New flue pan finished!

[HAHA I 1]

Got the sides cut yesterday and finished welding today. Checked for leaks and filled it with sap this evening! I haven't started to boil yet, but will tomorrow morning (not enough sap to mess with tonight). I hope it shows a significant improvement. I went from 6sqft to 17.25sqft of surface area. I have a 3/4" port to weld into it for my new valve, but I have to do some cutting on the evaporator to allow clearance for it.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg190/HAHAI1/th_bbe2987f.jpg (http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg190/HAHAI1/?action=view&current=bbe2987f.jpg)

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg190/HAHAI1/th_2c07dc97.jpg (http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg190/HAHAI1/?action=view&current=2c07dc97.jpg)

[Starting Small]

That looks great, where did you get the design from? I will be getting a 2 X 3 and am already kicking myself for not getting something bigger. Do you think it would be worth asking the local high school to build a flue pan for a 2 X 3 or should I just buy a bigger evaporator next year? Also, do you plan to put dividers in your pan? Thanks and congrats!

[HAHA I 1]

I designed it myself, but its a pretty simple and somewhat common concept. I got some quotes from some local places as well as some bigger shops, and it just wasn't worth the money to me. I am a so-so welder, and this was my first attempt at stainless. It came out well - it doesn't leak! I will not be putting dividers in any of my 3 pans (I have a 2x3 flue pan, a 2x3 flat pan, and a 2x1 preheater). At 110 taps, I am having to get up at night to feed the fire and add sap just to keep up on the heavy days, so I hope this pan allows me to sleep a little and to expand to more taps. We want to hit 175 taps this year.

Next year, we want to try to hit 250 taps, but we will be building a bigger sugar shack and a larger 3x8 or 3x9 evaporator with a bigger flue pan.

[Starting Small]

Is it worth making a flue pan with a 2X3 or should I just buy a bigger evaporator?

[spencer11]

are you talking about a 2x3 flue pan or a flue pan for a 2x3 arch? patrick phaneuf makes a 24"x30" flue pan with 10-7" drop flues(25-30 gph!) so a 2x3 flue pan would work. you would just have to make pretty big flues. i was thinking about making one.

spencer

[Starting Small]

I have the basic Mason 2 X 3 evaporator. So I guess arch would be what I am referring to?

[spencer11]

i would go with a bigger arch. you might be able to make a 2x2 flue pan and have a 2x1 syrup pan. but i think you should get a 2x4 or a 2x5 if you plan on expanding.

spencer

[kinalfarm]

that looks awsome!should work great! maybe 25 gph or more!