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  #1  
Old 09/16/11, 02:21 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: S.E. Iowa
Posts: 2,530
Thank you Paul Wheaton!
Our solar dehydrator was totally inspired by your video, and is almost ready to show off!

I plan to dry fruits, of course, and also paper briquettes for winter burning in the woodstove. Great use IMHO for junk mail.

We did a downdraft version, made sense to me. We did a trial yesterday, with a homemade smoke bomb. It was Amazing how fast the air moved from intake to chimney!

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  #2  
Old 09/16/11, 02:32 PM
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Kerby, Oregon
Posts: 925
Post photos please! I tried to make one.... Didn't work so hot... The apples grew mold rather than drying, and we are a dry climate, with average humidity in the summer around 25%!
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  #3  
Old 09/16/11, 03:04 PM
Freya's Avatar
Can't find bacon seeds
  
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the move again
Posts: 1,493
I watched the vids too and it's on my list to try!
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  #4  
Old 09/19/11, 03:37 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: S.E. Iowa
Posts: 2,530
Today, 70-ish degrees outside, the interior of the dehydrator is about 102.
Doing a few tests with smoke bombs revealed that the air from intake to coming out of the chimney takes about 15 seconds. The air is completely overturned (smoke all gone) in less than a minute.
I have some screens that used to be incubator trays. They are 22X26, so I made the box to fit the screens, it will hold 6 at 8 inch intervals. They are galvanized, so I found some plastic screens for yarn work, 2 will completely cover the trays. These should be safer for direct food contact, and be easier to wash. I did wash the trays with the power washer.
Camera batteries are on the charger, I am really getting excited to show this off!
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  #5  
Old 09/20/11, 02:18 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: S.E. Iowa
Posts: 2,530
OK, pictures!

I got about a 1/2 bushel of apples in it today. Could have squeezed in a few more if I cut the clices in 1/2, but I like the nice round ones....

Thank you Paul Wheaton! - Homesteading Questions


Thank you Paul Wheaton! - Homesteading Questions


Thank you Paul Wheaton! - Homesteading Questions


Thank you Paul Wheaton! - Homesteading Questions


Thank you Paul Wheaton! - Homesteading Questions
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  #6  
Old 09/20/11, 05:20 PM
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,142
That looks great! And I like how you tested it with the smoke bombs to determine the airflow and turnover rates. I wish I had thought of that!
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  #7  
Old 09/20/11, 07:21 PM
Ouch! Pinch you.
  
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,868
That is nice. Why did you choose downdraft? Wondering for our own project...
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  #8  
Old 09/21/11, 06:21 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: S.E. Iowa
Posts: 2,530
From the video it just made sence tome to go with the downdraft. I did swap out the top 2 trays for the bottom 2 today. I think really one good day would dry apples.
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  #9  
Old 09/22/11, 12:25 PM
Ouch! Pinch you.
  
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,868
Thanks! Congrats on your first run with the dehydrator. Swapping the trays around makes sense. What will you put in next??
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  #10  
Old 09/22/11, 02:26 PM
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,102
Oh very nice! Where are the plans? On Paul's site?
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  #11  
Old 09/22/11, 08:26 PM
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,748
Oh that is NICE! We love Paul too!
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  #12  
Old 09/23/11, 01:22 PM
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,142
I don't think he has plans for them on his site, but here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/user/paulwheaton12#p/u/23/oVTcnCuX2Qc
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  #13  
Old 09/23/11, 04:13 PM
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: S.E. Iowa
Posts: 2,530
No plans.....

I had the incubator trays, went with that for size.
Had to "wing it" but it was all part of the fun!

Still have 1/2 bushel of apples, and Dad brought home bananas! Next load this weekend.
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