Most Frequently Asked Questions
What components are used in the construction of the building?
The kilns are made of specially made panels consisting of 6" of polystyrene foam insulation as the core, with .032 thick white painted aluminum bonded to both sides for permanent resistance to the highly corrosive atmosphere which can sometimes happen with certain woods. There is no metal to metal contact from the outside to the inside, which would cause heat loss, nor is there any need for studs or rafters of any kind. The buildings, depending upon which one, are totally self-supporting or are supported by the fan baffle in the middle of the building.
What type of insulation is used in the Northland Kilns? What is its R factor?
The insulation used in all Northland Kilns is expanded polystyrene, typically 6" thick which has an R value of 2.43 per inch or R-26.
What maintenance is required with the kilns?
The kilns are virtually maintenance free. The kiln carts have greasable bearings and it is recommended they be given an occasional shot of grease.
What size fans are used in the kilns?
In all but the two smaller sized kilns 16" aluminum fans are used. The fans are driven by 1725 RPM 1/4 hp TEAO motors.
Is it necessary to use kiln coatings as is done in other kilns?
It is not necessary to use a kiln coating in any of the Northland Kilns as they are all coated with white, baked on paint which is virtually indestructible in the kiln atmosphere. If it is damaged, the thick aluminum underneath will retard any corrosion.
Some kilns come complete with electric heat, are other heat sources available?
The 800 bf, 3000 through 5000 bf kilns come complete with electric heat. Gas or wood waste hot water boilers are available for the larger kilns or you can choose to heat the kiln with any other means you might have available.
Are the controls weatherproof?
Typically, the controls are enclosed in a NEMA approved weather tight box, which can be located on the side of the building.
What kind of rail system is used?
The rail system consists of 1" angle iron, which is bolted to the floor inside of the kiln. They are permanently mounted and remain in place.
What type of cart system is used?
The kiln carts are made up of welded steel channel specially designed to be stacked by hand or forklift. Each cart has four roller bearing greasable wheels, which require very little maintenance.
How is the Northland Kiln shipped?
The kiln panels are all pre-formed at the factory, carefully packaged and crated for shipment via common carrier. The fans, motors, controls, etc. may accompany the building or possibly arrive via UPS separately. Of course, any other appropriate arrangements can be made.
Are electrical components included in the purchase price?
All major electrical components are included with each building. The controls, fans, motors, lights, switches, etc. are all included. Wiring and conduit are to be furnished by your electrician because each control mount will be different.
What happens if the structure accidentally gets damaged?
If the building accidentally gets punctured all that needs to be done is to cover the hole with a patch and rivet it in place. Of course, it is recommended to seal the patch with silicone to prevent any moisture penetration.
Can the kiln be loaded and unloaded by one person?
The kiln can be loaded by hand or by forklift easily by one person. The kiln carts are equipped with wheels with roller bearings, and even though the carts are fully loaded they can be rolled into position easily by one person.
Can one person remove the loading door?
The main loading doors are constructed of the same panel material as the kiln itself. The doors are lightweight and can easily be moved by one person.
Can dimension stock be dried in the Northland Kiln?
The kilns are excellently suited for drying dimension stock. "Sticker matts", designed by the University of Minnesota are used and make handling shorter pieces extremely fast and easy.
Can house logs be dried in the Northland Kiln?
Some of our kilns are long and narrow, ideally suited to drying a batch of house logs.
What are the controls like?
The controls are mainly off the shelf components. A dial type thermometer is used to determine the dry bulb wet bulb conditions. A simple dial type rheostat is used to control the temperature. A percentage cycle timer is used to control the amount of time the exhaust system is working.
Are kiln schedules included with the Northland Kiln?
A full set of kiln schedules is included with each kiln. The schedules are based on the long used schedules published in the "Dry Kiln Operators Handbook". Of course kiln schedules are mainly a guide and they may have to be adjusted to meet special needs.
What is the maximum temperatures that can be reached in the Northland Kiln?
It is now believed that lumber dried at a lower temperature is brighter, less brittle and has less stress than that dried at the higher temperatures, therefore the Northland Kilns have been designed to operate at a maximum of 150 degrees.
Can the Northland Kiln be used with a dehumidification unit?
The Northland Kilns are designed for cycle venting, however, they can easily and cheaply be adapted to be used with a dehumidification system if desired.
Do weather conditions affect the drying process?
Weather conditions will affect the drying process as the drying process requires removing humidity from the air. From our experience, however, the rate of drying is only minimally affected because of outside humidity.
How much time is required on a daily basis to operate the kiln?
We recommend recording kiln conditions at least once a day on a 24 hour cycle. Twice daily in some cases would be preferable. The time required each time is about 5 minutes.
Is it necessary to weight the lumber charge?
The value of weighting the top of each charge of lumber is still in question, however, based on our experience, especially with dimension stock, it is advisable to place weights on top of the charge of lumber to help retard any defecting from occurring.
Can the insulation become waterlogged and lose its insulation value?
The polystyrene insulation is nearly impervious to water absorption and even if the metal skin is damaged it will not become waterlogged nor will it lose its R value over time.
What stickers are used in the Northland Kiln?
All outer stickers measure 1/2" thick by 1-1/4" wide. The air passing through the stickered charges will travel a maximum of 8'. Our experience indicates this short distance, coupled with the narrow sticker works quite well.
How long does it take to dry lumber?
Only a fixed maximum amount of moisture can he removed from lumber in a 24 hour period without damaging it. The Northland Kilns, because they vent the hot moist air hourly, are capable of drying at a rate comparable to that of a steam kiln.
What are the door seals like and how often should they be replaced?
The door seals consist of simple hardware store weather stripping. It works very well as a seal and if it does become damaged you simply cut-out the damaged portion and replace it with a new inexpensive piece.
Where are the controls located?
The controls can be located anywhere it is convenient to have them. They are typically mounted on the side of or on the front at each kiln at eye level.
What is involved in assembling the Northland Kiln?
The kiln is delivered as a package of pre-cut, numbered panels and assembled doors and doorjambs. The package includes all the components needed to assemble the kiln, silicone, screws, rivets, controls, etc. The electrical components are included and it is suggested you have an electrician final wire the electrical components.
Are the Northland Kilns portable?
The Northland Kilns, depending upon size can be assembled on a wooden base if portability is desired. The smaller unit, the 800 bf unit, is a complete unit, completely assembled, and is fully portable.
What is the life expectancy of the Northland Kiln?
Because of the nature of the building components used, polystyrene insulation, painted aluminum, plastic, etc., the life expectancy of the Northland Kilns should be indefinite.
Does Northland Kilns maintain a supply of kiln replacement parts?
Most of the mechanical components of the Northland Kilns are off the shelf items available at your local hardware store, Graingers, etc. For these few items which are not "off the shelf" Northland maintains as stock, items which are available for immediate shipment.
How is baffling accomplished in the Northland Kilns?
Each Northland Kiln uses a weighed tarp across the top of each lumber charge to insure that the air passes through the stickered charge instead of over it. It is suggested that the ends be baffled too, with plywood sheathing to insure that all the air passes through the charge.
Does the Northland Kiln use a chart recorder?
A chart recorder is not used in order to help keep cost down. By recording in a log daily you can create your own drying record which takes only minutes a day.
Is it necessary to equalize and condition the lumber?
It is necessary to equalize and condition lumber if an aggressive drying schedule is followed, hardwoods especially are prone to develop stresses while drying and this stress must be neutralized before the lumber is used in a product.
Can I have a Northland Kiln custom designed for my specific needs?
We can work with you to custom design a kiln for your specific needs. the panel construction used allows us great freedom to design for specific and unique sizes. Our kilns are truly modular and we can design a number of chambers, or individual kilns, into one building.