The "Half Pint" vs the 2’x3’ Mason Hobby Evaporator (Bascom)

[Starting Small]

Both of these seem to be very similar in price, slightly different in apprearance is there much difference in functionality/performance?

[maple flats]

The Mason will likely boil slightly faster. A Half Pint is only 33 x 24", the Mason is 36 x 24". Aside from that just check condition. Both in good condition will get about 5.5-6 gph if you do everything right. Sometimes but rarely I got 7 gph on the half pint but don't expect it. The basic thing is that surface area has about 1 gal per sq ft evaporation for a flat pan.

[TopoWorld]

I have a Half Pint pan that we used for two seasons on a homemade oil barrel arch. I just picked up a new W.F. Mason arch (24" x 33") to fit the pan. It is made of steel where the Leader Half Pint arch is galvanized sheet metal. It looks to be very well made and Bill was informative and helpful.

[bowtie]

what about the mason 2x4 , i know i sound like a commercial for them but they are only a little bit more and with a blower you should 10-12 gph at least. straight from bill i think they are $1200.

[Jec]

The biggest thing that sets evaporators apart is the surface area of the pans. The more surface area the more evaporation. So, the mason will get a little more evaporation rate because of the surface area of the pan.

[Starting Small]

Good to know, Bill definitely seems like a stand up guy from a few brief conversations with him. I appreciate everyone's insights

[Dill]

I'd go with Bill's 2x4 better gph and resale.

[Starting Small]

How far in advance do you need to put an order in for Bill? I know he is sold out of his 2 X 3 and 2X4 for this season.

[steve J]

I had a mason 2x3 and got around 6 gpy out of it I up graded to a mason 2x4 with a blower. I aver about 15 gpr with blower on half throttle I could not run it on full speed because the elbow went beyong cherry red to near stack meltdown. So I think 15 is probably the best you will get.

[Starting Small]

I am purchasing a 2 X 3 from Bill and I am having a blower installed also. Would it be a fair estimate that I could expect about 9 gph with this setup?

[steve J]

With the blower you should get 9 maybe 10 be sure to use arch board and fire brick and blower he provides does not come with a speed control you will need to install one so as to not melt your stack down.

[Starting Small]

Is arch board the same thing as arch paper? If so then I am having him install that. How can I set up a speed control on that?

[heus]

The Mason 2x3 has an insulated door, the Half-Pint does not.

[Starting Small]

So is arch paper not necessary on a Mason because the door is insurlated?

[Dill]

No you want to insulate as much as possible. Get as much heat on the pan and not out the sides. So yes on arch board and firebrick.

[Starting Small]

What do you mean melt the stack down. Like literally having the stack melt and warp?

[Ecnerwal]

blower he provides does not come with a speed control you will need to install one so as to not melt your stack down.

For a squirrel-cage blower, all you need is a simple damper/flap over the intake - no "speed control" required. The motor will even draw less power when you close the flap, without you having electronic anything (except a meter if you want to the see that effect.) Don't know why people overcomplicate this one.

[judgejp]

Mason all the way. Better order now for next year though.

[judgejp]

brand new Mason 2x3 for sale in Farmington Maine on Craigslist

[steve J]

Yes on my 2x4 with the blower on high the elbow on the stack turned cherry red to the pointit seem like I could almost see thru it had I not backed off the blower it would have melted down. I have no idea what arch paper is maybe somebody else here knows.Arch board is about 1" thick you can buy it from Bascoms in NH. Very easy to work with. Bill insulates the door which is great but you need arch board everywere else before you brick it.

[Starting Small]

Steve, you did 110 taps on a 2 X 3? You must have been boiling forever! Did you have to boil every day all day? I thought I would be overwhelmed with sap on 25 taps with this but maybe I will be ok? What are your thoughts? It says good to 50 taps but I cannot boil every day either. On Mason's website he advertises arch paper, I am assuming it is similar to arch board but I have not seen the term arch paper anywhere else.

[steve J]

When I boiled yes my boil days were long as in 8 to 10 hours and with the 2x3 I had no blower. I also would try to boil some evenings. And it seem there would always be one point during season that I would have to dump some sap as I could not get to boil it. With a blower I would think 50 would be manageable for you.

[Starting Small]

That is encouraging to hear and it definitely puts my mind at ease. Sounds like boiling 2-3 times per week would be alright. Keep me posted as to how your 2X4 performs!

[Starting Small]

Is the base stack that the mason comes with all that you need or is there any advantage to extending the chimney/stack?

[wiam]

Stack should be at least twice as tall as pans are long.

[Starting Small]

Is there any advantage to having it taller than two times the length of the pans?

[steve J]

The top of your stack needs to be taller then peak of roof and I am sure there is an exact science for that but I don't know by how much?

[Starting Small]

What do you mean peak of the roof, do you mean the roof of the building?