Lapierre Junior Evaporator?

[randomseeker]

I am currently boiling with a Leader Half Pint which, at 4 gph, is wearing on me with the 50 buckets I hang. I will finish the season with it but want to move up to something in the 12 to 20 gph range for next year. Today I saw a Lapierre Junior an it looks good to me. Has anybody had any experience with that evaporator?

[sweetvt]

I have a Lapierre Jr drop flue evaporator 18X66. On best days I can get 18- 20 Gallons evaporation per hour. I have tweeked mine with a forced draft and a steam hood and preheater inside of that. I think a base one would get 15 GPH.

I have around a 100 taps this year On thursday I boiled off 150 gals of sap started at 1130 AM and finished by 9 PM.

This rig will handle up to 100 taps o if you have anything more or plans for future expansion I would definately go with a 2 X 6

[Dennis H.]

I picked up a Lapierre 2'x5' raised flue evap from the Maple Guys. Great little evap. I had no trouble running it at 25gph. If I had nothing else to worry about but fire the evap I could get about 27gph.

I like the float boxes of the raised flue, I could regulate the level in each pan seperatly.

The evap came with an 24x18" syrup pan and a 24"x42" flue pan.

[tgormley358]

I picked up a Lapierre 2'x5' raised flue evap from the Maple Guys. Great little evap. I had no trouble running it at 25gph. If I had nothing else to worry about but fire the evap I could get about 27gph.

I like the float boxes of the raised flue, I could regulate the level in each pan seperatly.

The evap came with an 24x18" syrup pan and a 24"x42" flue pan.

Hi Dennis,

I just purchased the same Lap Jr 2x5 for 75-100 taps next season. I'm considering whether to add a blower and steam hood and pre heater for the flue pan. The cost is quoted by Maple Guys around $2,000. It's probably worth it (my time) I think for an evaporation boost of 7-10 GPH. Is this around what you paid? I realize your post is from quite a few years ago. Are you still using the 2x5 and still happy with it?

[Dennis H.]

Yes I am still using the 2x5. I am very happy with it and how it runs.
I can not right off the top of my head remember what I paid for the hood and pre-heater but I think it was around $1500-2000.
I had Smokey Lake maple build the hood for me.
Once it is up to temp, about 1/2 hour, I can get right around 25 gph out of the evap hood combo.

[tgormley358]

Thanks again Dennis. Interesting that you had Smokey Lake build it, not from lapierre. Lapierre doesn't include it in their catalog so I'm not sure where the one they're quoting me comes from. Wonder if it's the same unit you have. I'll report back what I find out - Chris at Maple Guys is trying to get me more info.