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1/2 Day Solar Kiln Course

3/27/26       
Brian Bond Member

Website: http://sbio.vt.edu/extension/richmond-expo-drying-...

1/2 VT Solar Kiln Course

Location: Expo Richmond, Richmond VA
When: April 16th, 9:00am - 12:00pm

This course is designed for the small-scale woodworking facility or hobby woodworker and will provide information about how to design, build and operate a solar kiln based on the Virginia Tech design. Our kiln is designed to be low in cost to build, easy to construct and easy to operate. Solar lumber drying provides a safe and economical way to dry lumber given limited knowledge and experience. The course is sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension.

The instructor, Brian H. Bond, Ph.D., is a professor and extension specialist at Virginia Tech, he has 25 years of experience in the design and operation of a solar kiln. Come learn and ask questions in person!

This course is sponsored by Virgina Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Forest Products Association, Expo Richmond and the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech.

Course Agenda

9:00am -12:00pm, April 16th, 2026

Solar kiln design and construction

Introduction
Basic Designs
Plans and design criteria
Kiln limitations
Basics of construction
Adoptions to design
Modifications to meet your needs
Operation of the solar kiln

Stacking Lumber for Drying
Air drying or green?
Measuring moisture content
Running the kiln
Auxiliary heat
Stress in drying
Insects and setting the pitch
Drying Defects and Maintaining Moisture Content of Dry Lumber

Common defects in drying lumber
How to avoid common defects
Keeping lumber dry when storing

https://sbio.vt.edu/extension/richmond-expo-drying-lumber-course.html


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