Anybody ever use a automotive spraybooth for a kiln

[Brown Thumb]

I own a collision shop and have a downdraft heated spraybooth.
It can reach temps over 200 in the summer if I wanted it to.
The down fall is no way to adj. humidity and it does not recirculate the air.
It burns 4 gallons of oil a hr. which is a killer also
any ideas how I might be able to color cure then use the booth to just finish it off say over the weekend.
Thanks, Tom

 

[deluxestogie]

A common flue-cure process requires about 4 to 5 days, starting with green leaf. If you start slow and low, say at ~110-115ºF for the first two days, hoping to reach a consistent yellow, and a partial dry-down, then you would need to gradually take it up to 130ºF, 140ºF and 150ºF for days 3, 4 and 5. If you go too hot and dry early on, the leaf will dry green--bad. If the temp rises too fast after yellowing, then you may end up with damaged leaf.

I suspect this would not be worth the heating costs, unless you're doing a substantial batch. If it worked, you would have flue-cured tobacco for pipe or cigarettes. Cigar leaf uses a different process.

Bob

 

[Chicken]

a kiln big enough,,,,> you could put a car in it,