Asking for a guide on building a kiln for fermenting

[defender101]

Hey , I started building a kiln from an old freezer using a hot plate with a pot filled with water. Yesterday I just ran a test run without the thermostat/temprature controler just to see does the temperature comes up and I was able to get the temprature up to 128°F at 89% humidity within an hour. I got some questions about this.

1. Is 89% humidity too much for fermenting and if so what are the methods to reduce that humidity ?

2. What are the ideal temperature and humidity range to ferment tobacco on a kiln ?

3. When it comes to programming your thermostat , at which temperatures do you let your heat source to turn off and turn on again ?

I'm new to tobacco fermenting and you sharing your answers and experience would be highly appreciated

 

[deluxestogie]

First of all, be aware of the fire risk when using a hot plate.

1. 89% humidity is okay, so long as the temperatures stay above 122°F (to prevent growth of mold).
2. I have always used a Crockpot as my heat source, and simply refilled it with water whenever it was empty, paying no attention to measuring the humidity. Ideal temp is 123°F to 128°F.
3. Turn on at 123°F. Turn off at 128°F.

Bob

 

[WillQuantrill]

A Kiln, Tobacco, the Process, and Why

Thought I'd shear to help out my fellow smokers (there are many methods - this one works for me). Why Kiln Tobacco? - Simply put, ya get a nice smoke.... Fermentation & Aging of Tobacco Big Tobacco had a fine product until it was decided to increase addiction power among other...

fairtradetobacco.com

This thread helped me become confident enough to build and operate my kiln. Lots of reference material.

 

[slouch]

Hey , I started building a kiln from an old freezer using a hot plate with a pot filled with water. Yesterday I just ran a test run without the thermostat/temprature controler just to see does the temperature comes up and I was able to get the temprature up to 128°F at 89% humidity within an hour. I got some questions about this.

1. Is 89% humidity too much for fermenting and if so what are the methods to reduce that humidity ?

2. What are the ideal temperature and humidity range to ferment tobacco on a kiln ?

3. When it comes to programming your thermostat , at which temperatures do you let your heat source to turn off and turn on again ?

I'm new to tobacco fermenting and you sharing your answers and experience would be highly appreciated

Awesome I just found a freezer and am trying to do the same rn. You should post some pictures of your build for inspiration.

 

[defender101]

First of all, be aware of the fire risk when using a hot plate.

1. 89% humidity is okay, so long as the temperatures stay above 122°F (to prevent growth of mold).
2. I have always used a Crockpot as my heat source, and simply refilled it with water whenever it was empty, paying no attention to measuring the humidity. Ideal temp is 123°F to 128°F.
3. Turn on at 123°F. Turn off at 128°F.

Bob

Thankyou for taking your time and answering my question. It's not like a coil exposed kinda hotplate, it has a plate covering it and I'm planing to use a relay or something for some safety , I tried but I couldn't find a crockpot.

1. So you didn't do anything to reduce humidity ? Like adding a fan or something ? You just kept the temperature between 123°F - 128°F ?

2. I read in somewhere that keeping temp above 122°F just control the mold but doesn't kill it completely ? What's your opinion or experience on that?
(Really appreciate your answers )

 

[defender101]

A Kiln, Tobacco, the Process, and Why

Thought I'd shear to help out my fellow smokers (there are many methods - this one works for me). Why Kiln Tobacco? - Simply put, ya get a nice smoke.... Fermentation & Aging of Tobacco Big Tobacco had a fine product until it was decided to increase addiction power among other...

fairtradetobacco.com

This thread helped me become confident enough to build and operate my kiln. Lots of reference material.

Thankyou for sharing it, I'll make sure to check that out

 

[defender101]

Awesome I just found a freezer and am trying to do the same rn. You should post some pictures of your build for inspiration.

I will surely as soon as I built it, and good luck on your build.

 

[deluxestogie]

1. So you didn't do anything to reduce humidity ? Like adding a fan or something ? You just kept the temperature between 123°F - 128°F ?

2. I read in somewhere that keeping temp above 122°F just control the mold but doesn't kill it completely ? What's your opinion or experience on that?
(Really appreciate your answers )

1. A kiln should always have a fan. The fan helps to equalize both the temperature and humidity, but in an enclosed space, a fan does not reduce humidity.
2. Above 122°F prevents the vegetative growth of mold. It does not kill mold spores. But since mold spores are ubiquitous, attempting to kill them while in the kiln would serve no purpose. As soon as you open the kiln, more mold spores circulate in there. In the kiln, the high temperatures prevent mold growth. At room temperature, low humidity prevents mold growth.

Bob

 

[defender101]

1. A kiln should always have a fan. The fan helps to equalize both the temperature and humidity, but in an enclosed space, a fan does not reduce humidity.
2. Above 122°F prevents the vegetative growth of mold. It does not kill mold spores. But since mold spores are ubiquitous, attempting to kill them while in the kiln would serve no purpose. As soon as you open the kiln, more mold spores circulate in there. In the kiln, the high temperatures prevent mold growth. At room temperature, low humidity prevents mold growth.

Bob

Oh I see, I'll keep these in mind. Thankyou for taking your time to answer these, really appreciate it.