Wood drying is a crucial step in woodworking, ensuring that the material is stable, durable, and ready for crafting. One of the most efficient and environmentally friendly methods for drying wood is using a solar kiln. You can check out our blog post, Constructing a Solar Kiln, to read about how we built the one that we use on our farm.  In this post, we'll walk you through our process of drying wood to achieve high-quality results.

Building the Foundation: Stacking the Wood

The first step in our wood drying process involves carefully stacking the wood onto self-constructed carts equipped with heavy-duty casters. These carts are essential so that we can stack lumber onto the carts outside of the kiln where we have more room to move around. And then we roll the carts into the kiln once they are full.

Entering the Kiln: The Setup

Once the wood is properly stacked and stickered, we move the carts into the kiln. Our kiln features a unique setup with a front stack and a back stack, optimizing the drying process.

The Result: High-Quality Lumber

By harnessing the power of the sun and ensuring consistent airflow, our solar kiln produces evenly dried wood. This method prevents the common issues of splits and warping, resulting in high-quality lumber ready for any woodworking project.