Dial Thermometers

[adk1]

Wondering if the 3" faced dial is ok, or is it worth getting the 5" faced dial thermometer? Anyone out there want to chime in? THe folks that I ahve been assisting use waht looks like a candy thermometer than is attached to the syrup pan nearest whatever side they draw from. This has worked but is constantly steamed up, and they are always wiping it off with a paper towel.

[Greenwich Maple Man]

Wondering if the 3" faced dial is ok, or is it worth getting the 5" faced dial thermometer? Anyone out there want to chime in? THe folks that I ahve been assisting use waht looks like a candy thermometer than is attached to the syrup pan nearest whatever side they draw from. This has worked but is constantly steamed up, and they are always wiping it off with a paper towel.

I personaly have the 3in. they seem to work great. Don't know how much of a difference there is in price but I wouldn't spend that much more for a 5 unless it was only a few dollars. By the way the 27th is getting closer. Was at my camp up North and was seeing all sorts of deer on the move. Tons of apples. Did see a nice 8 pointer cross the road coming home from bear hunting one night.

[3rdgen.maple]

Im guessing they had their thermometer just sitting in the pan, hence the reason it steamed over. 3 inch is all you need and a port for it by the drawoff is a good thing.

[maple flats]

All of mine are 3" faces and they work good that I had last year. I did notice that I now have a 5" that came with my propane finisher. I would not buy the bigger unless you were going to need to read it from farther away than you could see well on a 3". I'm fairly sure the innards are the same and just the size on the dial is bigger. If I'm wrong someone will chime in.

[Jec]

I think that the bigger faces are for looks and for reading the thermometer easily. On the evaporator you realy don't need a big face, but when your finishing, the bigger the easier you can see what the syrup is at.

[northwoods_forestry]

I think that the bigger faces are for looks and for reading the thermometer easily. On the evaporator you realy don't need a big face, but when your finishing, the bigger the easier you can see what the syrup is at.

Jec - What you say makes sense which means I've got it backwards...I've got my 5" thermometers on the rig and the 3" ones on the finisher and canner!

[Haynes Forest Products]

Have a buddy that has the 5" dial and the pointer is very thin. When it comes to pin point accuracy its nice. I think its like clocks you see a big clock face and the mechanism is the same as the small ones or vice versa

[adk1]

thanks guys. I will order the 3". I beleive the 5" is another $20 or so. Also, I have the threaded port on each side of my syrup map..the NPT thing. Wondering if I should get 2 of the 3" thermometers or just one and plug the other side each time..thoughts?

[Greenwich Maple Man]

thanks guys. I will order the 3". I beleive the 5" is another $20 or so. Also, I have the threaded port on each side of my syrup map..the NPT thing. Wondering if I should get 2 of the 3" thermometers or just one and plug the other side each time..thoughts?

It would be a pain to have to change everytime you switch sides especialy if theres "sweets" in your pan. To be honest I realy don't even look at the theremo. at all. I sheet or apron all my syrup off the scoop. Then I check it with my hydrometer. I'm almost always right on. If I'm to heavy heavy I draw a little extra, if I'm to light I draw less. After my draw off bucket is full I check it before dumping into the filter tank. Like I said it is almost always right on. Something you may want to think about before you spend the extra money. This is just what works realy well for me.

[Brent]

depends a bit on how experienced you are

if your eyes are as old and experienced as you are, sometimes bigger is better, especially if you have a fog hanging in the SS and the lights are not great.

[adk1]

yeah, well, I am not experienced enough to do the apon test, although I have seen it done hundreds of times. I will use the thermo, and the apron test and the hydro. Guess I will get two thermos

[Jim Schumacher]

I spent much time over the summer developing thermometers and hydrometers for syrup and sap. It is very amazing how much technological can go into a thermometer. Did you know the bi-metal coil that drives the needle can be constructed using the combination of four different metals? It can also be constructed using only two. Did you know the thickness of the material alters throughout the coil? It also changes by.00021" in width to assure accuracy throughout the entire range. At least the ones I developed do. I cut no corners in the cost of developing them. The very large quantity that I ordered is how I am able to offer them at prices lower then anyone else. See the picture below. I authorized mass production only two weeks ago so it will be mid October before I can send any out

I have stem lengths of 7",9", and 12"

3" dial, $45.00
5" dial, $55.00

I consider the 5" to be much more accurate then the 3". There is 35% more space between the increment of one degree, so up to 35% more accurate.

[BryanEx]

Awesome! I'm in Jim. I assume they can be calibrated easily and do you have finishing thermometers as well (7 degree range) ?

- Bryan Ex

[Haynes Forest Products]

Well hell Im going to need a few myself so Put me down for a few of the 5" so I can keep my auto draw honest.

[Flat47]

Not to detract from Jim's new thermometers, but keep on eye on eBay. I got a new 5" face, 6" stem Wika bi-metal, 0 to 240 degrees for $15. Still, I may just have get one of Jim's.

[Butch]

Hey fellas - just saw Jim's thermometers at his camp, didn't realize the work he has put into them - they look great, are easy to read, and I am certain are very accurate given my experience with Jim's professionalism.

I know more of his equipment is in my near future, also - just thought I would add my 2 cents...

[RUSTYBUCKET]

adk1 -

As Jim stated, the increment spacing between the 3" and 5'" thermometers is quite noticeable. If I get an opportunity in the next day or two, I will try to get a shot of my 3" and 5" thermometers side by side. Hopefully it will show the difference.

- Russ

[northwoods_forestry]

And you really should get one for each side. One less reason to put off reversing the flow

[adk1]

IT doesnt take muc hto convie me guys, I i will have 2 5" face thermometers b efore you know it

[Haynes Forest Products]

Don't get me wrong adk1 you really need to get spell check and whats up with (ahve) thing is it me:confused:

[3rdgen.maple]

Haynes that redneck spelling in the adirondacks. Its where the brain thinks faster than the fingers type. Oh wait I got that wrong its where the fingers type faster than the brain can think. No wait wrong again its where the computer responds faster than the brain and fingers can think and type. Oh heck I will shut up now. But to get back on thread Im si cofused on tihs 3 inch and 5 icnh thermometor thing wye not just make a 4 inch adn be don wit it? That way you dont ahve to burn rain cells to figore out whic one to bye. :twisted:

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Haynes that redneck spelling in the adirondacks. Its where the brain thinks faster than the fingers type. Oh wait I got that wrong its where the fingers type faster than the brain can think. No wait wrong again its where the computer responds faster than the brain and fingers can think and type. Oh heck I will shut up now. But to get back on thread Im si cofused on tihs 3 inch and 5 icnh thermometor thing wye not just make a 4 inch adn be don wit it? That way you dont ahve to burn rain cells to figore out whic one to bye. :twisted:

well for one you need brain cells to burn and its been quite obvious to us all you have no more 3RD:o. Rednecks in the Ads. and us Hillbillies over here in the Greens get along just fine with our brain cells:lol: for what we have lft. The 5" seems to be cool big dial so us old folks can read them.:cry:

[GramaCindy]

IT doesnt take muc hto convie me guys, I i will have 2 5" face thermometers b efore you know it

I'm thinking this spelling may have a lot more to do with a few "boiling sodas!"

[Daren]

That's some funny poop right there 3rd! to bad we all have an easy time of reading it! What does that tell ya.

[3rdgen.maple]

Daren it is kind of funny how easy it was to understand but darn was it hard to try to mispell those words.
Flatlander buddy ole pal lol.

[RUSTYBUCKET]

Straying a bit from the original topic. Is there a set standard as to how far off the bottom of the syrup pan the end of the thermometer stem should sit ?

[Haynes Forest Products]

With the evil auto draw off I have I try and get it 1/4" from the bottom. My dial therms are more like 1/2 well within the boiling syrup and foam.

[adk1]

funny guys you are. I will try using the spellcheck more! haha:lol:

[adk1]

I'm thinking this spelling may have a lot more to do with a few "boiling sodas!"

wow, I typed that! That is bad!:D Anyways, back to the thread. The 5" seems to be the better of the two. I will have to measure the width of my syrup pan dividers to see if the 7" would work. Leaders stems are down to 6".