Airtight front or preheater

[mountain man maple]

I have a 2x6 raised flue grimm evaporator. I want to get as much boil out of it as possible but also plan to upgrade to a larger evaporator in a few years. Would building a airtight door help much on the grimm front? Its also up on blocks so this would have to be sealed also I would assume to get effects of airtight door. I have under fire air now but still get a ton of ash. Last year redid arch with ceramic blanket it boils harder but think I still can get more out of it. If I build a preheater want a seperate unit that steam comes off of hood then enters. Not sure what size pipe I would want to use in this. Thought of using 3/4" copper to enter and exit preheater then go to 1/2" copper inside and split it into 2 seperate lines. Would 2 1/2" lines flow 100 gals per hour on gravity feed? Any ideas on all of this?

[jcyphert]

My first official post here, great community!

I would love to know the answer to this also... Which is better money spent?

Are any plans/blueprints floating around for pre-heaters?

[Buffalo Creek Sugar Camp]

Anthony- I took the preheater off of my old evaporator over to Henry's a few weeks ago. I kept the copper but he may sell you the stainless box. It may be a bit large for the 2X6 but it would work

[500592]

Mountain man the half inch lines will be fine for a two by six they won't need to flow one hunted gallons an hour you will be very lucky to get fifty out of a two by six if you have a newer model and ten ten inch flues and air under fire air over fire and a preheater so 30-35 will be about what you will get with a traditional preheater unlike you are planning so I would check out uvms paper on preheaters

[mountain man maple]

I want to be able to use the preheater over when I get a new evaporator which I figure will be a 3x10 thats why I want it to be capable of 100 gallons

[500592]

Ok that makes sense now but if you get a bigger evap you need a bigger preheater.

[mountain man maple]

I am thinking about building a preheater now for inside hood. The problem I see with it though is my hood covers front and back pans with one 8 inch outlet pipe. If I put a damper in it steam will just push out from under hood since its all one I figure. Has anyone tried a preheater in a hood like this? Would going with 1/2" pipe be enough to make heat from steam going past? Is it also enough flow to keep up with 2x6 was thinking of 50' of 1/2" copper. Thanks for any input.

[Thiems sugarshack]

I was told you want to adjust the damper so that steam just starts coiming out from the around the hood which will give you the most heat to your pre heater correct me if im wrong.

[mountain man maple]

I think with Hood open between flue and finish pan that I will have a problem with steam going out at all if I pit a damper in.