4 day bud dryer for $40.
- Thread starter panhead
- Start date
Bladesplitter
Active Member
Wow thanks for the super discription. that was really helpful. I really gives me a good idea of what im gonna do. thanks for the wisdom
FullMetalJacket
Well-Known Member
This was really useful. I am building an bud dryer that hooks to my flower or veg intake via a 6" duct. This way my current carbon exhaust kills the odors and i dont need a new fan and filter.
I really like this ceramic heater idea, it can be put on the low intake side of the bin with maybe a 90 degree angle to eliminate light. 4" exhaust fan on the high side with either a carbon filter or a dryer sheet.
Great Ideas in this thread, it's really going to help me to build mine.
Panhead, what type of system did you work out for the racks? I'm looking forward to see pictures of what you ended up with.
Great Ideas in this thread, it's really going to help me to build mine.
Panhead, what type of system did you work out for the racks? I'm looking forward to see pictures of what you ended up with.
panhead
Well-Known Member
I kept the exact shelf design as pictured,they work too well the way they were to chage them,on my other dryers i added a 4th shelf along with swapping out the 4 inch fan to a 6 inch fan to make up for the 4th rack.I really like this ceramic heater idea, it can be put on the low intake side of the bin with maybe a 90 degree angle to eliminate light. 4" exhaust fan on the high side with either a carbon filter or a dryer sheet.
Great Ideas in this thread, it's really going to help me to build mine.
Panhead, what type of system did you work out for the racks? I'm looking forward to see pictures of what you ended up with.
I also covered the light bulb with a rain cap allmost exactly as another member posted a picture of earlier in the thread.
Ive got the system down to 3 days perfect drying with the 4 shelf dryers that are using the 6 inch intake fans,the bud comes out the dryer smelling like killer smoke with nothing but skunk smell & ready to smoke down happily .
free2believe
Active Member
How much can you dry at a time?
Looks awesome! Thanks for the post
Looks awesome! Thanks for the post
panhead
Well-Known Member
It depends on what type bud is drying,if its all fat ass colas the weight goes down,if its smaller buds the weight goes up,the finished weights are usually between a qp & a half pound every 3 days.
surreydistrict36
Active Member
Thanks for the ideas panhead. This is my dryer based partly on your design. I only have 2 shelfs, I wanted to ensure good airflow and easy to remove shelfs so i can flip easily. I used pc fans so I can spread the airflow better.
You say you don't like pc fans cuz of the low airflow but if you look at the specs for a 4" pc fan, they are around 50cfm @ 12V. I have 2 x 4" for the exhaust which is ~100cfm, and so far I have 4 x 1.5" for the intake but I might add 2 more which are 5-10cfm each. I can boost the voltage up to 18V if I need more flow or drop the voltage for less. I'm looking into a variable voltage power supply that I can use to adjust the airflow easily, the one I have only does 300mA which works great for my hash tumbler. Current draw at 12V is ~ 800mA theoreticaly.
I have a 4" inline vent accelerator like you have, if you look at the specs (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100073963&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100073963&cm_mmc=1hd.com2froogle-_-product_feed-_-D26X-_-100073963) it states the airflow in free air is only 40cfm and 80cfm "boosted". So I'm useing it for my room exhaust but I have 2 4" pc fans boosted to 18V inline also, the airflow should be over 100cfm and it definantly feels like it.
I also might add carbon filters behind the exhaust fans if i need them. I can't wait to use it...
Hope you like my design, any tips or suggestions I would like.
You say you don't like pc fans cuz of the low airflow but if you look at the specs for a 4" pc fan, they are around 50cfm @ 12V. I have 2 x 4" for the exhaust which is ~100cfm, and so far I have 4 x 1.5" for the intake but I might add 2 more which are 5-10cfm each. I can boost the voltage up to 18V if I need more flow or drop the voltage for less. I'm looking into a variable voltage power supply that I can use to adjust the airflow easily, the one I have only does 300mA which works great for my hash tumbler. Current draw at 12V is ~ 800mA theoreticaly.
I have a 4" inline vent accelerator like you have, if you look at the specs (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100073963&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100073963&cm_mmc=1hd.com2froogle-_-product_feed-_-D26X-_-100073963) it states the airflow in free air is only 40cfm and 80cfm "boosted". So I'm useing it for my room exhaust but I have 2 4" pc fans boosted to 18V inline also, the airflow should be over 100cfm and it definantly feels like it.
I also might add carbon filters behind the exhaust fans if i need them. I can't wait to use it...
Hope you like my design, any tips or suggestions I would like.
panhead
Well-Known Member
Looks like you've got things covered pretty well,air flow will not be a problem in your dryer thats for sure,what are your plans on adding heat to the dryer or the air comming into the dryer ?
I started out without adding any heat & the dryer worked very well but it wasnt fast enough for my needs,after adding heat i knocked a full day off drying time & was able to add a 4th shelf & still stay within the 3 day drying range i was looking for.
I started out without adding any heat & the dryer worked very well but it wasnt fast enough for my needs,after adding heat i knocked a full day off drying time & was able to add a 4th shelf & still stay within the 3 day drying range i was looking for.
surreydistrict36
Active Member
I was going to try and avoid adding heat if I could. If I need more heat I'll just have to put the tub into a warm room or near the heater. I'm not to concerned about cutting a day or so off drying. I just needed somewhere with good airflow thats dark. I thought with your design I could get better, more consistent airflow to ensure a more even dry versus hanging them upside down in a closet with 1 fan on them. I want to avoid mold at all costs.
One thing I was curious about was if hanging upside down hand any benefits to laying down.
Also, the only problem I see with my design is light leaks through the fans. I think if I put a piece of cut to fit carbon filter on each fan it should block most light leaks and provide nice clean filtered air for my buds to dry in. Would these filters also catch mold spores or would it need to be a HEPA filter?
I was also wondering what the minimum temp for drying would be. i understand that every degree below 82 slows drying but with temps outside at -20, 82 is hard to hit.
One thing I was curious about was if hanging upside down hand any benefits to laying down.
Also, the only problem I see with my design is light leaks through the fans. I think if I put a piece of cut to fit carbon filter on each fan it should block most light leaks and provide nice clean filtered air for my buds to dry in. Would these filters also catch mold spores or would it need to be a HEPA filter?
I was also wondering what the minimum temp for drying would be. i understand that every degree below 82 slows drying but with temps outside at -20, 82 is hard to hit.
panhead
Well-Known Member
As long as you have positive air flow mold will be a non issue,i had zero mold issues when i was running the dryer without heat,just the moving air is more than enough to kill off mold spores,you will not mold in the set up you posted pic's of.
The mold issue is another benifit to adding heat to the drying process,the faster the buds dry the less chance of mold but you'll still be fine the way you've designed your unit.
The buds will not flatten out from laying on the shelves either,once you flip them then take them out of the dryer they should look perfect,the main reason to hang dry is to ensure positive air flow to all areas of the bud & with your shelf system you've accomplished that requirement.
The minimum drying temp isnt really an issue unless you reach near freezing temps.
My dryers have 24 places where light can enter from around the holes that support the 4 shelves per unit,these holes also aid in the venting of the stale air within the drying unit.
Light leaks are not a problem ive worried about too much,i thought about stopping the light from entering but i chose better air flow over complete darkness,ive overcome the light infiltration issue by keeping my dryers in a dark place while they are loaded.
The bottom of your dryer will act as a keif catch basin as well,after a few loads are ran through it you'll have a nice load of kief
The mold issue is another benifit to adding heat to the drying process,the faster the buds dry the less chance of mold but you'll still be fine the way you've designed your unit.
The buds will not flatten out from laying on the shelves either,once you flip them then take them out of the dryer they should look perfect,the main reason to hang dry is to ensure positive air flow to all areas of the bud & with your shelf system you've accomplished that requirement.
The minimum drying temp isnt really an issue unless you reach near freezing temps.
My dryers have 24 places where light can enter from around the holes that support the 4 shelves per unit,these holes also aid in the venting of the stale air within the drying unit.
Light leaks are not a problem ive worried about too much,i thought about stopping the light from entering but i chose better air flow over complete darkness,ive overcome the light infiltration issue by keeping my dryers in a dark place while they are loaded.
The bottom of your dryer will act as a keif catch basin as well,after a few loads are ran through it you'll have a nice load of kief
surreydistrict36
Active Member
I think I might still add some carbon filter to the fans, mainly to stop any dust or hair from getting all over my bud with that much airflow. Have you noticed any issues with this?
I wasn't to concerned about crushing the buds, mainly gravities effect on pulling the moisture down the stem when they are hung upside down versus lying down.
The keif is a nice added bonus, I can't wait to see how much collects on the bottom. I also built a tumbler to keif all my trimmings i cant wait to use. I'm hopping to have a really nice pile of keif soon.
I wasn't to concerned about crushing the buds, mainly gravities effect on pulling the moisture down the stem when they are hung upside down versus lying down.
The keif is a nice added bonus, I can't wait to see how much collects on the bottom. I also built a tumbler to keif all my trimmings i cant wait to use. I'm hopping to have a really nice pile of keif soon.
lilmafia513
Well-Known Member
cool tip on the keif pan! I should be building one of these soon for my harvest. You checked out the girls in my garden lately?
First harvest ever, and i want to build this cuz, the only place i have to hang dry is in a basement room without the right conditions. So i have no choice, but i love your plan for this!!!
First harvest ever, and i want to build this cuz, the only place i have to hang dry is in a basement room without the right conditions. So i have no choice, but i love your plan for this!!!
LinearChaos
Active Member
I haven't read the whole thread but looked at the initial design, and instead of the inline fan you can also use a scrubber with a fan built into it. Foothill Filters sells a dryer box with a filer/fan built in but it is $150. They also sell the fan/filter combo separately, but it is more expensive then your entire setup :\
Dryer
Sorry if this has already been posted
Dryer
Sorry if this has already been posted
lilmafia513
Well-Known Member
i wouldn't do that with suction cups man, if the weight gets to be too much and the moisture content not high enough, that holds them on, the trays will fall onto the other trays, crushing your buds.
I would try using an adhesive, or double sided tape, that doesn't have any chemical smell too it. Don't want to smoke glue flavored buds!!LOL!!!
panhead
Well-Known Member
Ive looked at those dryers in the past,they dont have heat which makes them pretty slow to dry,plus the large model is closer to $250 by the time shipping is figured in.
Im leary of the carbon filter with that unit as well,most of what keeps the buds from getting moldy is the high cfm air stream flowing across the buds,you slow down that air stream & you increase risk of mold.
For me i see no reason for anybody to buy these things since they are so easy & cheap to build at home.
panhead
Well-Known Member
The only thing that comes with a rubbermaid tub is the tub,you have to buy whatever material you want the shelves to be made of as well as all other materials to hang the shelves from,if you can find suction cups that you were confident in then i'd say go for it but i cant think of any suction cups that could withstand the flexibility of the dryer tub,the cups would fall right off i'd think.
redcell7
Well-Known Member
the dryer i am making uses alot of your ideas ,but in order to get to the buds quicker could i use a (hanging chain pot design) you know were each shelf is hooke to a collapsable chain that way when it is hooked to the lid each shelf is spaced out but when you want to get into each shelf for whar ever reason you just pull the top out and hang it some were put your buds on or off and then just put the lid on and yor back in business again thanks for the ideas