OSU Extension Service from the Western Juniper Newsletter , Vol. 2, No. 2, Winter 1998.
Solar kilns are a low-cost technology used for drying wood.
Solar kilns are essentially insulated boxes with plastic or glass panels on one side for collecting the sun's rays. The kilns can dry wood in less time and to a lower moisture content than is possible using air drying. In addition, solar kilns prevent the wood from becoming dirty or weathered as can happen during air drying and provide for some relief of drying stresses. The only energy costs involved are for the electric fans used to circulate the heated air within the kiln, and possibly to operate automatic vents. The juniper lumber was sawn for a portable mill demonstration during OSU's Small-Scale Sawing and Drying Workshop held in Klamath Falls on June 10.