If you are considering buying a kiln, you will probably have some questions. What types of kilns are correct for me? How much does a kiln cost? What are the installation and maintenance costs? Should I buy a new kiln or a used one?
Kiln drying is one of the most important links in the woodworking industry. No matter if you are a sawmill or a solid wood furniture manufacturer, kiln drying plays a crucial role. For most woodworkers, they have already benefited from quality kiln-dried wood.
In this article, we’ll address these common questions and more, providing you with a clear understanding of the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining a kiln. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision about which kiln is right for your needs and budget.
So, let’s dive into the world of kilns and explore the factors that influence their cost and efficiency.
1. Which Type of Wood Drying Kiln is Best Suited for My Needs?
Wood drying is an exceedingly important subject, particularly with the improvement of productivity and technological progress. Currently, there are several mainstream drying methods available:
- Air drying
- Conventional drying kiln
- Dehumidifier kiln
- Solar drying kiln
- Vacuum wood drying kiln
- High-frequency drying kiln
Selecting the right kiln type requires understanding the advantages and drawbacks of each method. Below is a comparison to help you select the most suitable kiln for your needs.
Air Dry
Working principle: Place the timber in an open area, allowing it to dry naturally with the flow of air.
Advantages: Utilizing natural sunlight and air results in minimal drying costs because of their free availability.
Negative aspects: Drying speed is slow, take several months to years for 1 inch thickness wood depending on conditions.
Conventional Drying Kiln
Working principle: Conventional drying kilns use wet air at normal pressure as the drying medium and steam, hotwater, furnace gas or hot oil as the heat source to indirectly heat the air.
Advantages: Large output, long service life, convenient operation, suitable for large-scale batch material drying and processing.
Negative aspects: Long drying time, especially for thicker wood, may lead to issues such as cracking and warping.
Dehumidifier Kiln
Working Principle: Uses humid air as the drying medium. A dehumidifier or heat pump dries the wood inside the kiln by removing moisture and heating the air.
Advantages: Simple operation, good drying quality, no need for boilers or other equipment, and no pollution.
Negative Aspects: Long drying cycle and relatively expensive.
Solar Drying Kiln
Working Principle: Functions like a solar greenhouse. Sunlight enters through the glazed roof, hitting an internal solar collector that provides the necessary drying heat.
Advantages: Solar energy is a clean and cost-effective renewable resource.
Negative Aspects: Climate conditions can result in prolonged drying cycles, and the initial investment for large and medium-sized solar drying rooms is relatively high. Moreover, low-cost effective energy storage has not been solved yet.
Vacuum Wood Drying Kiln
Working Principle: Drying wood in a closed container below atmospheric pressure, where the moisture inside the wood is speeded up by the pressure difference between the inside and outside.
Because water’s saturation temperature is reduced under vacuum conditions, vacuum drying enables rapid drying at lower temperatures.
Advantages: Quick drying for timbers with 1-2 inch thickness, eco-friendly process under lower temperatures, reduced cracking, deformation, and other issues caused by humidity changes in wood.
Negative aspects: For the thick beams and slabs above 3″ thickness, it is still not long time to dry.
High-Frequency Vacuum Wood Drying Kiln
Working principle: Uses high-frequency medium heating where wet wood acts as the dielectric. In an alternating electromagnetic field, water molecules in the wood rotate at high speed, generating heat. Combines high-frequency medium heating and vacuum low-temperature drying. Which is a relatively fast and low waste rate drying method.
Advantages:
(1) Penetration type uniform heating
(2) Effective energy-saving
(3) Power off and stop immediately, the electrodes are basically not heated, and the working environment is greatly improved
(4) Quick and efficient, completing the drying process in just a few days
(5) Environmentally friendly and energy-saving, removing the need for boilers or other heating sources
(6) Heating thicker objects has more advantages
(7) Environmentally friendly and pollution-free
(8) Reduce labor intensity
(9) Killing Insects & Eggs
Negative aspects: The capacity is small, maximum output per load is 20CBM. The cost of purchasing the machine is relatively high.
The conventional drying kiln typically has a large capacity, ranging from 50 cubic meters (CBM) to 300 CBM, with prices ranging from $100K to $600K.
Dehumidifier kilns are slightly more expensive than conventional steam kilns. Most solar drying kilns are DIY projects, so their costs are often less relevant.
In this article, we will focus on the costs of common vacuum kilns and high-frequency vacuum kilns.
2. How Much Does a Kiln Cost
Common Vacuum Kiln Costs
The common vacuum drying method primarily uses a hot plate heating system.
In this system, the wood is placed between two hot plates that are hollow and filled with thermal oil or steam hot water. The vacuum method reduces the boiling point of water, enabling the wood to dry at lower temperatures.
This heating method is similar to that used in air drying, conventional kilns, and solar drying, where heat is transferred from the wood’s surface inch by inch to achieve drying.
For typical brands of vacuum kilns in the USA and Europe, the cost of buying a common vacuum kiln ranges from $12K to $19K per cubic meter of capacity.
Given the technical requirements for vacuum systems, the capacity of these kilns ranges from 4 CBM to 35 CBM.
Thus, the average cost to purchase a vacuum wood drying kiln is between $50,000 and $300,000.
High-Frequency Vacuum Wood Drying Kilns Costs
High-frequency vacuum drying is an advanced technique that combines high-frequency heating with low-temperature vacuum drying. Known for its speed and minimal material waste, this method offers efficient wood drying.
How It Works: Wet wood acts as a dielectric in an alternating electromagnetic field, causing rapid rotation of water molecules, generating heat, and drying the wood from the inside out. High-frequency heating ensures even heat distribution, which is especially advantageous for thicker wood pieces where moisture can be difficult to remove.
The process creates a pressure gradient inside and outside the wood, with higher pressure in the core. This gradient helps push moisture from the core to the surface or ends of the wood. By establishing a vacuum, the boiling point of water is lowered, enabling drying at lower temperatures and accelerating moisture removal through the combined effects of high-frequency heating and vacuum conditions. Typically, this drying process takes between 5 to 9 days.
Hebei Shuowei Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. has specialized in high-frequency vacuum kilns for over 30 years. Their kilns are globally recognized and noted for their competitive pricing. The cost ranges from $40,000 to $80,000, depending on the capacity, which ranges from 4 to 21 cubic meters.
Regardless of the type of kiln, larger kilns generally incur higher costs. So find a suitable capacity kiln, we need think about your monthly output requirement, also the maximum wood size in long and wide.
3. New Wood Drying Kiln or Used
Sometimes, buying a used kiln can be a cost-effective option because it’s significantly cheaper than a new one. However, it’s crucial to ensure the second-hand kiln is still in good working condition. The price of a used kiln varies based on factors like age, condition, size, and power. Before finalizing the purchase, make sure to inspect the kiln in person.
A detailed checklist is crucial for evaluating a used kiln. Skipping this step can lead to unexpected costs if issues arise after the purchase. In fact, unforeseen repairs or adjustments might end up costing as much, if not more, than buying a new kiln.
4. What Costs About Installation and Maintenance?
Before you buy a kiln, ensure that the price includes shipping costs. Additionally, consider the costs associated with installation and maintenance. Typically, the price of a kiln includes installation and operation training.
Maintenance has become more manageable with advancements in network technology. Remote technology has overcome time and space limitations, allowing for efficient support. Suppliers often include spare parts with the machine, which can greatly lower maintenance costs.
5. Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has provided a comprehensive understanding of the true cost of owning a drying kiln. Keep in mind that kiln costs are a long-term investment. Most of our customers’ kilns have been operational for over 7 years and can last up to 10 years.
Are you still worried about how much does a kiln cost? For more information on the costs of kilns, please contact us. Let’s discuss your specific needs.
