How much sap?

[whalems]

I am new to using a real evaporator.(flat pan batch method before) I have a 4x7 drop flue pan and a 4x4 front pan. It takes about 125 gallons to fill the pans. The question is how much sap do i need to evaporate before I can expect to start making syrup? I have run approx. 700 gallons thru so far and the thermometer has only come up to 2* above the boiling point of water. my sap has been right around the 2% mark so far. Thanks for the help, Mike

[michiganfarmer2]

Ive never paid attention. WHen it finnally starts comming, you'll giggle like a shool girl.. 2, 3, 4 gallons at a time. Its pretty awsome!

[tom jr.]

how deep are you running your pans? 125 seems like alot for a 4x12

[Birdland Sugarbush]

I have a similar question - waiting here for the sap to start flowing. I have a 2 x4 flat pan and need to know how much sap I need in order to boil.

[whalems]

I am running my pans about 1 1/2" deep.

[PerryW]

On my 3x10, I need about 400-500 gallons to be able to take off the first time.

I run about 3/4"-1" in the back pan (above the raised flues) and about 1.5 inches deep in the front pan.

[whalems]

Thanks for the replys.

[Big_Eddy]

Batch boiling in a flat pan without dividers.
width (in) x length (ft) = gals / batch at 1/2" finished depth assuming 40:1

2x3 =~ 75 gals
2x4 =~ 100 gals

Any less than that and you have to finish it off elsewhere.



For a flow process
Fill volume x 20 = amount to boil before the first draw off, assuming again 40:1 ratio.

These are rule of thumb calculations with some rounding to make the math easy, but they will get you in the ballpark.



Back to the original question - for a 4x12 with a 7' Flue pan, and 20 @ 7" drop flues, I calculate you needing 75 US gals to fill to one inch. (45 Gals in the flues, and 30 gals / inch)

That would mean syrup coming off after roughly 1500 gals, assuming you maintain the level at 1".

[whalems]

I follow the math but I have more then 6 drop flues at 7" there are 20 drop flues. and it takes 125 gallons of sap to fill the pans 1 1/2" deep.

[Asian Long Horned Beetle]

Hi Mike, was just curious if you plugged the side where the sap comes in from the back pan on the side you're drawing off from?

[Dave Puhl]

It takes 40gal to fill my raised flue 2x6 runin1" deep....I like to have 150-200 gal to run the fisrt day...the first cookin always takes the longest..are you getting color differnce in your syrup pan if so shes making syrup...

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

on 98 gal I made 1/2 to 3/4 gal last Sunday and just when I shut down gauge hit 7 again had to cool it. That always seems to happen to me, just when I get ready to shut down I have syrup to draw off.
3-6-2011
2.4% sugar
28* deg F
Barometric falling
Humidity 80%
Dew. pt 25* F
Started at 6PM straight up
finished 9:30PM
I got so excited when drawing syrup I forgot to log down all stats at time of draw, Laptop will be out in Sugar garage this weekend.

Boil 3-11-11
stats coming

[whalems]

[QUOTE=Asian Long Horned Beetle;141206]Hi Mike, was just curious if you plugged the side where the sap comes in from the back pan on the side you're drawing off from?[/QUOTE

No. When I bought the pan it came with 1 plug that I use to plug the inlet out of the float box where sap enters the pan and I assummed that was all I needed:emb: But It sounds like I will be needing another plug:confused:

[michiganfarmer2]

[QUOTE=Asian Long Horned Beetle;141206]Hi Mike, was just curious if you plugged the side where the sap comes in from the back pan on the side you're drawing off from?[/QUOTE

No. When I bought the pan it came with 1 plug that I use to plug the inlet out of the float box where sap enters the pan and I assummed that was all I needed:emb: But It sounds like I will be needing another plug:confused:

I like to have two. When IM done boiling for the day, I like to plug them both so the concentrate from the front pan cant dilute back into the flue pan.

Just rememeber to unplug it before starting again the next day,lol. I havent burned the front pan yet, but a hired guy did. I got the front pan pretty low before I remembered once, but I caught it before it was too late

[whalems]

Thanks, I already called Paul Williams at Hide-Away and he is checking to see if he has any. I guess I was still batch cooking on a HUGE scale:rolleyes:

[michiganfarmer2]

Thanks, I already called Paul Williams at Hide-Away and he is checking to see if he has any. I guess I was still batch cooking on a HUGE scale:rolleyes:

stuff sometign els in the hole. Even a clean dish rag is better than nothing

[michiganfarmer2]

Mike, Id sure like to see that run. If I wasnt so busy, Id come over and give you a hand. do have an automatic draw off?

[tom jr.]

not to drag this out but 231 cubic inches= 1 gal. so at 1.5'' deep in your front pan I come up with 15 gal and 25 gal in the rear minus the flues if you have 20 flues at 1'' wide 72'' long and 7'' deep thats another 40 gal. thats a total of around 80 + or - gal. anyway I hope you have one huge draw off bucket for all that syrup in your first draw:o thinking about 10 or so gal

[Birdland Sugarbush]

Wow - that's a lot of sap. Glad it's finally running here. Collected about 25 gallons. Guess I'll have to store before I can boil.


Batch boiling in a flat pan without dividers.
width (in) x length (ft) = gals / batch at 1/2" finished depth assuming 40:1

2x3 =~ 75 gals
2x4 =~ 100 gals

Any less than that and you have to finish it off elsewhere.



For a flow process
Fill volume x 20 = amount to boil before the first draw off, assuming again 40:1 ratio.

These are rule of thumb calculations with some rounding to make the math easy, but they will get you in the ballpark.

[whalems]

stuff sometign els in the hole. Even a clean dish rag is better than nothing

I made a temporary hardwood plug Paul thought it would only take a day or 2 to get me a new one

[Sugarmaker]

Whalems,
Hope that temp plug worked. I forgot to put one in the darw off side and could not figure out what was wrong . The temp went to 213 and stayed. Like you, I was just making one big batch of syrup!

Chris


I made a temporary hardwood plug Paul thought it would only take a day or 2 to get me a new one

[whalems]

the plug will work but my dealer just called and said he got one from down state. and has it in his hand. I will pick it up in the morning. NO SHIPPING CHARGES!! I called him this morning!! Now that guy will be getting some more business from me:) Paul Williams from Hide-Away sugar bush Thank you very much, Mike

[whalems]

After many mistakes:mad: I finally drew off my first syrup on the new rig:) made 8 gallons today.