Kiln/flue curing chamber build design questions.

[Yultanman]

So for venting during curing, because you need to get rid of moisture in the leaves, what I feel works better, (and it was my experience with a 225 cubic foot curing shed), that two small 1.9"OD pipes through the wall with a single fan blowing out one of them, and one passively letting air return. It's easy to seal and doesn't affect heat loss all that much but was big enough that a decent snail shaped (princess auto) fan can remove enough moisture.

this was the concept i was describing except putting a flap on the pipe and a controller on the fan so it would only release humidity when required
during kilning these would be sealed completely so it wouldnt be a factor. Thats my thoughts in theory. Haven’t put them into trial yet

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

this was the concept i was describing except putting a flap on the pipe and a controller on the fan so it would only release humidity when required
during kilning these would be sealed completely so it wouldnt be a factor. Thats my thoughts in theory. Haven’t put them into trial yet

Well then, we are talking about exactly the same thing except for the flap. I assumed that we both assumed the use of a controller.

Only thought on the flap is will it be venting into above freezing temperatures or not. Don't want your wipers stuck to the windshield.

 

[Oldfella]

View attachment 35439

I don't know if this is the exact fan, but this little thing or something like it was sufficient to vent a 4'x8'x7' (internal dimensions) tobacco shed.

Hi China. I've altered my mind. I'm interested in that dinky little fan. Where did you get it from?
Cheers Oldfella

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Hi China. I've altered my mind. I'm interested in that dinky little fan. Where did you get it from?
Cheers Oldfella

I looked at the website and they don't have them anymore. It was a place called Princess Auto which is like a combination of industrial supply, hardware, meat processing, welding, automotive and hitch, and military surplus.

 

[Oldfella]

I looked at the website and they don't have them anymore. It was a place called Princess Auto which is like a combination of industrial supply, hardware, meat processing, welding, automotive and hitch, and military surplus.

Thanks anyway China. I'll have a hunt around it's not critical as I have one that'll do. Just looked like fun to play with.

 

[Yultanman]

Thanks anyway China. I'll have a hunt around it's not critical as I have one that'll do. Just looked like fun to play with.

Harbour freight is the closest usa version of princess auto if that helps at all.

 

[Brown Thumb]

I realized i was over thinking this when i got onto servos and solonoids and think that a louvered exhaust/intake with arduino controlling the fans would be sufficient

It works, I have it mine setup that way.
Auburn built the first one for me after inquiring about one only problem the sensor can’t take the heat. This set up is plug and play.
This baby was set it cross fingers and forget it.
All ran off pod controllers. If you look you will find my thread on it.

 

[Knucklehead]

It works, I have it mine setup that way.
Auburn built the first one for me after inquiring about one only problem the sensor can’t take the heat. This set up is plug and play.
This baby was set it cross fingers and forget it.
All ran off pod controllers. If you look you will find my thread on it.

Here it is:

Brown Thumbs Walk In kiln, Flue Cure, Attempt

This is what I got Guys & Gals for starters. I had a Nile Kiln In this insulated room for drying wood when I made flooring. The problem was it had a acid odor I did not like from the Oak i dried in it. Last year I repainted It with kilz and now most of the odor is gone. If the rest does not go...

fairtradetobacco.com

 

[Oldfella]

Here it is:

Brown Thumbs Walk In kiln, Flue Cure, Attempt

This is what I got Guys & Gals for starters. I had a Nile Kiln In this insulated room for drying wood when I made flooring. The problem was it had a acid odor I did not like from the Oak i dried in it. Last year I repainted It with kilz and now most of the odor is gone. If the rest does not go...

fairtradetobacco.com

Looks expensive and a bit to complicated for the average person. I still say KISS (keep it simple stupid). No offense intended here, I like to play with gadgets too. I wouldn't like to see someone burn their house down because they got a wire or something wrong.
Cheers Oldfella

 

[Brown Thumb]

Looks expensive and a bit to complicated for the average person. I still say KISS (keep it simple stupid). No offense intended here, I like to play with gadgets too. I wouldn't like to see someone burn their house down because they got a wire or something wrong.
Cheers Oldfella

That’s what I carry a lot of insurance.

 

[Oldfella]

Your probably OK with it I was just mentioning it as advice for people who have no experience in this field. I usually have a failsafe device installed somewhere in the system. I used to (when I was working)
Do destructive testing on pressure vessels pipes and fittings. It was all good fun, but one went wrong and demolished a shed that I used for cycling testing (an estimated life usually 15-20000
Cycles) I had been in there moments before. Made me more cautious. Enough of my rambling.
Cheers Oldfella

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I'm surprised you all haven't come over to the dark side like I did years ago. Get rid of your humidifying devices, put your moistened tobacco in a container with a lid (anything from a jar to a plastic tub). Now all you need is a heat source. Well, you still need a box..aka Kiln but you don't have to worry about a humidifier anymore.

 

[Oldfella]

I don't worry about humidity, I am in my second childhood and am allowed to play with bigger toys.


Good fun, loved my work. Cheers Oldfella

 

[Charly]

I agree with @Jitterbugdude : I use jars with low/medium cased leaves directly in the kiln. Ease of mind, no humidity device.
I feel more comfortable with no extra humidity in an electric device running for so many hours...

But to each his own, everyone is free to try the methods he want.

 

[Chillucky]

If this were a kiln only, I would be inclined to KISS it. But, this is an attempt to build a somewhat automated and autonomous combination flue curing _and_ kilning chamber.

As such, I will need humidity control.

I am not oblivious to safety and electric and mechanical redundancy and fail-safes. I have professional engineers at work (mold making) who have promised to look over my design once finalized.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

When I sold my previous house which included a flue curing shed, I removed the electrical lines. I didn't feel comfortable leaving someone else with my handiwork. That was perhaps revealing about my confidence in whether I designed everything right or not.

 

[Oldfella]

When I sold my previous house which included a flue curing shed, I removed the electrical lines. I didn't feel comfortable leaving someone else with my handiwork. That was perhaps revealing about my confidence in whether I designed everything right or not.

Hi China, removing the equipment was a good idea in my opinion, that way you can't be at fault if it did happen to go wrong. Peace of mind is what it's all about. My post was aimed at newbies not experienced people. I have a relative who is great at the pulling apart bit but rubbish at the putting Back together bit.
You can get into a bit of a disaster area there if you're not carefull.
Cheers Oldfella

 

[Chillucky]

After reading and re-reading some of the curing threads here, I have decided that a vent is absolutely necessary.

In an empty box, it's logical that turning off the humidity source and raising the temp would lower the RH in the system. Warmer air can hold more moisture, so there is a predictable relationship between temperature and RH. IN AIR.

In a chamber whose volume is is between one and two thirds full of wet organic matter with it's own moisture releasing agenda, I have come around to thinking that a control for driving off humidity will be necessary.

Thanks to everyone here for sharing their experiences and forcing me to think of the practical over the theoretical.

 

[Robncars]

@Chillucky check out my flue chamber build. I will try to post the controller i used. Couple things might change, but so far its working. So far my problem has been keeping the humidity up. Absolutely no need for a vent.

 

[dev96]

Not to toot my own horn here but the hardware in the build I just posted will do both jobs in a cabinet that can take curing temps.

Easy wiring, easy parts to buy, cheap, replaceable, will last forever, no fiddling and above all safe.

Curing Cabinet Build

First post but I wanted to share my curing build after gleaning information from here, figured it's fair to give back. We have a small farm in central Florida and grow 200 plants each spring and fall. We were growing Virginia Gold and Rustica for novelty but are switching over our mainstay to...

fairtradetobacco.com