Dr. Bob's multi purpose curing chamber in planning

[leverhead]

I got the curse again, woke up in the middle of the night with a new "VISION"!!

That "curse" works for me! It's also a good excuse not to work too late. "Day" Dreaming in front of a nice fire works works too. Keeping notes of what drips out my head is the hard part, 2D or 3D CAD software helps a little bit by being easier to organize.

 

[DrBob]

I wish i had software! I cant draw worth a darn. I just want to keep things as simple as I can with off the shelf parts as much as possible.

 

[johnlee1933]

I wish i had software! I cant draw worth a darn. I just want to keep things as simple as I can with off the shelf parts as much as possible.

Google CAD software. Several workable free packages are available -·- John

 

[leverhead]

I don't know if the teach real drafting in high school any more. I got rid of my drafting table 20 years ago, it was too slow. Sometimes now, I miss it. The kids that say they can run AutoCAD can't draw for shit.

 

[jekylnz]

I don't know if the teach real drafting in high school any more. I got rid of my drafting table 20 years ago, it was too slow. Sometimes now, I miss it. The kids that say they can run AutoCAD can't draw for shit.

Hey sorry to jump in. On thread but,couldnt u use a ceramic lamp light?cause they're just the size of a normal bulb...( fitting sizee27 screw)that u use for reptiles? They get really hot
And. Wouldn't use to much power,they're usually used in conjunction with a thermostat

 

[DrBob]

Hey sorry to jump in. On thread but,couldnt u use a ceramic lamp light?cause they're just the size of a normal bulb...( fitting sizee27 screw)that u use for reptiles? They get really hot
And. Wouldn't use to much power,they're usually used in conjunction with a thermostat

it is all about btu's not light.

 

[jekylnz]

Yeah they don't put out light they're ceramic,just heat

 

[jekylnz]

Here's a pic of one ,they get hot enough to burn u pretty good

 

[DrBob]

Cool they would work just fine. Never saw one before. How much do they cost?

 

[AmaxB]

That ceramic bulb is on the line of what I was thinking about but instead of the ceramic using quartz emitters with thermal couples (TC/s) and digital control (pid controller can range from 30 bucks to hundreds of dollars) would be a great way of controlling heat. With the right Pid you could make a heat profile stepping heat up or down for X hours and be hands off once you got a profile worked out that cured the leaf the way you want it.
LeverHead pointed me to a few other threads here in the forum to get more understanding of what this is about. After reading these and others on line I think ceramic or quartz emitters would be a good heat source
if implemented the right way.
The emitters could be placed in the chamber or a duct box to the chamber or leaving the chamber drying the air as it circulates. The TC / s could be placed at the emitters or in the chamber giving pretty good control of temps.
I have a Eurotherm 2416 and a box full of emitters.

 

[DrBob]

It all depends on how much money you want to spend. I like the range elements because they are relatively inexpensive and durable too. With a infinite range switch you can have 50 watts or 2500 watts or anything inbetween just by turning the knob. With a little looking I got mine for free out of a junk range.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I've been using a ceramic bulb in my kiln but for quite a few years now but I used to use a regular light bulb. There isn't any difference when it comes to kilning the leaf, both work fine.

 

[Knucklehead]

This critter is pretty expensive, but I thought it might get some creative juices flowing. I was looking at the top of the page, 5" with built in thermostat: http://www.mcmaster.com/#drum-band-heaters/=ldgbfa

Here's an economy one on Amazon with a 50 to 450 degree thermostat: http://www.amazon.com/BriskHeat-ECO...&qid=1360240328&sr=8-2&keywords=barrel+heater

 

[DrBob]

I have been on vacation for the last couple of weeks, just getting motivated to work on my chamber again. I have most of the parts now and all I have to do is heat up the shop and put it together. When I get it done I will post pictures of what I have. I think I will have it done for the mythical $100.00
the parts I have aquired so far
Freezer= free
Used range= free elements and controller
blower= $41.00
ductwork=$22.00
upper water heater thermostat= $16.00
dry bulb thermometer= I already have for ferment curing
wiring= salvaged
wet bulb thermometer= ??

 

[johnlee1933]

wet bulb thermometer= ??

You know, you can make a wet bulb thermometer really easy. Just wrap a little piece of T-shirt around the bulb of any dry bulb thermometer and hold it with a tiny rubber band. I like the rubber bands dentists have for braces. It is a real help if the two thermometers are identical but it is not a necessity. It just makes them easier to read. My problem with wet/dry is you have to open the chamber to do the test and thus change the conditions you are trying to measure.

 

[DrBob]

thanks john,
Opening the door is a problem, but drilling a 3/4" hole in the door is not. That way I could put the thermometer in the chamber without opening the door. I also remember seeing Leverhead's wet bulb thermometer which was a remote thermometer with the wet bulb using a wick and a can of water which would last a long time between fillings. I am on a mythical budget of $100.00, so far I have spent $77.00 leaving $23.00 to work with. A remote thermometer is going to cost $13.00 at the store leaving me dangerously close to the budget and I need to insulate the pipes yet. I am making a game out of this to stay under $100.00

 

[johnlee1933]

thanks john,
Opening the door is a problem, but drilling a 3/4" hole in the door is not. That way I could put the thermometer in the chamber without opening the door. I also remember seeing Leverhead's wet bulb thermometer which was a remote thermometer with the wet bulb using a wick and a can of water which would last a long time between fillings. I am on a mythical budget of $100.00, so far I have spent $77.00 leaving $23.00 to work with. A remote thermometer is going to cost $13.00 at the store leaving me dangerously close to the budget and I need to insulate the pipes yet. I am making a game out of this to stay under $100.00

I hadn't considered the thru the door approach. It would work. Just make sure the thermometer is long enough that you can read it in place. If you made a removable sleeve then your measurements could be consecutive and you need only one thermometer. (Talk about identical!)

 

[LeftyRighty]

They sell those cheap electronic remote temp/humidity gauges at WalMart & Target - about $30.
Not the most accurate, or long lasting, but you really only need them through the yellowing/curing stages - 3 or 4 days of each flue-cure run. The humidity guage can be calibrated, of sorts, easily with that salt brine method. And this could be re-done between each run. With a little luck, it'll last a whole season.

 

[DrBob]

This is a photo of the thermometer that I have used in the curing chamber. It is a simple probe type meat thermometer readily available in most hardware stores for $6.00 I do have a lot of these on hand and it wouldnt bee to hard to drill another hole in the door and convert the second thermometer with a wick and vial to make a wet bulb thermometer. Since I already have the thermometer I think I am back at $77.00 I dont think I will end up under $100.00 but it will be close

 

[LeftyRighty]

Yeah, I like those thermometers. Am going to get a couple of those for my flue-cure chamber.