Custom manufactured kiln doors.

Kiln doors are a primary component of any kiln. They must be structurally sound, provide a tight seal, open and close with reasonable ease, easily maintainable, and financially affordable. The more complicated a door, the better the chance something will go wrong.

For instance, a two piece door is prone to bleed more energy than a one piece door. Gravity based latch systems provide greater certainty of seal than those which depend upon manual latch systems. Doors with thermal conductors loose energy at a higher rate than doors manufactured without. With respect to purchasing a expensive piece of equipment, the importance of the basics cannot be over stressed.

As kiln drying budgets differ from operation to operation, Wooddryer Systems offers both industrial doors as well as more economically designed packages. With respect to smaller kilns (under 30 Mbf.), we offer proven designs that provide dependable service, low maintenance cost, and reliable sealing between door and frame. These doors can be manufactured on site by a local contractor or company personnel.

Pictured above is a 17,500 board foot kiln door in operation. Though the door is 13' X 23', only one man is required for operation.
With ease of use and low cost, our door system presents the small kiln owner with an unbeatable combination

The process is as simple as: building a wooden door frame, fastening one side with 1/2" plywood, flipping the structure so that the open side of the framing is face up, inserting 2 layers on 1 ½" foam board into the open face, and closing up the open face with more 1/2" plywood. Having completed that, it is only a process of applying thin aluminum sheeting around the complete surface area of the door frame, sealing individual pieces against moisture with a silicon bead, and securing the aluminum sheet with stainless steel screws. The finished product is a kiln door which is low cost, easy to assemble, custom fit, and offers both a reliable and lasting seal.

Upon completion of the basic door structure, several necessary additions remain. Firstly, a gasket system to prevent energy loss and insure a sealed kiln chamber. Secondly, V-holders to secure the door in place and assure proper alignment of the door. Thirdly, a door carrier to open and close the kiln door for loading and unloading lumber (pictured to left).

On the left: Pin fitting in raised and lowered position onto the V-holder. The third picture is the wheel system in use, notice the excellent between the doors. By providing ample clearance, door damage is avoided.

Wooddryer System specializes in manufacturing the necessary components to complete door systems. Our V-holders and pin fittings are assembled using 100% stainless steel and offer simple, yet effective, service in the sealing of doors. In addition, we have incorporated a wheel assembly into the design of the V-holders to promote smooth movement of the door, as well as prevent the all to common damage caused by kiln doors colliding with the frame and/or other kiln doors.

Our door carrier systems are custom manufactured to the specifications of each individual kiln. The system is manufactured using mild steel with 2 coats of epoxy. The lifters are hydraulically operated and require only one man to move the door. The doors are moved using a "lift and slide" method. The benefit of our "lift and slide" system is that it allows the door carrier to remove the door 5-8 inches away from the door frame, thus, minimizing accidental impacts. The entire carrier is mounted onto a steel I-beam placed above the door frame. This framework offers simple, straight forward, cost efficient, and most importantly, reliable accessability to kiln chambers.

Lastly, in order to insure a tight fit, Wooddryer System offers the most effective gasket system on the market. Our gasket system is held in place by aluminum rail. The gasket protrudes 3/4" off of the rail to offer a superior seal. Once the aluminum track is cut to size and attached to the frame, the gasket is slid into place. In addition, the track design allows for easy exchange of gasket material after yearly wear and tear.

Contact local dealer for more information.