Grain dryer question???

[RichG]

I am putting up a 7500 bushel grain bin and need some info on small batch grain bins. I only put up 5k to 8k of corn so I don't need a large dryer. Any suggestions and what kind of $$ am i looking at???

 

[JMS/.MN]

If you mean a small portable automatic batch dryer, very few mfgrs left. Farm Fans has an excellent reputation. Model AB8B dries about 100 bu per batch, unloads and refills automatically, and shuts itself down when the wet bin is empty. Early models, like my 1979, have electronic (radio) tubes in control system- has not been a problem, but newer ones have solid state controls. Paid $2800 for mine in 1988, prices here are still similar, although most put in much bigger units. Auto batch dryer does a more uniform job than my drying bin.

 

[RichG]

Yes automatic batch dryer. not bin.

 

[State of Jefferson]

Stumbled across this a while ago. May be of some interest to you

Ben
Small grain dryer

 

[Jaden]

Second the suggestion of a Farm Fans AB8 or AB12. Small dryers, completely automatic. All parts still available, upgrades also. A batch dryer will be more economical than in bin drying due to higher air flows available. I have serviced Farm Fans for 25 years. I could point you to some rebuilt ones if need be.
John

 

[IaGary]

I dry several thousand bushels. I like the ease of bin drying. Put the grain in the bin, run the fan, use some extra heat if the grain is extra wet or humid weather conditions exist.

Most hybrids these cays have great dry down and seldom need much drying.

You can dry 18% grain for about 10 cents a bushel in a bin.

Each time you move grain it cost as much as a nickel a bushel. With the batch dryer you have an extra moving.

I would never build a bin without some type of fan and aeration floor away, so might as well put on a larger fan and have a bin and dryer all in one.

I'll disagree and say you can dry cheaper in a bin, than with a batch dryer. To much wasted heat.

The grain will come out with better quality with slow drying in a bin than quick hot batch drying as well.

Gary

 

[Anonymous-0]

what about a stor-mor top dry bin, they are efficient and you can store in them and not worry about spoilage along the walls which is sometimes a problem with bin driers, I thought about buying one but found a used dryer bin set up to move in

 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

We use a John Deere 550 batch dryer. It holds 500 bu. and in a long day we can dry 3 batches. Probaly not as efficient as newer dryers but it works good for our small farm. Not sure about parts as we have not needed any yet.

 

[Anonymous-0]

What you need is a DMC srirator double auger and a good fan with a heater that way if you need some extra temperature you can use the burner.

 

[JNP]

I will third the suggestion for a Farm Fans AB8 or AB12. Look for one with the updated timers. I believe that a new set of timers is in the $1000 range. Any reason you are staying away from a continuous flow machine? Make sure that you have parts service close by for whatever you buy. Not good to have to wait for parts when you should be drying corn.

 

[JMS/.MN]

Your volume is typical of what I put through the AB8B each year. With moisture in the 20-25% range, and the 1600 bu wet full in the evening, the dryer runs til about 3-4AM, (typical batch time is about 55 minutes, plus load/unload time_--the wet bin is empty, and everything shuts down. I leave the bedroom window cracked open since I tend to wake up if something sounds wrong, or refill/unload runs too long. There are safety shutdowns, even on a 1979 machine, so a plugged auger, flameout, overheat, will shut it down. A timer on the loading auger stops the auger if it runs beyond normal loading time, meaning that the wet bin is empty. A dryer separate from the bin is more versatile- available for other crops when the bin has grain in it. In the summer, I"ve used air only, no heat, for wet barley going into storage, and some3 13+ % soybeans going to market- cheaper than taking the discount.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Amen

 

[RichG]

I would love to have a bin dryer but that would add about another 10K to my project and that is not going to happen, so thanks for the info on the smaller driers.

 

[IaGary]

Your gonna have times when you didn't quite it it cooled enough or have some corn that is 15 to 16% and wish you had a fan to cool or dry just a little.

You also want to keep grain about the same temp as outside air. In other words cool the grain in the winter and warm it in the spring to avoid condensation spoilage.

I have 8 bins from 3500 bushel to 10,000 bushel all but one has aeration.

I wish that other one had it.

 

[RichG]

I am putting up a 7500 bushel bin with floor and a fan so that part will be covered. But if and when I see above 20% corn I don't think just the fan will dry it, that is why I am looking for a smaller dryer.

 

[IaGary]

Okay you are putting in a floor.

I have 2 10,000 bushel bins with 10HP fans. One of the two has a low temp gas fired heater. The other has electric heat coils for heat. No stirators in either one. You do need more vents on the roof with a larger fan. I have dryed 22% corn with no problems. Over 22 it never spoiled but didn't dry very well. Below 19% i use no heat just run the fan. It works here in Eastern Iowa. Where are you located?

You can dry 18% with just air for 10 cents a bushel and have high quality corn come out of the bin.

Just to upgrade to a larger fan and low temp heater can't be $10,000 can it?

Gary

 

[RichG]

No but they want a second layer inside. Three more vents for a total of six and stirators. It is a gsi fan so I could add a burner anytime. Won,t the condensation damage the corn inside the bin?

 

[IaGary]

No all the moisture goes up and out the vents.

You do not need a stirator to low temp dry.

I raise the air temp. only 5 degrees.

None of my bins have them.

Gary

 

[RichG]

Gary shoot me an email I would like to talk to you more about this.
Rich

 

[IaGary]

Rich I sent an email 2 or 3 days ago. Did it come through?

Gary

 

[RichG]

Gary it did not. Send another.