Here's a few pics of my solar kiln, fairly simple arrangement, (using the KISS principle) recycled shower screens, a fan out of a range hood and some ply, generally the idea is to separate the stack from the heated air (and the direct sun) but then direct the heated air thru the stack to be heated again in a continual loop.
As it is I only use it for already dry stuff say <20% that way distortion is minimal and I can get MC down to single digits, if I were to use it to dry wetter stuff there needs to be a greater level of control and complexity which may or may not happen?
I have measured 50°C in the kiln, so if ambient conditions were 25°C and 50% RH but inside the kiln at 50°C RH would be about 13%, even if it were 25 and 80%RH ambient in the kiln it would be about 20% RH, it only takes a short while to lower the MC of thin veneers.
Attachment 310620Attachment 310618Attachment 310621Attachment 310622Attachment 310617Attachment 310619Attachment 310623
I use 7x7mm as stickers, I was using cardboard, which was OK but had a few issues, also note the stacking at an angle at the back, I do this to try and get even airflow thru each layer of the stack.
Pete