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Railrider
Chronic contaminator


Registered: 07/10/09
Posts: 598
Loc: a van down by the river.
Last seen: 2 months, 4 days
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Making my own dehydrator.(free)
#10976740 - 08/31/09 11:51 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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So I got bored and had some crap laying around.This is a prototype and has not been thoroughly tested. -2-5 gal. buckets with 1 lid -1 light socket and cfl bulb that sits upright -some tin foil -some electric tape -some screen First thing I did was cut 1 bucket into 1" rings using the smaller part of the bucket.(made 3, used small circular saw to cut).
Next I put the screen over the bucket and traced the top of the bucket for the amount of rings I planned to make.
Placed the ring on the ground next to a block of wood then stuck the screen inside and stapled the screen inside the ring using pliers to bend the staples tight.
Then I put a layer of tinfoil on the bottom of the second bucket and taped it down.Notched a way for the light socket's wire to come in the bucket.
Wrapped the cfl bulb with tin foil,placed rings on top of each other about 3" apart put small holes in the lid and put it on. Gonna do some testing will let you guys know how it goes.
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Any post I post here is pure speculation from other read posts
Best tip for cultivation!
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bw86
Doesn't play well with others


Registered: 11/12/06
Posts: 5,976
Loc: 7b
Last seen: 7 hours, 48 minutes
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Railrider]
#10976746 - 08/31/09 11:52 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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a fan and a cardboard box works great too!
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LitCloset
hypochondriac



Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 632
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: bw86]
#10977072 - 09/01/09 01:04 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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so the cfl is the heat source? an incandesnt or heat lamp would get much much hoter. you also want a fan in there.
good luck.
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dirtylittlespore
Fungophile

Registered: 08/23/09
Posts: 81
Loc: I'm not sure right now......
Last seen: 14 years, 8 months
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: LitCloset]
#10978192 - 09/01/09 09:08 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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No you should not do this, I'm thinking FIRE! Wrapping a lightbulb in tin foil is a horrible idea, horrible. Not trying to be an ass but imagine what the headlines will say. Seriously just use a fucking fan and some damp rid if you can't afford a dehydrator. don't burn down your house.
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LitCloset
hypochondriac



Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 632
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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yes.. i should have been more clear. instead of covering a cfl in foil use a simple incandesent or heat lamp.
but i agree with the last poster and i should proably just state that...
if you think covering a cfl in foil is a good idea then you proably shouldnt be making things at home that could potentialy burn down your home...
trust me i have some experience working with home made stuff....
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Dickhead
2 Times

Registered: 01/24/05
Posts: 28,769
Loc: groin
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: LitCloset]
#10978657 - 09/01/09 10:48 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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If you wanna up the ante with the drying... What about a water bottle heat bomb with wire atop in a cardboard box??

A little less of a fire hazard
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LitCloset
hypochondriac



Registered: 04/01/09
Posts: 632
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Dickhead]
#10978694 - 09/01/09 10:53 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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but not warm enough to make a real difference. dehydrators force heated air around 130F(?) that design would do maybe 95.
i vote... forced air through dririte, zeolite, or silica, heated by induction, (think but dont use hair dryer) then through a closed container with the screens in multiple layers... air in bottom out top.
but why complicate things? use a box with a fan and dririte or use a oscillating heater with a built in fan on a low setting....
anyone ever freeze dry their shrooms?
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prismism



Registered: 05/11/09
Posts: 5,570
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Railrider]
#10978702 - 09/01/09 10:54 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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i cant understand why people feel the need to use heat when drying. i have been drying mushrooms for years successfully with never once using dehydrators or ovens or light bulbs or the sun. seems kind of unnecessary if you ask me.
-------------------- ephemeral anomalous
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Dickhead
2 Times

Registered: 01/24/05
Posts: 28,769
Loc: groin
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Dickhead]
#10978956 - 09/01/09 11:45 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Strong fan, open air and a little time always worked for me.
But, a little heat from below moist evaporations fanned awy from the top, couldn't hurt.
I might build one of these and side by side it with a regular cardboard box, see if any substantial time is saved.
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Railrider
Chronic contaminator


Registered: 07/10/09
Posts: 598
Loc: a van down by the river.
Last seen: 2 months, 4 days
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Dickhead]
#10979557 - 09/01/09 01:11 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks for the constructive criticism guys lol.After further review my plan does have some flaws yes.I decided that holes in the bottom of the dehydrator was needed for proper air flow(cool air rising),can also put a fan underneath.
I am aware of the dangers of BURNING MY HOUSE DOWN thanks dirtylittlespore.The CFL does not produce enough heat for proper dehydration,It was just an experiment nothing set in stone yet.Have a few incandescent bulb around gonna try those w/out wrapping them up.I just want to have a dehydrator around in case I want to dry some in a hurry.I have damp rid, boxes ect.thanks
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Any post I post here is pure speculation from other read posts
Best tip for cultivation!
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Railrider]
#10979598 - 09/01/09 01:17 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thrift stores have dehydrators. Or ask around, one of your friends' moms may have one she'll give you for free.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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DeadHearts


Registered: 07/17/09
Posts: 21,827
Loc: MICHIGAN
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Doc_T]
#10979623 - 09/01/09 01:20 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Im currently drying some mushrooms on the back of a large box fan. It works but it takes forever!
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Dickhead
2 Times

Registered: 01/24/05
Posts: 28,769
Loc: groin
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: DeadHearts]
#10979646 - 09/01/09 01:25 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yeah, Mom.
Lol, I slipped out pressure cooker once awhile back.
Ended up with this time cooker piece of madness that customer service COULD NOT tell me what pressure it was possible to obtain. 
Nothing, anywhere in the instructions or packaging.
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Railrider
Chronic contaminator


Registered: 07/10/09
Posts: 598
Loc: a van down by the river.
Last seen: 2 months, 4 days
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Dickhead]
#10992426 - 09/03/09 12:58 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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My dehydrator works great,takes about 6-7 hours to dry a batch.Ended up using a flood light(no foil) and just 1 rack.


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Any post I post here is pure speculation from other read posts
Best tip for cultivation!
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LawnChairSkank
Stranger
Registered: 11/04/08
Posts: 28
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Railrider]
#10992710 - 09/03/09 01:55 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Here's a plan for a cheap dehydrator using a sterlite, no heat. Should work great.
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Railrider
Chronic contaminator


Registered: 07/10/09
Posts: 598
Loc: a van down by the river.
Last seen: 2 months, 4 days
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cool idea ^
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Any post I post here is pure speculation from other read posts
Best tip for cultivation!
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SHROOMpimp
719 Colorado 719



Registered: 03/04/05
Posts: 400
Loc: Between the turntables...
Last seen: 12 years, 11 months
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Railrider]
#10992817 - 09/03/09 02:18 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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I've dried a few different ways, i now use adjustable temp dehydrators. Back in the day, before i had one, i used to set wire racks ontop of my lamps in the living room and bedroom. on top of the lamp shades. then i would concentrate the shrooms to stay directly above the opening of the shade. this worked pretty good. you can really pile them up too. then i ened up putting another shade over the shrooms to keep the warm air around the shrooms. i've never had much luck without forced air/heat/or the sun...
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Just My $0.02...
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ck5
Student

Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 160
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Re: Making my own dehydrator.(free) [Re: Doc_T]
#10993521 - 09/03/09 04:32 PM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Thrift stores have dehydrators. Or ask around, one of your friends' moms may have one she'll give you for free.
This seems to be the best drying tek available :P
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