Different Types of Kiln baffling.

[JedLagoy30]

Hi everyone, I'm kind of new to all this kiln drying stuff and I wanted to pick everyone's brain on kiln baffling types. We use Stainless Steel baffles, and in the top of our kiln we have brush and high temp rubber baffling. All this seems to hold up pretty well considering. What other types of baffles are available? Has anyone tried any new kind of baffle systems in the recent years? I've recently acquired some samples from another company working on a cheaper solution to baffling "High Temp Silicone" baffling which is super cheap and flexible has anyone tried this yet? I planned on putting some of these samples in my kiln after this coming shutdown to see how it would hold up in the heat. These samples will be in there for 3 to 4 months before we get a chance to look at them again. This all applies to floor baffling and door baffling as well. I think that a high temp silicon/rubber material would hold the heat better and be more flexible to incoming and outgoing packages then stainless steel or a metal material.

[MichaelM]

Is this in a continuous kiln?

I suspect the silicon baffles would work well.  Check them with the fans on to make sure they are not lifting due to the air pressure.
In a conventional kiln (noncontinuous) a difficult spot is where the bottom or top baffle meets the end baffle.  Make sure you get complete closure in those corners.

Please keep us posted on your results.

Mike M.

[JedLagoy30]

Yes this is in a Continuous Kiln. Thank you for the tip on the top and bottom baffles meeting the end baffles I will keep this in mind. I will post the results of this experiment to keep everyone informed. The whole CDK is 232 feet with a heating chamber of about 116 ft. With two conditioning chambers of around 58 ft. These particular samples will be installed on a door baffle first to see if it can withstand the heat with stacks of lumber rubbing across it for 3 to 4 months on next shut down after this one coming up in June it being in Texas its going to be pretty hot by then and I should be able to collect relevant data from that and go from there. We run our kilns around 256 Degrees, in June we should be seeing temps around 260 just from ambient temp bumping up the heat. So our exiting sides should be around 230 degrees or so TDAL around 28-32.