Drying milled wood using refrigeration?

[jimdad07]

I have an idea I would like to run by you guys. If I ever get that 28" bar that I ordered back before the first coming of Christ and I actually get to mill some lumber, I don't want to have to wait a year to use the lumber. I have an old R-22 medium temp. condensing unit I can use along with a homemade evaporator coil (1/2" soft copper and 1-ton TXV) I would like to turn into a sort of dehumidifier box with a couple of heater coils to drive the moisture out of the wood. I know you can freeze dry material, I was wondering if you could do it to dry milled lumber in small batches. Look forward to hearing back.

 

[BobL]

I have an idea I would like to run by you guys. If I ever get that 28" bar that I ordered back before the first coming of Christ and I actually get to mill some lumber, I don't want to have to wait a year to use the lumber. I have an old R-22 medium temp. condensing unit I can use along with a homemade evaporator coil (1/2" soft copper and 1-ton TXV) I would like to turn into a sort of dehumidifier box with a couple of heater coils to drive the moisture out of the wood. I know you can freeze dry material, I was wondering if you could do it to dry milled lumber in small batches. Look forward to hearing back.

yes it can be done.

Just search for freeze drying wood and you will see a lot of references to it
eg http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Alternative_lumber_drying_techniques.html

 

[gene1605]

drying wood

yes it can be done.

Just search for freeze drying wood and you will see a lot of references to it
eg http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Alternative_lumber_drying_techniques.html

Air has mutch less moisture at O degres with 100 % humidity than
100 degres with 100 % humidity

 

[jimdad07]

yes it can be done.

Just search for freeze drying wood and you will see a lot of references to it
eg http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Alternative_lumber_drying_techniques.html

Thanks Bob, by the way, I enjoyed your milling vacation thread. Very talented with your work.

 

[BobL]

Thanks Bob, by the way, I enjoyed your milling vacation thread. Very talented with your work.

Cheers Jimdad.

My non-milling friends and acquaintances think I'm slightly mad as their idea of a vacation is going to a resort and laying by a pool getting sunburnt with a drink at hand. Even the thought of that makes me a little uncomfortable. When we go camping I usually bring my used chains along to sharpen. The bonus about doing this is sight of someone sharpening a 60" chain at a campsite seems to help keep the riff-raff away.

 

[Brmorgan]

Yep my firewood dries out just as well in really cold weather as it does in the summer heat.

 

[rarefish383]

Bob, I kinda like the idea of kicking Back next to the pool with a cold one, After milling all day. Better yet kicking back on the beech, after milling, watching the cuties go buy, with a cold one, Joe.

 

[BobL]

Bob, I kinda like the idea of kicking Back next to the pool with a cold one, After milling all day. Better yet kicking back on the beech, after milling, watching the cuties go buy, with a cold one, Joe.

You want beaches - we got beaches coming out of our ears!

About 30 minutes from the place where I go for my milling vacation is this one.
It's called Greens pool

This is the busiest it gets all year because they hold swimming classes there - usually there is no more than about 50 people there.

Just around the corner from the one above is this one - its called Elephant COve

About 20 miles further down the coast is my favorite is this one - Circus beach - you cannot drive there. It's only accessible by boat or a 10 mile hike through prickly scrub.

And just around the corner is this little beauty also only accessible by boat. Every year we go there just for breakfast and a spot of fishing.

 

[irishcountry]

Bob your one lucky guy!!!! Stunning views!!

 

[rayvil01]

They have the prettiest beaches near Perth you'll ever see.

But, the wind tends to come up in the afternoon. I got sandblasted on a beach near Freemantle.

And, Bob, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the flies come out in the p.m. also? Something about the "W.A. Salute?"

 

[Brmorgan]

Bob, I'm not much of a traveler myself since I can't justify the money spent most of the time, but Australia has always been one of the few places I'd really like to visit in my life. Those beaches are great. We have some amazing beaches here on the coast of BC too, but the water isn't as clear and blue, and the climate isn't as nice. The surfing is great though if you can brave the cold water!

 

[BobL]

They have the prettiest beaches near Perth you'll ever see.

Perth beaches are nice bit can get a bit crowded. Those beaches are 250 miles south of Perth. I'm greedy I know but I l

But, the wind tends to come up in the afternoon. I got sandblasted on a beach near Freemantle.

Yep - morning is usually best although late evening if the Fremantle Doctor (sea breeze) dies away can be a magic time.

And, Bob, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the flies come out in the p.m. also? Something about the "W.A. Salute?"

Flies are variable now they have imported "dung beetles". Certainly a lot less than their used to be.

 

[rarefish383]

Thanks for those pics, I'm on my way! I live in Western Maryland, and have a small farm in West Virginia, about 2 1/2 hour drive. I'm also about 2 1/2 hours from the Atlantic and about an hour to the Chesapeake Bay. It's really nice that I can be on the shore one day and in the mountains the next. But, I've got nothing to compare to those pictures.

I remember back in the early 60's my folks were thinking about moving to Australia. My Dad had worked for the Embassy in DC and they gave him a pamphlet recruiting people to "Come on down". He was a "Licensed Tree Expert", and as I recall, the Government down there was paying most or all of the relocating expenses. As a kid of 12 or 14 years old I was pumped. One of my favorite movies was the Sun Downers. I thougt it would be like moving to one of the last frontiers on earth. Plus, I always dreamed of hunting one of those big Water Buffalo/Oxen. Some day I'll make a visit, Joe.

 

[BobL]

I trawled my photo collection.
I have so many more I don't know where to start but here's one more you might like to see.