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PiptheGreAtest
Aspiring Heavyweight


Registered: 07/18/16
Posts: 464
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DIY Dehydrator setup 1
#26579532 - 04/05/20 01:29 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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So I’ve decide to build my own dehydrator because I feel most available are to small for my liking plus I need a project during this bullshit lockdown. So i got a general design using plywood, 2x4 or some type of lumber, I plan on having 5ft tall 2.5 wide and 2.5 deep with about 20 screen trays around the same dimensions. I putting a heating fan at top about 1500watt and some thermometers so I make sure I’m getting even drying. Few questions here how hot is too hot to denature the active ingredients, along same line do you think I’ll need 2 of the heaters to reach the correct temps? Will I need a fan for correct circulation and do I need Exhaust holes in the bottom? Appreciate the advice.
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Hey pip,
How much exhaust and heat you need depends on your space, it won't be that hard to do. Gonna have to test it ultimately, - I used a bag of apples cut up before drying cubes (throw a lot of banana on there too.. for testing purposes). For similar dimentions I used 2 1500w heaters, from the bottom, and a boxfan on low in the middle.
The exhaust is passive (think of a traditional common dehydrator). Anything above 100 will work, definitely no need to go above 160.
Also something to note, mine was located in an open air garage, in the winter and fall it worked fine but with the high humidity of summer I had to invest in another Cabela's because the fans where blowing air in with such a water content the mushrooms had no way to dry. Barring the high humidity environment sinario it worked well.
Based on madhatter420s build
Details here https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/25824371
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,336
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 11 hours, 34 minutes
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Id definitely put the heat in the bottom and the exhaust out the top. Don't swim up stream. Heat wants to rise. I know filthyknees has had success with his build. That's the guys brain to pick on this. I just go buy cabelas 160 liter dehydrators because I'm doing my part to help the economy  Eternal consumption engine 💲💲💲
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rumfor69
Bodhicitta Cultivator



Registered: 08/05/11
Posts: 6,843
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26579700 - 04/05/20 02:59 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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What's the warranty and life length of those Cabelas dehydrators and are they fairly quiet?
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26579712 - 04/05/20 03:02 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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That's the advice I would give my former self - 160L commercial ones.
Had one crap out on me yesterday, the switch went bad after nine months(?), I almost shit.
Got a 5in1 tool and popped the switch mechanism into working steadily again.
If you have the space to work with a 2.5ft tray of cubes then I would lean towards reccomending the commercial models but if the principles are there have at it.
@rumford: there's some humming and whirlling, it's not outrageous but you'll know it's there if you're standing by it (same as any big dehydrator). Idk any warranty info.
Also another thing to note is the diy will require you to rotate the trays downward, the bottom trays dry faster. - this is rarely the case with the commercial models except when overly stuffed.
I expect good things pip.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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Smartattack
C'mon man



Registered: 12/21/18
Posts: 3,776
Loc: A thought
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I'm willing to bet a Nesco gardenmaster will continue to be effective with 20+ add on trays. My experience with mine is that it's a monster in sheep's clothing. I know this doesn't help you diy anything.
-------------------- * Smarts videos * Planet of the APES   I'm a fungal white supremacist.
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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He's probably doing more than 2.5x 20 trays in a nesco with the dimentions he mentions.
I still love my american harvest, different beasts though.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,336
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 11 hours, 34 minutes
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: rumfor69]
#26579749 - 04/05/20 03:17 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
rumfor69 said: What's the warranty and life length of those Cabelas dehydrators and are they fairly quiet?
They're pretty quiet for what they are. Pirate would be the one to ask about longevity. He's been using them for many years. I've only started using them about a year ago. I know pirate has some that are several years old and you know he runs the piss out of them so must be pretty solid
I know for sure you can't get parts for them though
Edited by Stromrider (04/05/20 03:18 PM)
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PiptheGreAtest
Aspiring Heavyweight


Registered: 07/18/16
Posts: 464
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Quote:
filthyknees said: Hey pip,
How much exhaust and heat you need depends on your space, it won't be that hard to do. Gonna have to test it ultimately, - I used a bag of apples cut up before drying cubes (throw a lot of banana on there too.. for testing purposes). For similar dimentions I used 2 1500w heaters, from the bottom, and a boxfan on low in the middle.
The exhaust is passive (think of a traditional common dehydrator). Anything above 100 will work, definitely no need to go above 160.
Also something to note, mine was located in an open air garage, in the winter and fall it worked fine but with the high humidity of summer I had to invest in another Cabela's because the fans where blowing air in with such a water content the mushrooms had no way to dry. Barring the high humidity environment sinario it worked well.
Based on madhatter420s build
Details here https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/25824371
Just to note that’s the exact build I’m modeling this after but building from scratch. I was entertaining the idea of buying one of those cabelas 160l but I figure this will fit more fruit and cheaper . So I suppose just lean towards putting two 1500watt on bottom if these are heater fans is the box fan necessary? For passive exhaust wouldn’t you have leave top unsealed I plan on using weather stripping and sealant to prevent temp differences in the box. I figure if I drill couple holes around top it will have better temp. control. Anything wrong with this reasoning?
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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That's fine, as long as you're cool with fruits on top trays taking a couple days to dry and having to rotate trays down. That's the downside to cost savings.
Less holes on top is better, I started off with four 1.5 in holes in the top and ended up plugging them all and using the small uninsulated crack between the frame and doors for exhaust.
My box fan was needed because the overheat saftey mechanism in the heaters would kick on without it on low.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,336
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 11 hours, 34 minutes
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I will say those cabelas 160 liter dehydrators are beast. I can load that thing slam full and it's done in about 16 hours. There's something to be said for that. Probably quite a bit more power efficient. No rotating racks either. They changed the design a couple years ago. I have an old style and a new style. The new ones are way faster than the old style. The did well. They are expensive but it's just another drop in the bucket boys. Between 75x sterilizers, dehydrators, and lab equipment I have enough invested to get a new truck 😂 Takes money to make money
Edited by Stromrider (04/05/20 05:29 PM)
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rumfor69
Bodhicitta Cultivator



Registered: 08/05/11
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26580061 - 04/05/20 05:40 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hellz yeah Stormrider I couldn't agree more and thanks for the info bro
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rumfor69
Bodhicitta Cultivator



Registered: 08/05/11
Posts: 6,843
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Last seen: 9 minutes, 21 seconds
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26580063 - 04/05/20 05:41 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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And good luck on your build Pip I hope you kick it's ass!
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PiptheGreAtest
Aspiring Heavyweight


Registered: 07/18/16
Posts: 464
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26580112 - 04/05/20 06:03 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
filthyknees said: That's fine, as long as you're cool with fruits on top trays taking a couple days to dry and having to rotate trays down. That's the downside to cost savings.
Less holes on top is better, I started off with four 1.5 in holes in the top and ended up plugging them all and using the small uninsulated crack between the frame and doors for exhaust.
My box fan was needed because the overheat saftey mechanism in the heaters would kick on without it on low.
So is the box fan facing heaters or dehydrator space?
Quote:
Stromrider said: I will say those cabelas 160 liter dehydrators are beast. I can load that thing slam full and it's done in about 16 hours. There's something to be said for that. Probably quite a bit more power efficient. No rotating racks either. They changed the design a couple years ago. I have an old style and a new style. The new ones are way faster than the old style. The did well. They are expensive but it's just another drop in the bucket boys. Between 75x sterilizers, dehydrators, and lab equipment I have enough invested to get a new truck 😂 Takes money to make money
I hear you but I’d need like 3 of them, I’m running up to 42 monos. How much wet weight think one fits?
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Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,336
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
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Are you spawning all 42 at once or like 10 a week?
1 cabelas dehydrator can handle about 80 tubs spawning about 20 tubs every week ime You can cram a bunch of boomers in them things and get pretty much 2 loads a day through it
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26580191 - 04/05/20 06:34 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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My box fan was facing upwards.
Cabela's will fit about 1.5-2# dry every 24 hours.
I think that big dehydrator came out to like .3#/shelf dry. But took longer.
So you'll have a larger capacity volumetrically, but if it takes twice as long is it as valuable.
Up to you.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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A.k.a
Stranger



Registered: 10/27/19
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Anybody ever tried to build some sort of cement tumbler with heat type contraption??
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LAGM2020     
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PiptheGreAtest
Aspiring Heavyweight


Registered: 07/18/16
Posts: 464
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26580473 - 04/05/20 08:52 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Stromrider said: Are you spawning all 42 at once or like 10 a week?
1 cabelas dehydrator can handle about 80 tubs spawning about 20 tubs every week ime You can cram a bunch of boomers in them things and get pretty much 2 loads a day through it
42 all at once. Dam that is my kind of machine. Sounds like it will work for me, guys shifted my opinion I’m getting one.
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SloppyJoseph
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Registered: 12/08/15
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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: Stromrider]
#26580580 - 04/05/20 09:36 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Stromrider said: I will say those cabelas 160 liter dehydrators are beast. I can load that thing slam full and it's done in about 16 hours. There's something to be said for that. Probably quite a bit more power efficient. No rotating racks either. They changed the design a couple years ago. I have an old style and a new style. The new ones are way faster than the old style. The did well. They are expensive but it's just another drop in the bucket boys. Between 75x sterilizers, dehydrators, and lab equipment I have enough invested to get a new truck 😂 Takes money to make money
How much dry comes out of that thing packed tight?
-------------------- AMU Q&A
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LogicaL Chaos
Ascension Energy & Alien UFOs




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Re: DIY Dehydrator setup [Re: A.k.a]
#26580644 - 04/05/20 10:10 PM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
A.k.a said: Anybody ever tried to build some sort of cement tumbler with heat type contraption??
Like a rotary drier, similar to large industrial clothes driers?
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