DGBAMA Redneck Curing Chamber Build

[AmaxB]

That should help

 

[DGBAMA]

Resting leaf after flue curing....

A quick observation: my first run out of the chamber while pretty; had no smell at all. Good or bad. Was kinda disappointed. Tonight, i stuck my nose to one of the hands tied two days ago i get a nice, slightly sweet tobacco smell that is appropriate for the beautiful color of the leaf. Can't wait to roll one up and see if the flavor has changed too. d

 

[DGBAMA]

Second run with the new aire circulation is started. I will keep temp as close to 99 deg as possible the next 48 hrs and not rush yellowing this time.I

 

[AmaxB]

That's looking good DG, am sure a little air moving will help you. Cant help but to think that if you got a vent you could dry em in there just cracking the vent for drying the leaf
and opening it for the stems. The Temp you could bump up 2 or 3 degrees at a time for the leaf and more for stems, spacing a few hours apart.
You get this worked out and it will be a great solution for those wanting to flue cure at home. A low cost easy build.

Speaking honestly and for my self, it has been made more complicated than it need be...

 

[DGBAMA]

If you think you overcomplicated, overbuilt, overdocumented, etc, I still say THANK YOU! Your excess efforts allowed me to draw some valuable averages to make my more simplistic approach work.

Again; thank you for your efforts and documentation!

 

[DGBAMA]

Adding the heat sink to the back of the water heater thermostat is a definite success. Only 4deg variance in the last 12 hours. 4

 

[AmaxB]

Adding the heat sink to the back of the water heater thermostat is a definite success. Only 4deg variance in the last 12 hours. 4

That's a Good deal you can live with 4 degrees

 

[DGBAMA]

That's a Good deal you can live with 4 degrees

Yes. That makes +- 2 quite pleaded. Now the hard part....leaving it alone for the first 48 hrs. Only 28 hrs, 34 mins, 27 sec left to wait. Patience. Lol2

 

[workhorse_01]

I'd like to second that. Thank ya'll for all calls work.

If you think you overcomplicated, overbuilt, overdocumented, etc, I still say THANK YOU! Your excess efforts allowed me to draw some valuable averages to make my more simplistic approach work.

Again; thank you for your efforts and documentation!

 

[AmaxB]

Yes. That makes +- 2 quite pleaded. Now the hard part....leaving it alone for the first 48 hrs. Only 28 hrs, 34 mins, 27 sec left to wait. Patience. Lol2

DG let me know when you get yellow going
Thanks..

 

[DGBAMA]

Yellowing has taken much longer second run, but results are much more uniform.s

 

[AmaxB]

Yellowing has taken much longer second run, but results are much more uniform.s

Hours?

 

[DGBAMA]

Hours?

At 72.... Was not completely happy with color. This morning at 84 i bumped to low wilt...115-120 and went to work..

I am very pleased with the chimney/convection circulation. On the first run I had leaves in random places curling on the edges and trying to dry after just 48 hrs. This run leaves have maintained even moisture content throughout the kiln. Still lots of updating to do for the last 3 days.i

 

[AmaxB]

Thank You guy
yep that sounds like my time frame 80 plus hrs

 

[workhorse_01]

You guys aren't staying in the yellowing 105*F area until all the leaves are yellow are you?

Thank You guy
yep that sounds like my time frame 80 plus hrs

 

[AmaxB]

Yes I have been but not 105F more like 98F.......
DG - workhorse try this see if you drop hours yellowing..
Start at Dry 90F & Wet 93F run 8 hours
Increase to Dry 95F & Wet 95F run 8 hours
Increase to Dry 98F & Wet 95F run 8 hours
Increase to Dry 100F & Wet 98F run 6 hours
Increase to Dry 104F & Wet 101F run 18 hours

See if you are yellow with in the 48 hrs / air volume should be high my blower is running full speed.
Don't let the tobacco become wet half way through it should be soft, dry damp, and limp.

Near finish of yellowing veins in leaf should be off white, stem very light green - near white, leaf at stem butt going yellow, and may have light green
splotches here and there but mostly yellow with no browning in leaf body.
Use Dry/Wet Bulb
I have 4 more hours to 48 hours for yellowing.
If all continues to go as it is I will have a chamber that was loaded full cured in 4 days or less.. yip yip

 

[DGBAMA]

On the first run I had leaf edges trying to dry at 102 despite humidity being good. This run with the improved circulation no such issue but was conservative in advancing temps to be sure. Next run i will be comfortable advancing to 105 faster which should help yellowing time. s

 

[AmaxB]

On the first run I had leaf edges trying to dry at 102 despite humidity being good. This run with the improved circulation no such issue but was conservative in advancing temps to be sure. Next run i will be comfortable advancing to 105 faster which should help yellowing time. s

For me this batch (#4) it has - in 45 minutes I will be hitting the 48 hr mark and am tempted to start wilting most of my leaf is good to go but I still have a few hang outs that are not quite there.

 

[workhorse_01]

This run i'm following the chart I posted. The last of the green is finishing yellow at the 120*F db. I read the note at the bottom that said don't leave 120* until all is yellow.

Yes I have been but not 105F more like 98F.......
DG - workhorse try this see if you drop hours yellowing..
Start at Dry 90F & Wet 93F run 8 hours
Increase to Dry 95F & Wet 95F run 8 hours
Increase to Dry 98F & Wet 95F run 8 hours
Increase to Dry 100F & Wet 98F run 6 hours
Increase to Dry 104F & Wet 101F run 18 hours

See if you are yellow with in the 48 hrs / air volume should be high my blower is running full speed.
Don't let the tobacco become wet half way through it should be soft, dry damp, and limp.

Near finish of yellowing veins in leaf should be off white, stem very light green - near white, leaf at stem butt going yellow, and may have light green
splotches here and there but mostly yellow with no browning in leaf body.
Use Dry/Wet Bulb
I have 4 more hours to 48 hours for yellowing.
If all continues to go as it is I will have a chamber that was loaded full cured in 4 days or less.. yip yip

 

[DGBAMA]

Second run is dry except for stems. Hopefully done tmro. About two days too slow. But the uniformity of the leaf drying makes me happy. I now feel comfortable with being more aggressive on temps for the third run. I