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Estario
Enthusiast
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 205
Last seen: 7 years, 3 days
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Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial
#10312245 - 05/09/09 10:16 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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First I want to say that the design is NOT my idea. I saw it in this thread on mycotopia.net. All credit goes to joystik. Thank you!
I decided to build the same device myself and though it would be good to make a pictorial. After all the shroomery community has helped me so much. It's time for me to do something good as well. So here it is: The cheap, home made mushroom dehydrator The material you will need are: 2 plastic bins(get transparent if you can, as it makes the cutting process much easier) 1 computer fan 1 piece of fine metal/plastic net (plastic is probably better, because the humidity might make the metal rust. Some Wires Glue
Equipment for the assembly: Drilling machine Small drill Screwdriver Paper knife Silicon pistol
Quote:
The principle of this Dehydrator is based in a continuous circulating air flow inside a sealed chamber divided into 2 sections, one section where the air is dehumidified (by the desiccant ) and the other one where air is re-humidified (by our shrooms).
So first you need to mark where you need to cut. I used the fan to measure, so that there is enough space. Don't forget you need to leave some space for the desiccant. You might want to cut 1 or 2 cm higher then the edge of the fan, just to be sure everything fits. (little less than an inch)
The next part is cutting the bottom of the bin. I used a sharp knife.
To cut evenly I used a rubber band to lead me while cutting.
Than you need to take the bottom and attach the fan and drill the holes for air circulation.
I used the fan to mark where to cut a whole in the bottom lid. The easiest way to remove the platic, without cracking the it is first to drill many wholes, not exactly next to the mark and then, using a paper-knife, to cut trough the plastic that's left.
After you have made the whole, carefully form the edges with the paper knife.
The result should be something like that:
The next step is to cut the net. I did it with scissors. Try to cut something that fits well on the fan, and covers the hole well.
Mount it carefully on the lid. Make sure that the fan blows from the desiccant in the direction of the chamber where the wet mushroom are.
Some wholes on the side are needed so that wet air can go back to the desiccant chamber and be dried.
After that you can mount the bottom to the bin. I used some glue to eliminate any chance of problems.
The two bins should fit perfectly. Mine did not, so I had to cut some parts.
Now they fit perfectly:
The wires of the fan can go through one of the small holes on the bottom, but an additional one is needed so that wires can go to the power source.
You should fill the whole with silicon, to ensure the dehydrator is well isolated.
This is the outcome of my attempt.
I hope this information helps many.
-------------------- All Of RR's Notes On Mushroom Cultivation Forum - a must read Everything I post is completely fictitious, and for your amusement only. All the pictures I post are either photoshopped or ripped from the internet. Whenever i trade for spores it is for examining the spores under microscopes to see their characteristics. There is no reason why I would ever want to nor will I grow mushrooms containing psilocybin.
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JackAsserry
Imaginary Friend
Registered: 04/12/09
Posts: 84
Last seen: 10 years, 3 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Estario]
#10312270 - 05/09/09 10:25 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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very nice, do you have any pictures of it in action?? ie before and after pics of mushies drying????
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PoisonedV
Fuming Shrooming
Registered: 09/13/07
Posts: 398
Loc: Hell
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: JackAsserry]
#10312398 - 05/09/09 11:05 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Smells like overkill
-------------------- Lazy...
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Estario
Enthusiast
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 205
Last seen: 7 years, 3 days
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: JackAsserry]
#10312402 - 05/09/09 11:06 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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I will have some P.Mexicanas ready in few days and I will certainly post pics.
-------------------- All Of RR's Notes On Mushroom Cultivation Forum - a must read Everything I post is completely fictitious, and for your amusement only. All the pictures I post are either photoshopped or ripped from the internet. Whenever i trade for spores it is for examining the spores under microscopes to see their characteristics. There is no reason why I would ever want to nor will I grow mushrooms containing psilocybin.
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Shroominit
Part Time Mycologist
Registered: 11/29/08
Posts: 4,662
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Estario]
#10312482 - 05/09/09 11:31 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hmm, seems to me like you made air holes and everything, but you're just circulating the same moist air through desiccant -> seems like this would be useful for going from dry to cracker dry, but kinda wasteful for normal drying. I did enjoy the writeup though.
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Dudester67
eat a dick win a pony
Registered: 05/01/09
Posts: 632
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Shroominit]
#10312520 - 05/09/09 11:48 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Estario, nice pictorial, but it seems like a lot of effort when you can buy a second hand Ronco dehydrator for about 20 bucks. But I like the creativity. It also seems like you'd have to replace the desiccant often if it's exposed to outside air, unless I'm misunderstanding something.
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Ubitsa
Waiting Is
Registered: 07/20/08
Posts: 575
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Dudester67]
#10312557 - 05/09/09 11:59 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Dudester67 said: It also seems like you'd have to replace the desiccant often if it's exposed to outside air, unless I'm misunderstanding something.
Once the lid goes on the top bin, there's no more outside air exposed. The bottom desiccant area is only exposed to the top mushroom area.
Seems like a pretty nice setup, I was looking to build something similar and I'll probably use this as a starting point.
The nice thing about this setup is that you can use it without the desiccant and the top lid for the first 24hrs to get the shrooms mostly dry, and then add the desiccant and the lid to get cracker dry. Sexy!
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Estario
Enthusiast
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 205
Last seen: 7 years, 3 days
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Dudester67]
#10314940 - 05/09/09 10:26 PM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Cheap second hand dehydrators are not available in all countries. This device is the perfect, cheapest solution I found on the net. Building it cost me about 6-7 $. What drying method do you suggest for freshly picked mushrooms? Leaving the top off for a while seem to me like a pretty good idea. As far as my experience with desiccants goes, putting hydrated CaCl2 at 200 degree Celsius for 15 minutes will make it anhydrous again, right?
-------------------- All Of RR's Notes On Mushroom Cultivation Forum - a must read Everything I post is completely fictitious, and for your amusement only. All the pictures I post are either photoshopped or ripped from the internet. Whenever i trade for spores it is for examining the spores under microscopes to see their characteristics. There is no reason why I would ever want to nor will I grow mushrooms containing psilocybin.
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Ubitsa
Waiting Is
Registered: 07/20/08
Posts: 575
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Estario]
#10316103 - 05/10/09 07:46 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Depending on how much moisture is in the desiccant, I think longer than 15 minutes would be necessary. Most places seem to recommend over an hour.
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noggin
jiggly
Registered: 02/17/09
Posts: 228
Loc: South Africa
Last seen: 14 years, 4 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Ubitsa]
#10316731 - 05/10/09 11:18 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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I haven't had much of a problem putting the shroomies in front of a normal fan on a baking tray, then into a bag into a container with the bottom silica gel (i have kittens so just use new cat litter crystals), but good effort!
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kingjames488
Stranger
Registered: 02/18/09
Posts: 435
Last seen: 12 years, 9 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: noggin]
#10316825 - 05/10/09 11:50 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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i build something basicly the same not too long ago that i use (posted a little guide too).
bacisly any semi-sealed box with a fan on it and drying racks in it works well.
nice pictorial though, def should have had some pics of it in action :P
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Estario
Enthusiast
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 205
Last seen: 7 years, 3 days
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: kingjames488]
#10326485 - 05/12/09 10:04 AM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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My first flush is on its way.
I will definitely post pics of the device in action.
-------------------- All Of RR's Notes On Mushroom Cultivation Forum - a must read Everything I post is completely fictitious, and for your amusement only. All the pictures I post are either photoshopped or ripped from the internet. Whenever i trade for spores it is for examining the spores under microscopes to see their characteristics. There is no reason why I would ever want to nor will I grow mushrooms containing psilocybin.
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Estario
Enthusiast
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 205
Last seen: 7 years, 3 days
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Estario]
#10332708 - 05/13/09 02:31 PM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Here they are. My first flush. I loaded them tonight and I will see when they will be dry.
-------------------- All Of RR's Notes On Mushroom Cultivation Forum - a must read Everything I post is completely fictitious, and for your amusement only. All the pictures I post are either photoshopped or ripped from the internet. Whenever i trade for spores it is for examining the spores under microscopes to see their characteristics. There is no reason why I would ever want to nor will I grow mushrooms containing psilocybin.
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ActionExpress
Fgnugide
Registered: 06/21/05
Posts: 45
Last seen: 13 years, 11 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Estario]
#10332752 - 05/13/09 02:38 PM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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I love seeing creative cheap ways to do things. Very nice write up to say the least. But i went the route of buying a nesco 700w and haven't looked back
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kingjames488
Stranger
Registered: 02/18/09
Posts: 435
Last seen: 12 years, 9 months
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: ActionExpress]
#10333369 - 05/13/09 04:48 PM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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i dont know how good of an idea it is to put them all in a pile in the bottom like that.
they dry a lot better when they have good airflow around them.
try getting some difernt sized screens that fit in there to form layers.
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Estario
Enthusiast
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 205
Last seen: 7 years, 3 days
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: kingjames488]
#10337857 - 05/14/09 01:31 PM (14 years, 10 months ago) |
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Here are the results. 16 hours later - perfectly dry with a big puddle of water in the desiccant chamber.
-------------------- All Of RR's Notes On Mushroom Cultivation Forum - a must read Everything I post is completely fictitious, and for your amusement only. All the pictures I post are either photoshopped or ripped from the internet. Whenever i trade for spores it is for examining the spores under microscopes to see their characteristics. There is no reason why I would ever want to nor will I grow mushrooms containing psilocybin.
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superfresh
Stranger
Registered: 08/20/13
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: Estario]
#18758755 - 08/26/13 08:07 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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looks cool, I'll try this
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CaptainPuffy
Marbles Lost
Registered: 06/08/11
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Re: Cheap, easy to build, dehydrator - pictorial [Re: superfresh]
#18758787 - 08/26/13 08:16 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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What are you using as a desiccant?
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