Kiln Questions

[Northern Light Up]

If you have a sealed kiln, why do you need a crock pot? The moisture can't go anywhere in a sealed unit. It seems it would be too moist way too easily.

Why not just seal it up tight and put fans inside so air circulates?

Is fresh air necessary?

I am referring to a kiln to age air cured tobacco. Maybe some information I have read mixes up the kiln ageing with flue curing.

 

[DGBAMA]

As temperature goes up, the ability of air to hold moisture increases, so rh goes down.

If you start with 80deg and 70% rh, by the time you reach kilning temp of 125 or so, RH will drop too low, unless you add additional moisture.

 

[Northern Light Up]

DGBAMA - That makes sense.

Would it be possible to calculate cubic footage of the inside of the kiln and add a specific amount of water to get the required RH?

The heat inside the kiln would evaporate the water so I'm not sure about the use of the crock pot.

It seems the crock pot would either have too much water in it causing too much moisture or would dry out causing damage.

 

[deluxestogie]

I've run a Crockpot in one of my kilns for 4 years continuously (i.e. it has not been shut off for 4+ years). It is set on "Lo." I add 1.5 cups of water to it every 4 days. In between, it runs completely dry. Its power is routed through a water heater thermostat set for 125ºF. Despite the kiln's weather seals at the opening, it's not hermetically sealed. It loses its contained water in about 4 days. Adding tap water to the hot, dry Crockpot has been well tolerated. No damage to the Crockpot, kiln or tobacco.

But this is just a test. I'll let you know the final results in about 4 more years.

This is really simple technology. The tobacco within the kiln has plenty of air to work with, so it really doesn't need continuous fresh air.

"Would it be possible...?" You can make this as complicated and as expensive as you like. The fundamental requirements are heat (typically 120-130ºF for 4 weeks), and that the leaf be in case most of the time.

Bob

 

[grgfinney]

Fresh air is not necessary I am now kilning in airtight containers from lowe's just mist the leaves when you put them in and check once a week, the crockpot is the cheapest heat source also did it this way no no addition of water is necessary by my wife who doesn't share my obsession

 

[DrBob]

Fresh air is not necessary I am now kilning in airtight containers from lowe's just mist the leaves when you put them in and check once a week, the crockpot is the cheapest heat source also did it this way no no addition of water is necessary by my wife who doesn't share my obsession

I do not think you know what you are talking about. some venting is absolutely necessary.

 

[deluxestogie]

I do not think you know what you are talking about. some venting is absolutely necessary.

If you place green leaf into a chamber in order to color-cure it, it certainly requires venting, since 90% of the weight of the leaf is water. Once it is color-cured, the process of kilning (forced aging) seems to require no intentional venting.

Bob

 

[grgfinney]

I was referring to kilning color cured leaf as was stated in the beginning of thread

 

[Chicken]

I kiln my colour cured bacca with no crock pot.but I have kiln separated. One side cures.while the other side cooks it. Moisture is important to keep it from drying green.