How to Build a Solar Firewood Kiln
Solar methods of drying firewood are a good intersection of efficient use of natural resources. Free sunlight is used to make locally harvested wood suitable for heating your home. By using a simple solar oven, which will not exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit, firewood may be heated and moisture cooked out safely. This is a green way to produce small amounts of dried firewood for home use. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sturdy cardboard box at least 36 inches on each side and 20 inches deep (with top flaps intact)
- 100-foot roll of heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Metal rack (smaller than the length and width of your box) with 2- to 5-inch legs
- Firewood cut in lengths smaller than width of the box
- Duct tape
- Glue
Instructions
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Building a Solar Firewood Kiln
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1
Apply glue to the inside bottom and walls of the cardboard box and attach aluminum foil (shiny side up) to cover the inside of the box. Overlapping is not a problem--complete coverage is more important.
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2
Repeat Step 1 to cover the inside of the box top flaps with shiny-side aluminum foil.
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3
Place your solar oven in a flat, dry location where it will receive maximum sun exposure, but minimal exposure to water, such as overhead drips or mist.
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4
Carefully place the metal rack centered inside your solar oven. The less damage you do to your oven, the more repeated uses you will have with it.
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5
Place the firewood on the rack in an even layer. A single layer will dry faster, but 8 to 12 inches will dry in a sunny day.
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6
Position the foil-lined top flaps of the box to reflect maximum sunlight into the solar oven. Use strips of duct tape to hold the best positions in place.
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7
After sundown, remove the dried firewood and stack in a dry location. Inspect the kiln. It should be usable for many batches of wood. Patch any torn foil with glue and fresh foil. Shake out any fallen debris before loading the next day's batch.
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Tips & Warnings
After you have determined your best location and top flap positioning, replacing the cardboard box kiln with a painted wooden oven will give you longer use with the kiln.
It is rare for a nonparabolic solar oven to reach temperatures above 200 degrees Fahrenheit. You should be able to leave your kiln all day with no concern. If you are in a hot, dry environment, monitor your first batch of wood drying to ensure the wood is not scorching.
