something other than firebrick in an arch?

[acerrubrum]

Hello all,
I'm new to making syrup and this website. I discovered both last year and really have come to enjoy both.
I just finished building an arch for my 2x4 pan and was wondering if there are any alternatives to using firebrick. I can get some locally for a reasonable price but got to thinking about using other cement products and if they would work. Has anyone used something like cement board, backer board or some other cement sheet good? I'm not sure if they would hold up to the heat, any help would be great.

[mike z]

I put a couple cement boards in my old arch. It lasted the season but was falling apart by the end. I thought about "cob" (clay, sand and straw), the building process used to make outdoor ovens and the like, but a local producer sold me some used firebrick for a buck/piece. I thought that was a pretty good deal. Visit some of the older producers in the area and ask if they have any lying around.

[sugarwoodacres]

2600 degree fire blanket . $96 for a whole roll and you can almost hold your hand on evaporator and not get burned, which means more heat going up to pans.

[5050racing]

Check your message box

[Randav]

This is my first year and I just finished my first arch. I'm hoping to fire it up this weekend. I was going to use firebrick to line the inside of my arch until I calculated the price. My neighbor has been a mason for 40 years and has 40 years of used brick laying around. He told me that "old red clay brick" will work almost as well as fire brick to help hold the heat in. I purchased around 100 from him at 25 cents each instead of $1.50 each for fire brick. In my case, another way I looked at it was, why spend $150.00 to protect $50.00 worth of concrete block? Take a look at this:

http://www.traditionaloven.com/articles/95/old-red-clay-solids-as-firebrick-alternative

[plattmaple]

I have a 3x10 wood fired evaporator that i have used for the last 6 years with high density fireboard in the back part of the arch, from the ramp up. As long as you dont bash it with wood, it's ok. I just built my son a 2x4 barrel evaporator and i basically did the same thing in that one also. the fireboard is easier to cut and put in odd angled areas. It comes in 1 or 2 inch thickness, and various widths and lengths. Its a little cheaper than firebrick, and you should be able to get it at your local syrup dealer. You might also want to check with a local furnace dealer as it is used in that industry as well. Maybe you might even get some used material from a scraped unit. the stuff i used is rated for 2400 degrees and you can put your hand on the arch where it is used. I still used firebrick in the firebox though. good luck,hope you make lots of syrup!

[sugar ED]

Hello all,
I'm new to making syrup and this website. I discovered both last year and really have come to enjoy both.
I just finished building an arch for my 2x4 pan and was wondering if there are any alternatives to using firebrick. I can get some locally for a reasonable price but got to thinking about using other cement products and if they would work. Has anyone used something like cement board, backer board or some other cement sheet good? I'm not sure if they would hold up to the heat, any help would be great.
Hello acerrubrum , Just my two cents, But I tryed all the cheap ways, lol . the board holds the heat in the unit/arch but as soon as the fire gose out the heat is gone and that told me thay don't hold heat well . The red brick with cement boards will work to keep heat, But the firebrick is now in mine and my boils are alot shorter/faster!!! well worth the cost! I found mine at a cement/ block company. new full brick $2.50 ,haft brick $1.50 .....
Good Luck Tappin and have lots of fun ,Ed
P.S. Watch out for the Maple bug /addiction .lol . I got it bad !

[acerrubrum]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input, it really helps. Over the weekend I went to a sugarbush supplier nearby and, after a little education, got some 1" insulation board, and some used 9"x9"x 2.5" firebrick for a great price. After reading some of the responses and thinking this over, I figured it best to insulate and firebrick to reduce the time and energy for boils. It probably will take time to pay for itself, but I like knowing it's more efficient.
Gotta head home and check my buckets!

[Brent]

Evaporators have been lined with firebrick to protect the insulation for 150 years.( well for a long time anyway) If there was a cheaper useful way to do it, we'd all be doing it.
Sometimes you just bite your tongue and follow in the footsteps. By the way, firebrick does almost nothing as insulation. Do insulate and protect that
with firebrick.

[trea_bagger]

Its my first season and I allready spend 10X more than i thought I would have. Basically, I couldnt spend a few hundred on brix. Not sure how (k) it is but i linned the inside walls and botton of my arch with I believe are limestone....or some sort of large paver stones, i found on a pallet back in the woods (they have been there for year). It worked suprisingly well, after the boil i noticed they were begining to break and crack. I'll toss them this weekend and put a few more in.

[Brent]

Its my first season and I allready spend 10X more than i thought I would have. Basically, I couldnt spend a few hundred on brix. Not sure how (k) it is but i linned the inside walls and botton of my arch with I believe are limestone....or some sort of large paver stones, i found on a pallet back in the woods (they have been there for year). It worked suprisingly well, after the boil i noticed they were begining to break and crack. I'll toss them this weekend and put a few more in.

Don't fuss about them. They don't insulate. As long as they standing and protect the sides and hopefully the insulation between them and the sides, they'll be fine.