Hey everyone! I'm curious if it's possible to create my own wood drying kiln using just a box or a small cabin with a dehumidifier inside, without needing to air-dry the wood outdoors first. Any advice on this?
2 Answers
It's generally a good idea to air-dry your lumber for a few months before you start kiln-drying it. That way, you reduce the moisture content gradually. If you're looking for a guide on building a kiln at home, I found this helpful link: [Instructables guide](https://www.instructables.com/Kiln-Dry-Lumber-At-Home/). You might want to check it out!
While you can technically use a dehumidifier in a box, just having that alone might not do the trick. To effectively dry lumber, you'll need to raise the temperature in your drying space, which helps moisture escape. It's important to be cautious though; drying the wood too quickly from the outside can cause splits or checks. Have you looked into mini solar kilns? They're pretty cool and utilize the sun for drying, which might work better for you.