drying of lumber with the FlexiHIT dryer?

When steaming, moisture evaporates from the middle of the wood. How this process occurs with local heating of wood - I can not imagine. Also I don't understand why fans can be dispensed with.

Why is it steamed with saturated steam when processing wood? In order to saturate the wood with moisture and dry it evenly at such a rate that moisture will migrate from the inner layers to the outer ones.

When low-temperature infrared emitters are used, moisture is already "expelled" from the inner layers, which leads to intensive selection (condensation) of water in the first quarter of the drying process and removal of moisture. No steaming is needed.

And in the chambers it is needed, because the coolant is hot air, and it does not penetrate into the tree, it dries slowly, starting from the surface. Therefore, one must not rush, one must wait for the water to flow from the center to the surface.

And ultrasound, and high frequency, and induction tear wood - it's clear why. I think that your method should tear not less, but even more. You are also trying to heat the wood from the inside, aren't you?

Our mode is soft, this is natural drying, so it will not vomit. This is precisely the rupture of pores, capillaries, non-superficial ruptures and cracks that result from uneven drying of the board.

Is there any experience in organizing a lumber dryer in the basement? What pitfalls can there be? A bathtub for collecting water is planned under the drying room. The temperature in the basement is above zero.

"Pitfalls" depend on the volume and frequency of drying. It should be expected that not all of the water condenses - some comes out with steam, and if there is no good ventilation, the basement walls will get wet. With continuous operation of the wood dryer, the basement may gradually warm up, and the high temperature outside the pile shell will change the dew point, and condensation may decrease. Ventilation is required if the room is small. Up to 300 liters of water can come out of a pine cube, 500 from an oak.

How to operate a wood dryer in winter period? How to control and regulate air humidity? How high are the stresses in the material after drying?

Steam collects in the chamber and reaches such a concentration when drying stops and the steam needs to be removed. Paradox: the camera is needed to trap the air, but it increases the humidity. Therefore, wood drying is possible when such a regime: "air heating - ventilation - pumping out moist air - heating again". And when exposed directly to water without a camera, everything turns out easier. We use isospan to provide even moisture in the stack and to speed up wood drying.

Drying chambers for lumber are indispensable equipment in the production of wood-based blanks. Before sending a tree for processing, it must be dried. Otherwise, the risk of deformation and deterioration in the quality of the finished product increases significantly. Drying is carried out in special chambers under certain conditions. At the same time, many people assemble drying chambers with their own hands for use at home.

Not everyone knows exactly why wood should be dried before processing. Therefore, we will tell you some of the nuances of this process.

1. For many centuries, wood has been the main material in the manufacture of furniture.
2. The furniture was made from wood that was cut down several years ago.
3. In the case of using raw, undried wood, the boards quickly dry out and become covered with cracks.
4. When dry, the tree shrinks, therefore, structures built from initially raw material can over time become askew, lose strength and geometry.
5. Raw wood is a great place for mold to grow.
6. At the same time, excessively dry building material is also bad, since such material actively absorbs moisture, increases in volume due to swelling. Therefore, to furniture, other structures, there is an effect opposite to drying.

Drying is carried out in drying chambers. In this case, steam or hot air is supplied to the surface of the lumber. This process takes a long time and is quite expensive for the manufacturer. Largely because of this, furniture made on the basis of natural wood, much more expensive than MDF, chipboard, etc.

The use of drying chambers allows you to obtain the following properties of sawn timber:

• Increased strength;
• Protection against the likelihood of shape changes;
• Preservation of the original dimensions during application;
• Extended service life, etc.

The task of drying chambers is to improve the quality characteristics of lumber. Therefore, drying is a mandatory stage in wood processing.

Process features

Various modes can be used for drying sawn timber. In self-assembled chambers, the temperature rises in stages, which allows you to gradually remove excess moisture from the material.

The mode and features of the drying process in the chambers are determined taking into account the analysis of the following parameters:

• Type of wood to be dried;
• Sizes of materials;
• Initial moisture indicator;
• Moisture index to be achieved;
• Constructive and technological features of drying chambers used for processing;
• Quality category of the processed timber.

Drying types

Do-it-yourself drying of wood inside the chamber is of two types:

• Low temperature;
• High temperature.

The high temperature processing process is carried out in two stages. The transition to the second stage begins when the moisture content of the workpiece drops to 20 percent. This technology relevant when using wood as materials for the construction of secondary structures.

Low temperature operation is divided into three categories.

1. Gentle drying. Here lumber retains its characteristics and properties. Therefore, there are no changes in color or strength parameters of the product.
2. Normal drying. Color may vary, but not significantly. Strength parameters are slightly reduced.
3. Forced drying. By splitting or shearing of forced dried raw materials, it may become brittle. The color also changes, the wood becomes darker.

Heat sources

Drying chambers can use different heat sources, the task of which is to achieve the desired moisture level in the lumber.

The following heat sources are distinguished:

• Heated fell;
• Radiant emitters;
• Heated racks;
• Electricity;
• High frequency electromagnetic field.

The structural chamber necessarily includes three components:

• Ventilation and exhaust system;
• Heat-saving unit;
• Humidification system.

Dryers

Dryers differ in the way the air moves inside the chamber. Based on this parameter, the following varieties are distinguished:

• Systems with natural air movement;
• Drying systems where the forced air exchange principle is used.

Build with your own hands easier system where natural air exchange is used. At the same time, the indicators of its effectiveness are significantly inferior to forced circulation air. For this reason, cameras of a natural type are becoming less and less common.

Dryers are distinguished according to the principle of their operation. This is one of the main characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing drying equipment or designing a drying chamber for building it yourself.

1. Convective chambers. Inside them, the lumber is blown by the flow of hot air. Heat transfer is carried out by convection. Such dryers are divided into chamber and tunnel. The tunnel chamber involves loading wood from one end and unloading it from the other. Gradually, moving on the dryer, the material acquires required characteristics and moisture parameters. The drying cycle in tunnel chambers is 4-12 hours; they are used in large sawmills. Chamber type dryers are compact, inside them a uniform microclimate is maintained throughout the chamber. Such designs allow you to achieve the desired characteristics of lumber different types... This has led to the fact that the overwhelming majority of industries that work with wood use chamber equipment.
2. Condensation chambers. Here the moisture that is released from the lumber settles on the cooler, after which it accumulates inside special capacity and is displayed outside. Such drying devices are characterized by an increased coefficient useful action... At the same time, the process of wood preparation takes a lot of time and impressive heat losses... The condensation technology shows itself best of all when preparing small batches of wood, which is characterized by increased hardness. The cost of the equipment itself and the cost of operating the condensation chambers make it preferable to convection units.

The choice of equipment for drying wood is a rather serious issue that requires detailed study. technical characteristics the chambers themselves and the features of the process of preparing lumber for their further processing. Therefore, if you have any questions, we recommend consulting with specialists.

Sometimes making your own dryer is preferable to buying factory equipment. But if you decide to assemble the device yourself, strictly adhere to the manufacturing technology. Violation of the recommendations can lead to unpleasant consequences for the wood and the funds invested in the manufacture of equipment.

Any lumber is obtained by longitudinal sawing of a log. As a result, bars, slats, boards of various thicknesses necessary for construction and repair are obtained. Only dry lumber is used in construction. They have higher quality indicators. For drying wood at home, a special do-it-yourself lumber dryer can be equipped. The construction process of this structure will take a lot of time. But as a result House master will always be provided quality material for performing various works.

The quality of the timber depends on how dry the wood is. The moisture content of the timber should be 12%.

Dryer construction

The construction of the simplest do-it-yourself dryer for drying small volumes of wood in natural conditions consists of several stages:

Lumber dryer device.

1. It is necessary to select and prepare an area for placing the building. You can build a dryer on a house plot. Suitable for building a small dryer flat roof... The floor can be made of several layers of roofing material, sprinkled with sawdust.
2. The wood to be dried is stacked no more than 120 cm wide. Optimal size along its width - 80 cm. The stacking height is 50-70 cm. Separate layers of boards or beams are laid with slats at least 2 cm thick. It is recommended to lay the stack across the air flows in this area.
3. Protection against rain and snow is created. Dry stacks are stacked on the top row wooden beams with a section of approximately 50x50 mm. Iron is placed on them, which is pressed with the same beams.

In such a dryer, the material is blown with air, the moisture gradually evaporates, the moisture level decreases.

Drying chamber

The wood is dried most effectively in a special drying chamber. In it you can set automatic systems which control the whole process of drying wood of specific species. At the exit, the lumber will have a predetermined moisture level. You can also build such a camera with your own hands. But this construction will cost a lot of money. For construction you will need:

• aluminum profile;
• sheet metal;
• material for thermal insulation;
• waterproofing film;
• sawdust;
• heat construction gun.

Scheme of drying wood in a drying chamber.

Construction is carried out in the following order:

1. You should start with the construction of any type of foundation. It can be piled, tape. For its construction, you can use brick, concrete, metal pipes and other materials. It all depends on the size of the chamber.
2. A frame is built on the foundation. It is best to use an aluminum profile for this. It is assembled with bolts and nuts. Other methods of connecting the frame elements are possible.
3. The finished frame is sheathed with aluminum or steel sheets... They are fastened with self-tapping screws, bolts, welding. Walls can be made of bricks, concrete, and other materials.
4. Thermal insulation is arranged from mineral wool 10-15 cm thick.
5. The floor is covered waterproofing film and sawdust.
6. For stacking piles of lumber, supports are prepared from bars in the form of a kind of well. This is done in order to raise the bottom row of the stack above the floor level.
7. The timber, prepared for drying, is stacked through wooden spacers... Air must flow freely between the rows of boards. The stack height is limited only by the ceiling height.
8. For forced circulation of heated air, fan heaters or other heating devices are installed. The air flow should be directed across the planks in the stack. This contributes to a more efficient drying process.

Dryer inside the house

A small number of boards can be dried inside the house or summer cottage. The dryer is arranged like this:

Drying wood at home.

1. You need to choose a room that has a fireplace or stove. Electric fireplaces and stoves can be used.
2. The room is separated from the rest of the house by partitions. Tight-closing doors are installed. A vent may be needed for ventilation. All cracks must be sealed, since extraneous air currents and drafts negatively affect the quality of the dried material. It is also recommended to insulate the walls. On top of the insulation, they can be faced with bricks, which well maintains heat from the stove and from electrical heating devices. For forced circulation of warm air, fans are installed.
3. Raw sawn timber is stacked on specially made sturdy metal shelves.

Check the moisture level of the material before drying. This is done using a moisture meter. High humidity causes early wear and tear of buildings, the appearance of mold and mildew. Overdried wood deforms due to moisture absorption and swelling. Drying of wood is usually carried out to a moisture level of about 8-12%. So that it does not crack, experts recommend treating the ends of the boards with a mixture of drying oil and sifted chalk. In its consistency, the mixture resembles thick sour cream.

Lumber can be dried with or without bark. You just need to remember that birch, aspen, poplar and beech in the bark can be affected by rot. In general, the drying process can take up to 2 weeks. During this time, temperature changes in the dryer must not be allowed. There must be a fire extinguisher in the dryer room. This is required by safety rules.

Drying chamber operating modes

Scheme of infrared drying of wood.

The camera must not be immediately warmed up until high temperature... In normal mode, it works like this:

1. Within 15-20 hours, the air in the chamber heats up to about 45 ° C. The ventilation system is not working yet. Moisture should appear on the walls of the cell.
2. When the temperature reaches 45 ° C, open the supply air and exhaust system ventilation. In about 2 days, the temperature rises to 50 ° C.
3. The dampers must be fully opened and the temperature brought up to 55 ° C. This is usually sufficient for a normal drying process. As soon as the humidity reaches about 8%, all dampers must be completely closed, turn off the heat supply. The fans continue to run for another day. After the temperature drops to 40 ° C, you should get dry lumber, ready to use.

Optional equipment

Automation can be installed in the drying chamber as an additional equipment. Its properties:

Gas dryer diagram.

• the system is capable of working with cameras different sizes and with different heat sources;
• is relatively cheap;
• does not require special knowledge to service it;
• easy to install;
• measures the temperature and humidity in the chamber;
• provides a fully automatic or semi-automatic mode of operation of the drying chamber;
• automatically controls the operation of valves, dampers and fans.

For the system to work, it is enough to set the thickness and species of sawn timber, the desired final moisture content. The system helps to dry various types of wood: pine, spruce, oak, birch, beech, linden, ash, maple, alder, hornbeam, poplar, aspen, sycamore. Every 2 hours, the automation takes readings of humidity and temperature and makes the necessary adjustments to the operation of all air heating and ventilation systems. approximate cost such a system ranges from $ 400-450.

Building a dryer with your own hands is quite troublesome and expensive.

But the result covers all costs. This is especially important for those who are engaged in the manufacture wooden products like furniture and wood carvings. Dry wood is several times more expensive than raw wood. In addition, in our own dryer it is possible to achieve a certain moisture content of the workpieces. Everything can be done independently with a strong desire and the availability of a suitable place.