David O'BrienMay 28, 2023

Spent the weekend building and filling a #SolarKiln ... which is a thing for rapidly drying firewood without any additional fuel.

In Scotland, it can take a year or more to season wood. The idea here is to accelerate that process by increasing the temperature.

Show threadDavid O'BrienMay 28, 2023
It sounds very high-tech – and you can spend hundreds or thousands of pounds on these things. But I opted to build a low-cost alternative involving a 30 quid plastic greenhouse from #Lidl and 3 pallets we retrieved from neighbours who wanted shot of them anyway.
Show threadDavid O'BrienMay 28, 2023

I knackered my back about a month ago loading pallets into our car. They were sodden, and weighed about 30kg each.

Anyway, I reckon the temperature in there will get up to ~35-40ºC this week, given our weather forecast.

Show threadDavid O'BrienMay 28, 2023

I'll measure actual temperatures over the coming days and record them here.

Meanwhile, here's what the contraption looks like (trigger warning: it looks like a £30 Lidl greenhouse, 3 pallets, and half a tonne of wood.)

Show threadDavid O'BrienMay 28, 2023
The wood slopes downward to the left because that's the south. So it should admit maximum sunlight and, as the wood contracts and settles, it should migrate northwards – where there is full-size support.
Show threadDavid O'BrienMay 28, 2023

It's a #prototype, I suppose.We'll see how it goes.

The frame is tethered to the pallets and half a tonne of wood, and also guyed to the fence behind.

So it should withstand anything but the worst winter storm.

Worst thing that can happen is I have half a tonne of damp wood ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Show threadCiaraMay 28, 2023
@iamdavidobrien Everything about this is wonderful. I follow the #ClimateDiary hashtag and this is the kind of thing that gives hope and motivates - somebody doing something hands-on, imaginative, constructive. And using an accessible-for-all Lidl model! I look forward to following the solar kiln's progress.
Show threadDavid O'BrienMay 28, 2023

It's not really a solution. Very few people have a a garden like ours. Or access to a local tree surgeon, whose wood is mostly from trimming rather than felling.

It cost >£3k to install a woodburner, and we already had a chimney.

Our stove gets us through the shoulder months, but we still rely on gas in the winter.

@CiaraNi

Show threadDavid O'Brien

But we do our best.

What else can we do?

@CiaraNi

May 28, 2023 at 9:42pmWeb
Show threadCiaraMay 28, 2023
@iamdavidobrien This is it - we can only do our best. And every time one person does something, or tries something, however niche, it is collectively motivating.