Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Step 2The dehydrator in pieces
These are the components of the dehydrator:
1. Glass -- I used the framed pieces from a storm door. This determines the dimensions of your dehydrator. If your glass is 32" by 31", your frame must be 32" by 31".
2. "Heater" - This is left over aluminum flashing I had lying around. It needs cross bars to hold it above the drying screens. Braces on top keep the cross bars from falling off and a handle going over both cross bars on top also adds strength while being useful. It needs to fit inside the frame.
3. Drying screens - I had no access to stainless steel screening, which would have definitely been stronger, so I used aluminum. The screens sit on top of the roofing. I made two for each dehydrator to make loading easier and not overload the screens themselves. Because I used ribbed roofing instead of wavy (which I couldn't find), I had to put risers the thickness of the ribs on at least one side of each screen.
4. Frame with reflector - the dimensions of this are based on the size of your glass. The south end of the frame has a 1" gap above the reflector and the north end has a 1" gap below the glass. This allows air to move rapidly through the dehydrator and carry away moisture from the food you're drying. This is not vital in an arid area, but is essential where there is any humid weather. I have found this design so effective that I've dried greens on cloudy days when there were light showers.
1. Glass -- I used the framed pieces from a storm door. This determines the dimensions of your dehydrator. If your glass is 32" by 31", your frame must be 32" by 31".
2. "Heater" - This is left over aluminum flashing I had lying around. It needs cross bars to hold it above the drying screens. Braces on top keep the cross bars from falling off and a handle going over both cross bars on top also adds strength while being useful. It needs to fit inside the frame.
3. Drying screens - I had no access to stainless steel screening, which would have definitely been stronger, so I used aluminum. The screens sit on top of the roofing. I made two for each dehydrator to make loading easier and not overload the screens themselves. Because I used ribbed roofing instead of wavy (which I couldn't find), I had to put risers the thickness of the ribs on at least one side of each screen.
4. Frame with reflector - the dimensions of this are based on the size of your glass. The south end of the frame has a 1" gap above the reflector and the north end has a 1" gap below the glass. This allows air to move rapidly through the dehydrator and carry away moisture from the food you're drying. This is not vital in an arid area, but is essential where there is any humid weather. I have found this design so effective that I've dried greens on cloudy days when there were light showers.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
 |
Add Comment
|
