Barn to Kiln Conversion (Pics)

[Kirk Allen]

I had these posted on the old site but figured I should get them up so everyone can gander at the progress over the last year. The west end of my Barn was shot and needed a new wall.  A freind of mine spent a week here and we replaced the whole wall and that led to the prep work for laying the cement foundation for the future Kiln!

Steel work is back breaking stuff.  Dont care to do that again any time soon.




The pour begins! 










First Load done and two more trucks to go!


This is one of the corner pillas on for the saw shed. 


Next Truck had to off-load from the south end. 




Awaiting another load!
Sure glad this was on contract!






The entire labor cost for this job was only $300!  You have to love rural America!

[Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner"]

That red barrow sure looked clean, Kirk.

You ought to be just about operational, by this tiime.

[Kirk Allen]

The finishing touches! 

[Kirk Allen]

This is a shot of the North end.  The west wall is sided, a door installed on the end and of course, lots of stuff making its way under roof in the future Kiln.

[milling man]

nice!!! when you get finished do you want to come and build me one too!! about have that size. and if you have time maybe a barn beside it and while i am dreaming just go ahead and fill it up with some cows and hay too!!

[Kirk Allen]

Thanks.....................but no thanks   Trying to build this stuff for the most part by myself takes a fair amount of the enjoyment out of it.  Trying to finish up the truss installations on the other side today about killed me. 

I swear if I had to go up and down that stinking ladder one more time I was going to take a match to the whole place   No sooner than I get up and ready to nail down a stringer I would drop my tape measure, or the hammer, or the nail gun, etc.  Frustrating day....................but ALL the truss's are up and they are ready for metal! 

[mike p]

looking good 

[mike p]

so kirk hows it going
how many BF of oak can you dry at a time ?
how long does it take?
what are the operating cost?
are you useing a DH unit ?

[mike p]

so did you insulate the concret floor?

so kirk hows it going
how many BF of oak can you dry at a time ?
how long does it take?
what are the operating cost?
are you useing a DH unit ?

[Kirk Allen]

Sorry about that Mike, for some reason completely missed your post.

Floor is insulated.  2" pink foam insulation under the plastic.
Total might be as much as 5000 bf but I may condense it to smaller loads.

Air dried in the DH should not take more than a week or so.

Not sure on the operating costs as I have yet to dry a load.  Way to many other things going on to get this done. 

[mike p]

kirk did you use the 3500 lb concrete standard floor mix?
i didnt know if a kiln floor would need more strength
im thinking 4" thick with 1/2" rebar every 4' with old broken band saw blades inbetwene (this is how arkansawer reinforces concrete)to make steel on 2' centers.
im pouring one 11' x 17 1/2' slab/ bay & one 11' x 13' bay one end will have a wall under it 2' tall x 6" wide to hold the fill

[Carl Middleton]

Kirk did you ever get the barn to kiln conversion finished?

[Kirk Allen]

Still need the doors but basically its done.  Just need to hook up the DH unit, throw on the doors and get rocking! 

Focusing on reloading ammo right now 

[mike p]

yea i need to order more brass for my 44-40
so hows the kiln comming?
mine is stuck in other projects bummer
i guess i will need to add a gravel driveway to it as finisher guy said he would not order mix delivered till i get the last 150' of path to it gravled