BarG
Founding Member
Yum Yum! Get a good handfull, and we'll have a wormfest. Until then I'm going for venison backstrap this eve.
Leverhead's Flue Cure experiment
- Thread starter leverhead
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leverhead
Well-Known Member
This first picture is most of the modifications to the fridge. The sheet metal cover for where the original refrigeration unit was removed was cut down from a shelf that came with the fridge. There is a hole cut under the blower for the air inlet, a hole in the lower left area for the inlet vent. It's a square common area under the sheet metal that is open to the inside of the box. In the upper right hand area is top of the return pipe that goes to the bottom of the box, it also serves as the outlet vent. There's a round plate with a hole in it that suspends the heat element (middle right attached to the orange cord) in the return pipe, that can be offset to bleed air from the system. That heater element is from a blow drier, DO NOT DO THIS! When the RH is hi in the first half of the cure, it leaks like crazy and is dangerous! I won't be using this again this year, but it got me by for the drier, second half of the cure.
Picture two is from the inside of the box looking up at the the squirrel cage.
Pictures three and four are of the return pipe inside the box. I thought I would be smart to do it this way so I didn't need to worry about insulating it. Bad idea, it just gets in the way racking leaf. This year it's going outside the box.
My search for a permanent heater element hasn't ended yet. Right now it's looking like an electric charcoal starter, suspended in the air return pipe.
Picture two is from the inside of the box looking up at the the squirrel cage.
Pictures three and four are of the return pipe inside the box. I thought I would be smart to do it this way so I didn't need to worry about insulating it. Bad idea, it just gets in the way racking leaf. This year it's going outside the box.
My search for a permanent heater element hasn't ended yet. Right now it's looking like an electric charcoal starter, suspended in the air return pipe.
cool
awsome refrigerator! I got to have one like that, for your first try at flue curing you did a lot of things right. I had not read the last 50 or so posts until just now and I am very impressed with what you accomplished and shared on this thread.
Dr.Bob
awsome refrigerator! I got to have one like that, for your first try at flue curing you did a lot of things right. I had not read the last 50 or so posts until just now and I am very impressed with what you accomplished and shared on this thread.
Dr.Bob
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leverhead
Well-Known Member
Thank you!! A fridge about half this size would be about right, I think this one would handle 400-500 (easily) plants with a three leaf prime. The drum was quite the PIA! There's allot of DAMMIT's you don't see and there's plenty of room for improvements. With you and Lefty on it also, what it should/could look like will be much clearer by the end of the season.
I think the controllers have been pretty much nailed down. Getting a controller hooked up to the vents will still take some imagination. The heat source is down to details, for ease of use and first cost, electric is the way to go. Getting the blower cost down could stand some work. Growing suitable leaf, the variety and growing conditions, then getting the racking right could still take some time. It's going to be a good year!
I think the controllers have been pretty much nailed down. Getting a controller hooked up to the vents will still take some imagination. The heat source is down to details, for ease of use and first cost, electric is the way to go. Getting the blower cost down could stand some work. Growing suitable leaf, the variety and growing conditions, then getting the racking right could still take some time. It's going to be a good year!
Brown Thumb
Well-Known Member
For a heating element how about a electric heating element like a Coleman installed in the top, on the return side of the air loop?
I do have a lot nailed down at this time. I broke down and ordered a blower, I pulled 3 draft inducer blowers out of gas furnaces and they just wernt compatible. I got a new blower for $29.95 from surplus center. I need a thermostat yet did you find the ranco etc 111000 satisfactory?
I've got one in my kiln. Not programable. It works fine. -- J
I don't think the Ranco can be beat, especially for a flue-curing chamber, as you set whatever temp you want, for the different curing phases. Not a bad price now, $60 with shipping.
http://www.climatedoctors.com/RANCO-ETC-111000-Digital-Cold-Temperature-Control-NEW
I just got a 2nd one to use for the flue-cure chamber, as it'll be a PITA to move between this and the fermenting chamber.
(edit) Oops, it just dawned on me. With the 2 chambers/freezers sitting side-by-side, and an 8 ft cord on the temp probe, that's all that has to be relocated. I feel stupid now.
http://www.climatedoctors.com/RANCO-ETC-111000-Digital-Cold-Temperature-Control-NEW
I just got a 2nd one to use for the flue-cure chamber, as it'll be a PITA to move between this and the fermenting chamber.
(edit) Oops, it just dawned on me. With the 2 chambers/freezers sitting side-by-side, and an 8 ft cord on the temp probe, that's all that has to be relocated. I feel stupid now.
leverhead
Well-Known Member
The RANCO worked great for me, it was the most trouble free thing I bought! Once you get through one season doing the the temperature changes manually, you'll want a ramp function also! I see a flue-curing/fermenting chamber as one piece of equipment, for flue-curing you'll use it 5-7 weeks, the rest of the time it's a fermenting chamber. Don't feel bad for buying a "spare" controller, some day it will come in handy.
leverhead
Well-Known Member
The RANCO is a good, reliable thermostat! I'm thinking of using mine to control the vents, it would only need to be reset a few times during the cure (I can handle that). I'm dragging my feet picking out a programmable controller for the heat.
leverhead
Well-Known Member
Thank's! Our world headquarters used to be in my garage.
AmaxB
Well-Known Member
Your heat is coming from the duct inside or the cage blower at the top?
If from the duct something like this might work if there is no wet air..
http://mobilehomepartsstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=210130
If from the duct something like this might work if there is no wet air..
http://mobilehomepartsstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=210130
AmaxB
Well-Known Member
With the PIDs many can hold a give number of programs with X number steps (set points) to a program. If looking at a PID that will allow 8 steps and can hold 4 programs you could use a program per cure phase than jump to next program for the next phase (just an example)
leverhead
Well-Known Member
I have the heat in the pipe returning air back to the bottom of the fridge, a pair of 550 W charcoal starters. I have a 1600 W open coil I can use late in the cycle when it's pretty dry, but I wouldn't recommend it! It makes me nervous and I'm used to a dangerous environment.
I'm going to get through this year ('13) as is, then part it out and rebuild as a kiln. The blower has the stuff to work in a rack system, but that may not come until '15.
BarG
Founding Member
I want a shop like that!
leverhead
Well-Known Member
I want a shop like that!
This is last years thread! I'm happy with the shop, warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
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