Divided pan problem

[Sundown]

I bought a 2X3 divided flat pan similar to a half pint last season and found that the product moving through the dividers toward the draw off seemed to blend between the compartments. The dividers are down tight to the bottom but not welded in solid only spotted every 6" or so. I ended up with not much better of a system then my old batch pan. Do you think not being welded solid is the problem? Everything was set up nice and level so should have worked. I'm waiting a couple more weeks to get started here in N.E. Wisconsin. Not much snow but lots of cold.

[Brent]

I think most folks here would agree that they should be welded all along the bottom. If they are not the next question is how big is the gap... when its boiling. The pans will often change shape when heated so try slipping a spatula under to see how big the gap is. I think many have far to big a port at the ends of the dividers. You can get a bit of sheet metal and bend it so it will hang on the partition like a flapper, and reduce the mixing at the ports.

[Haynes Forest Products]

What is the guage of SS. Get a hold of Jim From smokey pan benders:lol: Really I bet he can help. I think you need stitching every inch.

[RileySugarbush]

I can't believe it makes that much difference whether it is welded all along or just a close fit. What mechanism is driving the mixing through a little gap in the bottom of a divider? Its much easier to flow around the divider. Sometimes the gradient gets messed up if the depth is too great, particularly with wide channels like you find in a half pint with three channels. Another thing to look how even the boil is.