Frequently asked questions |
I already have a method to dry wood. Why would I want to use a vacuum kiln to dry wood instead?
There are many advantages of using a vacuum kiln compared to other wood drying methods. Here are a few: It provides the quickest results—dry wood in just one to three days. It greatly reduces the likelihood of drying defects such as checking and cracking. Wood can be dried to any moisture content regardless of environmental conditions. Vacuum kiln drying can also save valuable shop space because the shorter turnaround time between acquiring and using it means less material in inventory. Additional advantages are detailed in the book.
Does this book cover advanced applications or is it more for beginners?
Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers is written for people just starting out, with no prior knowledge of vacuum kiln drying. For people with experience looking to add to your knowledge, please note that this book does not include information on:
I have a SawStop® saw and need to be sure my lumber is dry on the inside so the safety system doesn't engage when I'm cutting wood. Will this kiln enable me to dry my lumber to a specific moisture content throughout each piece?
If you use a SawStop® saw to cut wood that seems dry on the outside but actually has a high moisture content inside, the safety system could engage, destroying the expensive single-use brake cartridge and blade in the process. Using vacuum kiln dried wood, you can be assured that the moisture content is consistent throughout each piece of wood. In fact, equalizing the moisture content from the core to the surface of wood is unique to the physics of drying wood with a vacuum kiln. No more guessing if that wood is completely dry inside and out. Trust your moisture meter again, and get to work!
How much technical expertise is needed to build the vacuum kiln drying chamber and dry my wood?
Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers provides clear and concise details on how to build your kiln, including where to get special parts unique to this project. In addition, you will need some common tools and supplies available from most hardware stores, plus basic mechanical skills and a can-do attitude.
What is the largest size of wood I can dry with this setup?
You can build the vacuum kiln to any size you want based on the size of wood you wish to dry. The example detailed in the book is 13" diameter by 3' long although several other examples both larger and smaller are shown. Scaling up to a 24” diameter by 9' length can also be made with parts that are readily available. For larger systems, you can fabricate a container to your preferred dimensions, as long as it can withstand the forces created by the vacuum. In most cases, as the size increases, so do the costs.
How much will the whole vacuum kiln drying setup cost?
The design presented in the book typically costs around $500 including the vacuum pump and several optional items. It could be more if you need to fabricate a very large chamber, or less depending on which optional items you include and if you already own a suitable vacuum pump. Other options shown in the book enable you to vacuum dry wood for as little as $200 or as much as $1000. In any case, the overall cost to build the vacuum drying system detailed in Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers compared to the cost of wood used by many woodworkers is negligible.
How long will it take to build the vacuum kiln drying chamber and dry my wood?
Once you have all the parts, you could build the chamber in a single day. Drying a load of wood in the chamber takes anywhere from half a day to a few days, depending on the beginning moisture content.
Is there a vacuum kiln drying kit I can purchase with all the parts I need?
Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers does not offer an all-in-one kit but instead details everything you need (and need to do) in order to build your own vacuum drying chamber. It also presents a few off-the-shelf chambers that could get you up and running quickly, along with several variations that can be made to further customize the vacuum kiln for your particular situation. It includes a resource directory and links to parts suppliers, as well as troubleshooting tips and answers to common questions.
I have an earlier edition of the book. What's new in the fourth edition compared with the earlier editions?
Every edition includes improvements… the 2nd edition corrected errors and answered questions received from readers of the 1st edition. Section 1 (The Nature of Wood) and Section 2 (How and Why Vacuum Kiln Drying Works) have mostly stayed the same in the following editions. The big changes have been additions to Section 3, 4 and 5. These detail the building of the kiln, examples of other users’ kilns (various sizes and purposes) followed by additional recommended techniques for drying wood with a vacuum kiln. This includes more options for heating wood, measuring the wood temperature, as well as automating the heat and vacuum cycles, including wiring diagrams for the temperature controllers. Additional Q&A has been added throughout the text based on reader questions. There are more photos and diagrams throughout the 120 pages. The current 4th edition was published in 2017.
If I buy the book and decide it's something I'm not really interested in doing, can I return it?
If purchased through this site, you may return Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers for a full refund (less shipping costs and credit card processing fees) for any reason, within one year, no questions asked. If purchased via Amazon.com the return policy and fees are determined by Amazon.
There are many advantages of using a vacuum kiln compared to other wood drying methods. Here are a few: It provides the quickest results—dry wood in just one to three days. It greatly reduces the likelihood of drying defects such as checking and cracking. Wood can be dried to any moisture content regardless of environmental conditions. Vacuum kiln drying can also save valuable shop space because the shorter turnaround time between acquiring and using it means less material in inventory. Additional advantages are detailed in the book.
Does this book cover advanced applications or is it more for beginners?
Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers is written for people just starting out, with no prior knowledge of vacuum kiln drying. For people with experience looking to add to your knowledge, please note that this book does not include information on:
- multi-chamber setups
- commercial vacuum kiln systems
- stabilizing wood with polymers
- staining or dying wood
I have a SawStop® saw and need to be sure my lumber is dry on the inside so the safety system doesn't engage when I'm cutting wood. Will this kiln enable me to dry my lumber to a specific moisture content throughout each piece?
If you use a SawStop® saw to cut wood that seems dry on the outside but actually has a high moisture content inside, the safety system could engage, destroying the expensive single-use brake cartridge and blade in the process. Using vacuum kiln dried wood, you can be assured that the moisture content is consistent throughout each piece of wood. In fact, equalizing the moisture content from the core to the surface of wood is unique to the physics of drying wood with a vacuum kiln. No more guessing if that wood is completely dry inside and out. Trust your moisture meter again, and get to work!
How much technical expertise is needed to build the vacuum kiln drying chamber and dry my wood?
Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers provides clear and concise details on how to build your kiln, including where to get special parts unique to this project. In addition, you will need some common tools and supplies available from most hardware stores, plus basic mechanical skills and a can-do attitude.
What is the largest size of wood I can dry with this setup?
You can build the vacuum kiln to any size you want based on the size of wood you wish to dry. The example detailed in the book is 13" diameter by 3' long although several other examples both larger and smaller are shown. Scaling up to a 24” diameter by 9' length can also be made with parts that are readily available. For larger systems, you can fabricate a container to your preferred dimensions, as long as it can withstand the forces created by the vacuum. In most cases, as the size increases, so do the costs.
How much will the whole vacuum kiln drying setup cost?
The design presented in the book typically costs around $500 including the vacuum pump and several optional items. It could be more if you need to fabricate a very large chamber, or less depending on which optional items you include and if you already own a suitable vacuum pump. Other options shown in the book enable you to vacuum dry wood for as little as $200 or as much as $1000. In any case, the overall cost to build the vacuum drying system detailed in Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers compared to the cost of wood used by many woodworkers is negligible.
How long will it take to build the vacuum kiln drying chamber and dry my wood?
Once you have all the parts, you could build the chamber in a single day. Drying a load of wood in the chamber takes anywhere from half a day to a few days, depending on the beginning moisture content.
Is there a vacuum kiln drying kit I can purchase with all the parts I need?
Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers does not offer an all-in-one kit but instead details everything you need (and need to do) in order to build your own vacuum drying chamber. It also presents a few off-the-shelf chambers that could get you up and running quickly, along with several variations that can be made to further customize the vacuum kiln for your particular situation. It includes a resource directory and links to parts suppliers, as well as troubleshooting tips and answers to common questions.
I have an earlier edition of the book. What's new in the fourth edition compared with the earlier editions?
Every edition includes improvements… the 2nd edition corrected errors and answered questions received from readers of the 1st edition. Section 1 (The Nature of Wood) and Section 2 (How and Why Vacuum Kiln Drying Works) have mostly stayed the same in the following editions. The big changes have been additions to Section 3, 4 and 5. These detail the building of the kiln, examples of other users’ kilns (various sizes and purposes) followed by additional recommended techniques for drying wood with a vacuum kiln. This includes more options for heating wood, measuring the wood temperature, as well as automating the heat and vacuum cycles, including wiring diagrams for the temperature controllers. Additional Q&A has been added throughout the text based on reader questions. There are more photos and diagrams throughout the 120 pages. The current 4th edition was published in 2017.
If I buy the book and decide it's something I'm not really interested in doing, can I return it?
If purchased through this site, you may return Vacuum Kiln Drying for Woodworkers for a full refund (less shipping costs and credit card processing fees) for any reason, within one year, no questions asked. If purchased via Amazon.com the return policy and fees are determined by Amazon.
©2023 vacuumkilndrying.com – All rights reserved.