China Voodoo's Invertebrate Kiln

[ChinaVoodoo]

I'm using a temperature controller.


Temperature is produced by two 40W incandescent bulbs which hang inside an aluminum tube, with forced air provided full time by a 110V fan purchased at princess auto.
The tube is bent so it blows air from the bottom to the top.






Tobacco is in resealable parts-bags in a brewing primary on a wire spool.





Next post will go through construction.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I used one sheet of foam insulation 4"thick, by 4'x8'. I cut it into six equally sized sheets, 32"x 24".

I used foam board adhesive to connect it together, and to calk the seams on the inside. 2 tubes. Could have used more. I let it dry for 24 hrs before adding aluminum tape to the outside. I was sure to have the uncut edges on top to have a smooth side to put weather stripping on.











I drilled a hole for power and sensors - seen in first post - and plugged it with a leftover piece of piping insulation from another project.

I loosely placed tiles in the bottom and around the walls.



The lid is sealed with rubber, marine weather stripping. Ten/twenty pounds of weight on top ensures a perfect seal.



Inside dimensions are 16"w x 24"l x 32"h
Outside dimensions are 24"w x 32"l x 40"h

 

[Snowblithe]

Do you call it 'invertebrate' because the insulation is also the structure (no 'skeleton') or because the aluminium ducting looks a bit like a grub? It looks like a refined piece of engineering either way.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Do you call it 'invertebrate' because the insulation is also the structure (no 'skeleton') or because the aluminium ducting looks a bit like a grub? It looks like a refined piece of engineering either way.

I called it that because @Knucklehead's is exoskeletal, and @deluxestogie's is endoskeletal.

 

[Snowblithe]

I called it that because @Knucklehead's is exoskeletal, and @deluxestogie's is endoskeletal.

Ah, I was on the right track but I wasn't aware of the context. You guys are awesome.

 

[Iowalez]

Nice job!

I'm going to build something similar (but larger) next summer from SIPs sheets, structural insulation panels. I have three big stacks of 2,3, and 4 inch thick sheets at my disposal. My son works at a factory that makes SIPs for building projects around the world, and gets all the rejects he wants for free. I hauled a 1 ton load up here from his house and I still have most of it. A four inch thick, 4 x8 sheet weighs about 17 pounds. I'm going to build it out on my deck, by the exterior electrical outlets.

 

[Knucklehead]

That’s awesome. You may have just built the perfect kiln. Even members without access to tools could build that quite easily. Simple, but well thought out, super insulated, and you kept waste to a minimum. I’m stoked.

 

[deluxestogie]

In case nobody noticed, this spineless project made it onto the Index of Key Forum Threads after only its first post. Since seal and insulation are the sine qua non of a good kiln, this one should be inexpensive to operate (except for the cost of a full-time translator to read all that French).

Bob

 

[Yultanman]

Looks great.
Id recommend to use a zap strap on that nail instead of live electrical cable hanging on metal. Just good practice to avoid such situations.
Anyways awesome work!!

 

[smoknron]

Nice work ! I like how your using the incandescent bulbs for the heat source!

 

[stuart1]

Very cool, I like this a lot and seems very doable in terms of making one. How important is it to have the fan? Seems like a car part? Thanks for sharing, hope it brings some great results.

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Very cool, I like this a lot and seems very doable in terms of making one. How important is it to have the fan? Seems like a car part? Thanks for sharing, hope it brings some great results.

The fan is essential. Without it one side of the kiln would be warmer than the other. The light bulb side of the tobacco would be warm and the other side would mold.

Keeping the bucket off the floor, and not touching the ceiling or walls, with air circulating around it ensures that the temperature inside the bucket is constant.

 

[stuart1]

The fan is essential. Without it one side of the kiln would be warmer than the other. The light bulb side of the tobacco would be warm and the other side would mold.

Keeping the bucket off the floor, and not touching the ceiling or walls, with air circulating around it ensures that the temperature inside the bucket is constant.

Thanks, this is really handy to know - I will look into some UK equivalents of these fans. Makes sense to keep an even temperature within the box especially with consideration to mold and moisture regulation. Look forward to following for your results.

 

[deluxestogie]

Although I consider a fan to be important within a Crockpot-heated (convection driven) kiln, I believe a fan is even more crucial within a kiln utilizing mostly radiant heat. Since light (or other radiant frequency) follows a straight path, there is always a shadow side that does not receive any direct radiance.

Bob

 

[SmokingCrow]

Hi China, this design suits me perfectly; I can use it for brewing wine/beer and as well as curing tobacco.
I was under the impression the leaves had to hang in the kiln, and in this case they're in a bucket.
Please let me know how you control humidity and how the leaves are packed into the bucket.
Cheers

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Please let me know how you control humidity

The humidity is controlled by the fact that the tobacco is inside a bucket.

 

[SmokingCrow]

The humidity is controlled by the fact that the tobacco is inside a bucket.

Great, thanks. I've a few ex brewing buckets; in the meantime, I can build it and brew somthing....

 

[Clatsopnehalem]

I love the simplicity and super accessible thank you for posting

 

[Yug]

Thanks for the information.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

@ChinaVoodoo I know this is an older post but I was curious about how much tobacco you can fit in your kiln at a time?