eschoon
12-17-2010, 03:22 PM
The kids & I made some syrup last spring on 4 steam table pans and a block arch setup. We made 7.5 gallons & are looking forward to doing it again in 2011. I need some help in deciding on a pan configuration for the evaporator I am building. I am taking the advice of several people on the forum to others and skipping some of the “small steps” in evaporator sizing. I am building a 2x8 arch. I have an old, heavy wood stove that will be the firebox and enough other steel around the farm to frame and sheet the flue area. I am planning on a 10” stack and have that already as well.
My dilemma is what to use for a pan configuration. I was thinking of putting steam table pans on at first and setting them into a plate on the top as I have seen several pictures of here and maybe putting “drop tubes” in 2-3 of them as I have also seen here. I started pricing out the material to do this and think I would not be too far away from some divided flat pans in price. I think I would like to set up a “cross flow” type system for the syrup pans. I was thinking a 2’x6’ rear pan with 3 channels and (2) 1’x2’ syrup pans on the front. Otherwise (2) 2’x3’ rear pans with 3 channels each and the (2) 1’x2’ syrup pans on the front. I would plumb all of it together with the appropriate couplers, etc.
I cannot afford to set up with a new raised/drop flue pan. I have not yet found any used ones on the dealer websites that would work. I am 5 hour drive from the nearest equipment dealer that I know of (Andersons, Cumberland, WI). I may try to find a local shop to weld up what I need. I have the possibility to max out at around 500 taps in a couple of years. (we are on the very western edge of the natural range for sugar/black/red maple).
All opinions, humble or otherwise, considered. Sorry for the long post.
Thank you all for your time and the GREAT web forum!
My dilemma is what to use for a pan configuration. I was thinking of putting steam table pans on at first and setting them into a plate on the top as I have seen several pictures of here and maybe putting “drop tubes” in 2-3 of them as I have also seen here. I started pricing out the material to do this and think I would not be too far away from some divided flat pans in price. I think I would like to set up a “cross flow” type system for the syrup pans. I was thinking a 2’x6’ rear pan with 3 channels and (2) 1’x2’ syrup pans on the front. Otherwise (2) 2’x3’ rear pans with 3 channels each and the (2) 1’x2’ syrup pans on the front. I would plumb all of it together with the appropriate couplers, etc.
I cannot afford to set up with a new raised/drop flue pan. I have not yet found any used ones on the dealer websites that would work. I am 5 hour drive from the nearest equipment dealer that I know of (Andersons, Cumberland, WI). I may try to find a local shop to weld up what I need. I have the possibility to max out at around 500 taps in a couple of years. (we are on the very western edge of the natural range for sugar/black/red maple).
All opinions, humble or otherwise, considered. Sorry for the long post.
Thank you all for your time and the GREAT web forum!