Down-Sized Kilns Dry Lumber, Firewood

Down-Sized Kilns Dry Lumber, Firewood 32-5-9 Small sawmill operations can now get the latest kiln-drying technology - just like the big boys - in a turnkey 12 by 28-ft. unit from Kiln-direct.com. Seasonal firewood makers can go year round, adding value to their firewood with the firewood version. Both kilns come fully assembled. An on-site technician helps get them up and running. Units are priced in the $35,000 to $40,000 range, depending on options. "With the firewood kiln, you can generate 10 cords two to three times per week," says Jorgensen. The lumber kiln holds from 7,000 to 9,000 board feet of lumber. It includes a full-featured control system, integrated wood moisture meter and lower-energy consumption heat recovery. "This kiln is sized for the portable sawmill operator, the fellow with the largest portable bandsaws," says Jorgenson. The optional waste wood-fired hot water system can be used with either kiln, replacing or supplementing the gas system. Used alone, it will roughly double the time needed to dry down a load of firewood. "The firewood version of our Small Lumber Kiln doesn't have all the computer controls and is more similar to a traditional kiln system. It also can be used for rudimentary lumber drying," says Niels Jorgensen, owner, Kiln-direct.com and developer of the kilns. "You can take 10 cords of wood from green to dry in a 24-hour period." Jorgensen says a firewood seller can add significant value to his wood with a kiln. Not only does the kiln dry the wood, it also sterilizes it, killing any insects, eggs or larvae. This is becoming increasingly important, not only for what Jorgensen describes as fireplace wood buyers, but also to control the spread of pests such as elm borer, gypsy moth and others. Fast drying also means a quicker payback. The kilns themselves are all aluminum structures with foam insulation and heat recovery on the vents. Both feature a bi-fold door for easy access. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kiln-direct.com, P.O. Box 159, 200A Progress Drive Ext., Burgaw, N. C. 28425 (ph 910 259-9794; fax 910 259-1625; sales@kiln-direct.com; www.kiln-direct.com).

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