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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build
#19407594 - 01/12/14 09:57 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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So if everything goes well I'm hoping that this thing will come in handy. This project will run right under 100 bucks
I will be constructing a box about 33x27(height isn't fully determined yet). It will contain 5 shelves that are the dimensions of the box. And will be placed about 6-10 inches apart.  They're just simple window screens
Now what I thought was the coolest part of this was the heat source that I found
 It can be mounted on the wall and can run 750w or 1500w. It measures about 20x24x4. I was just gonna lay it down flat on the very bottom of my box.
Then I was gonna throw a simple 20 in box fan about a foot above my heater to blow up through my trays. It will be completely enclosed except a big hole in the bottom of air to come in and I will put a bunch of 1/4 in holes in the top for air to escape.
Any tips/advise/changes I might consider are welcome
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19407616 - 01/12/14 10:03 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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well i'm glad your plan on getting alot of fruits to dry maybe find a way to get a heat source to help ya out
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  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: cronicr]
#19407625 - 01/12/14 10:05 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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Well do you not think that heater I pictured will do the job?
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19407627 - 01/12/14 10:06 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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my bad, i'm still on my first cup of coffee! good shit!
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  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19407635 - 01/12/14 10:08 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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And my next project after this one is 20 tubs. So if my 8 tubs that I have now won't fill it surely my next run will
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19407644 - 01/12/14 10:11 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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I figured even if it doesn't get them cracker dry the bulk of the fruits can stay in this till I can cycle them through their last leg in a nesco dehydrator
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19407654 - 01/12/14 10:14 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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I've been wanting to build a big dehydrator myself.
I'm curious to see how this works for ya
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: FrankHorrigan]
#19407753 - 01/12/14 10:37 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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Well my heater is on its way. So I'll update it when it's all constructed
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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36fuckin5
Alchemycologist


Registered: 08/11/03
Posts: 12,079
Loc: Diving into Mystical Territori...
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19407772 - 01/12/14 10:43 AM (10 years, 19 days ago) |
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The problem will likely be when you try to set that heater on its' side to blow upwards. Most space heaters automatically kick off when you knock them over.
You are also gonna want to use a metal screen and frame. Really just use metal for everything, and have it elevated. That much heat will start a fire in your enclosed box pretty damn quick.
-------------------- Redd Foxx said: If you're offended I don't give a shit and don't come see me no more. Pat The Bunny said: A punk rock song won't ever change the world, but I can tell you about a couple that changed me. bodhisatta said: i recommend common sense and figuring it out. These are the TEKs I use. They're all as cheap and easy as possible, just like your mom.
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hushmush

Registered: 12/30/13
Posts: 165
Last seen: 2 years, 9 months
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: 36fuckin5]
#19407930 - 01/12/14 11:21 AM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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This heater has a internal tip-over safety off switch so it won't work if you lay it flat unless you remove the tip-over switch. If that's even possible as it could be built into the circuit board controller.
If you can make it work I would certainly not use plastic screens. Nor does a wooden box sound great either. Maybe you could line the inside with fiberglass insulation and sheet metal to keep the wood away from the heat. However in reviews on amazon say it doesn't get hot enough to burn skin that might be different in an enclosed space.
If you already have a dehydrator why not just get the expansion trays and or a second dehydrator. The cost of the heater, wood etc is going to be more then a second dehydrator with extra drying trays.
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: hushmush]
#19407949 - 01/12/14 11:30 AM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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I would try to find some way to wire that heater so you can adjust the intensity beyond just two different wattage settings.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: FrankHorrigan]
#19407957 - 01/12/14 11:33 AM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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i can't picture it burning anything down, my dehydrator is plastic..as long as the air is moving it should be fine
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  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
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hushmush

Registered: 12/30/13
Posts: 165
Last seen: 2 years, 9 months
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: cronicr]
#19407989 - 01/12/14 11:46 AM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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It might work on low 750w setting. Most dehydrator are like 600w with a thermostat. This heater is designed to heat a room not 3-6 cubic ft. It would also be good to have a thermostat in his DIY dehydrator but I doubt this heater will work anyway because of the tip-over safety switch. I think he needs more planning. Seems like an easy way to burn up his investment and possibly more
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: hushmush]
#19408050 - 01/12/14 12:01 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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How about if I rearranged it and it blew in from the side instead of the bottom so it wouldn't kick off
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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36fuckin5
Alchemycologist


Registered: 08/11/03
Posts: 12,079
Loc: Diving into Mystical Territori...
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19408059 - 01/12/14 12:03 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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That may work, but I'd still stay away from any flammable materials, and definitely elevate it off your floor by a foot or so.
-------------------- Redd Foxx said: If you're offended I don't give a shit and don't come see me no more. Pat The Bunny said: A punk rock song won't ever change the world, but I can tell you about a couple that changed me. bodhisatta said: i recommend common sense and figuring it out. These are the TEKs I use. They're all as cheap and easy as possible, just like your mom.
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hushmush

Registered: 12/30/13
Posts: 165
Last seen: 2 years, 9 months
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19408075 - 01/12/14 12:07 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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Maybe put the box fan on the bottom and mount the heater on the wall of the unit and have the fan blow up past the heater, that might work. I'm sure it has a thermostat for over heating built in the question is would you trip the thermostat with it in the box. Your going to have to test it out...I certainly would want to be around for the first test run just incase things start to go bad.
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Blake_Shroom
Stranger



Registered: 09/09/09
Posts: 1,070
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: hushmush]
#19408542 - 01/12/14 02:11 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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I bought a tall tub and cut a hole in the top and put a hair dryer there. I fill the bottom with fungus, then have a metal rack that is about 12" high to go over the bottom layer, and fill that rack with more mushrooms. I think the most I've dried at once was 2lbs, maybe more. Each hour or two just move them around since the ones in the middle dry fastest.
I have 2 dehydrators as well, and they take roughly 2 times as long if they are completely full. The only reason I did this is I had a 20 tub grow, and at one time I harvested like 4 or 5 tubs and didnt have the space in my dehydrators or fridge, so I tried the tub and hair dryer out. I didnt notice any difference in potency 
Or if you have a dehydrator or 2, you can try out Dehydrator expansion pictorial
There's no reason to spend $100 on a dehydrator. A little creativity goes a long way 
*** Feel free to comment/criticize on my "teks", that way I can improve if needed ***
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: hushmush]
#19408560 - 01/12/14 02:16 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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I like the idea of mounting the heater to the side. Then I don't have to deal with bypassing the tip over switch and raising the risk factor of messing it up. I'm afraid the heat wouldn't get dispersed as evenly. But I could just rearrange the trays every so often I guess
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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Stuey1
We're all mad Here



Registered: 11/28/13
Posts: 740
Loc: Bat Country
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19408657 - 01/12/14 02:44 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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 There is the option of using a heater like this under the fan.
-------------------- Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
 
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36fuckin5
Alchemycologist


Registered: 08/11/03
Posts: 12,079
Loc: Diving into Mystical Territori...
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Re: Plans for my upcoming bulk dehydrator build [Re: Stuey1]
#19409220 - 01/12/14 05:10 PM (10 years, 18 days ago) |
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I just fill my dehydrators (I have 3) till I can't anymore. Then I'll take the excess and throw them in a cardboard box with a box fan over it till the ones in the dehydrator are dry, then I cycle in the ones from the box. Never takes me more than 24 hours to get 3-4 lb dried.
-------------------- Redd Foxx said: If you're offended I don't give a shit and don't come see me no more. Pat The Bunny said: A punk rock song won't ever change the world, but I can tell you about a couple that changed me. bodhisatta said: i recommend common sense and figuring it out. These are the TEKs I use. They're all as cheap and easy as possible, just like your mom.
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