Introducing the New Sauno Wood Kiln from Sweden

New Swedish Drying Technology enables Small-scale woodworkers to achieve better results in a shorter time period. The Sauno kiln dries lumber with the help of steam and high temperatures. It releases tensions and gives straight lumber without cracks. It dries wood suitable for planing within a week. The prices are for the drying units. You yourself build the kiln box of insulated material. Mounts and building instructions are included.

Drying wood is the hardest part (and the most time consuming) of the lumber making process. This new drying technology from Sweden now makes that part of the process more cost effective for small scale producers. It is also a DIY (Do It Yourself) solution, so the savings is even greater. The Sauno wood kiln is now available from Logosol in two sizes: 2000 and 4000 watt. This is a scalable Kiln, as several drying units can be installed to provide larger kiln capacities.

The reason why it works so well is the drying method, which is called relax drying. This is the method that large sawmills use for drying their best lumber, in order to reduce the occurrence of cracking and other damages caused by accelerated drying.

The problem when drying lumber, is that the wood is unwilling to let go of the water it contains. Otherwise the trees would not survive through long periods of drought or ground frost. By first heating up and steaming the lumber at high temperatures (158-167°F) the cell structure of the wood is changed, which makes it possible for water to move outwards from inside the wood. The next step is to dehumidify the lumber at 104-122°F.

The result is lumber that is “furniture dry” and that has less cracks and dries straighter compared to air-dried lumber. But the greatest difference is the time it takes. The time varies depending on what type of wood you use and the desired moisture content. For instance, you can dry softwood from 17 percent moisture content to levels that suits cabinetmakers in a week. Fresh-cut spruce dries to levels suited for planing in 7-10 days.

The method has been refined during the years, and it is no overstatement to say that the Sauno wood kiln is the best-tried small-scale lumber kiln on the market. Since the customer himself builds the kiln box, the investment cost becomes low compared to other drying solutions. The drying unit is available in two sizes, 2000 and 4000 watt, which is enough to dry 700 or 1400 board feet of lumber. Instructions are provided with the kiln for easy construction of the Kiln units utilizing new insulation technologies readily available at local DIY stores.