30"x8' minimum number of taps

[ELM_DALE_MAPLE]

We are putting together our 30"x8' Small brothers evaporator. Last year we had 205 bucket taps. I might lose a 1/3 of my help this year and my dad and I can only boil after work (6pm). How many taps will we need to feed this thing and make it all make sense (not having too little of sap to fire)? Looking forward to the opinions...

[maplwrks]

That rig will boil 65-75 gallons per hr. If you have all 200 of your taps in, you would probably see 3 hr boil on most days that it runs. There will be days however, that will be more or less depending on the run.

[ELM_DALE_MAPLE]

Mike,
Forgot to add our rig will be wood fired with a traditional style arch. So should I still expect the 65 gal./hr?

[Jeff E]

I had a 2x8, that normally did about 35 gph. How big is your flue pan?

[ELM_DALE_MAPLE]

30x5 flue pan

[tuckermtn]

I get 50-55gph off a bone stock 30x8 grimm with a 30x 5.5ft flu pan. I think you will be fine with 200 or so taps. gives you some flexibility if there are days you cannot boil.

[Farmboy]

I had 150 taps on a 30"X8' last year and it was fine. I could only boil after school and on weekends and this was fine. I was able to boil most nights. One week the sap ran so good I couldnt keep up after school.

[Jeff E]

I agree with the other posts. 125 would be a good minimum if you do 50 gph. You could boil every other day with moderate runs. I would think you would want at least 150 gallons to fire up the rig.