Which brand of evaporator is best?

[Dave Puhl]

Looking for info on what brand to buy ..2x6 size about...I want to pour a cement pad for it this summer... but just trying to figure out which one..

[forester1]

I think it's like a ford or chevy question. Probably someone on here has a strong opinion. First you need to ask yourself if you want a raised flue or drop flue. Then I would look at nearby dealers and see what kind of service they would offer, if any. If you buy new, they all look pretty nice to me.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

The maple guys sell Lapierre which used to be Waterloo/Small Bros. They are offering a 12% discount during the early order season but it won't last long! :D Lapierre has about the best up front pricing and 12% off of that, well, you get the picture. :D

[brookledge]

Another thought to consider is how long you might want to keep the evaporator. If you plan on keeping it for a long time you may want to consider buying from one of the manufactuers that have been around for many years so that in say 15 years if you need a part there is a good chance they will have it or can make it.
Whereas if you buy from the small manufactuers and they sell or go out of business in 5 years it may be a little harder to get a part.
I'm not saying that the small companies make poor quality but in the last 5 years some have gone out of business and there have been companies buying each other.
Otherwise like forester said its a matter of preference.
I'd ask questions from the dealers as to why you should buy their line and make them prove that their line is the best.
Keith

[Dave Puhl]

OK let me ask this ..I have a guy that works with SS ..I could have him make me two flat pans with dividers one for sap and one for syrup..I know the fluted sap pans you get more gallons burned off per hour..and then build some kinda of arch..fire brick and insualated...but I think an evaporator would do a better job but with twice or more cost....what do you guys think....

[sweetwoodmaple]

As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Not saying your guy with SST doesn't do a good job, but a flue pan is difficult to build and requires a lot of tig welding skills. It is worth it, though since you get a very large increase in evaporation rate. For example, one of my rigs in the past included two 3' square flat pans. So, that's 18 sq ft of area. Was luck to get 8-10 gph out of this rig, and that was going through firewood pretty good. Take my D&G 2 x 6, that I upgraded to a few years back. Only 12 sq ft, but could get 35 GPH (40 GPH with the blower on the fire).

If you want to try things out as far as syruping goes, then go for making a rig. I have done this several times.

If you are looking to expand and have hundreds of taps and still want to save $$, go with a good used unit from one of the major manufacturers. (D&G, Leader, LaPierre, Waterloo, etc)

Just my opinion, good luck.

[maple flats]

I think the big question is where do you want to be on # of taps in about 5 years. If you know you will not keep wanting to grow as 99% of us do, then your decission will be easier. As to brand I see little difference in the newer ones. The Lappierre looks good. All companies make anything for any make so the make is realitively moot except a critical part might end the season if a part needed to be built but almost all components can be made to finish the season with the services of a good TIG welder who knows lite gauge SS. So, as stated in an earlier post look for raised vs drop flue, locate a good dealer (The Maple Guys are very good dealers) and you might want to compare proximities of each Mfgr/dealer. Then compare designs and talk to a couple of owners for each one you like before deciding. BUT a 2 x 6 is always easy to sell if kept in good shape. If you want to grow I suggest starting with a 2 x 6 used and then buy new for your next one after you really have a better feel for what you like and don't like and how big you really might need. If looking used there will be many for sale shortly to pick from, if you wait til just before the 07 season you may find any hard to get. Good luck!

[Mike]

With all of the new people getting into sugaring, I'd wait a bit and find a nice used one......You say 2x6 but a 2.5x8 or 3x8 might be the size you'll need...Like they say, How big do you want to be down the road, How many taps can you get........I was one of them....Started out with a 2x6.....now have a 3x10 w/preheater hood oil..... :D ......

[Dave Puhl]

Thanks for the replys..thats what I want to hear from..been there done
that...yep with this sapin sickness it seems to makes you want to get bigger... :wink:

[Russell Lampron]

I started out with a 2x6, thought it was big enough for all that I would have time to tap etc. Now I have almost twice as many taps and an RO machine.

Russ

[mountainvan]

Dominion-Grimm is the best evaporator on the market in my opinion. leader/grimm the pans are to short, cdl/maplepro are a pain to deal with, waterloo-small/lapeirre are 2nd.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Pans are too short? 8O What does that mean?? 8O

[hard maple]

mountainvan- you hit the nail right smack dab on the head!! I've boiled on or owned all the rigs you listed. D&G qaulity is second to none!

[mountainvan]

when I say the pans are to short, I mean the height of the sides from the top of the flues to the lip of the pan. leader/grimm, lightning raised flue, I boiled on the sap splashed out of the pan on a good boil, landed on the arch and made a black syrup burning smell mess. also did not like the "z arm" for the float connection between the back and front pan. bent/broke way to easily.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Hmm, I have 11" on syrup pan and 15" on sap pan above floor. I think the older soldered pans, the sides were shorter than the pans they make now. :? I guess someone could complain about the flues being too short on D&G where they angle them off on the front and you loose a lot of flue space. :?

[Chemist]

What is the most common time of the year for people to sell used evaporators? I am looking to upgrade from my home made stove system and steam table pans. At two GPH, that is just not cutting it for my 18 taps.

I may buy a new leader half pint, but if I could get a used one for less in Wisconsin I will try to do so.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

From now thru the middle of May is the early order period and there will be quite a few used ones floating around at good prices. Watch the trader and the Maple News will also probably have quite a few listed. :D

[SteveD]

How do you subscribe to Maple News? I know I've seen it on here but I can't locate the right message.

Steve

[hard maple]

brandon
In my opinion, that 45 degree bevel D&G puts on their drop flue pans is the best design on the market. It's not just there for those pieces of wood that were cut just a little too long. When cleaning the inside of the flue with a brush theres no 90 degree angle for sugersand to hide. For me this far out ways the reduction in pan surface area.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have no problem with it either and I agree it is a good design, I was just making a point. I have never used a D&G in person but looked at one at the Verona conference last year and for a display model, the arch firebox looked like it was designed and put together by a 2 year old. It was the most awful looking contraption I have ever seen. I am sure someone just threw parts in there instead of putting it together, but imagine the only display model you have at a show where basically most of the top producers in the US are there and 500+ producers and looking like that. It was enough to tell me that I wouldn't want to buy one. My point is that if they didn't have enough pride to put it together for a display at an event like this, what would you get if you bought one?? :?

And there were a lot of people looking inside of the arch. 8O

[hard maple]

yikes!!!! a two year old!!! Was that the sportsman model? With a single door? I guess they all have their pros and cons.
I think Leader must have sent that same two year old down to the local auto parts store to purchase a lifetime supply of radiater hose to use for their pan connections.

[sweetwoodmaple]

...and while they were picking up radiator hose, they decided to chop off about 4-5" off the syrup pan height. Why does Leader do this?
(just wanted to add a little gasoline to the fire here! :lol: )

The sportsman is meant to be an entry level model and is about 30 % less cost than a 2 x 6. I'm sure people could argue that they cut too many corners. I was impressed with the quality of my 2 x 6 D&G.

[brookledge]

How high are their sides on a syrup pan from Domminion & Grimm?
Keith

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have an inferno arch and can get around 60gph on a very good hour with good harwood, not burning slabs or pallets and I don't ever seen why I would need a higher syrup pan even burning it that hard. 8O I will admit that with the inferno arch, I can get the sap splashing so high without a hood it may splash over 20 inch sides on the front of the pan. Stock, it was never a problem. :)

It's whatever floats your boat and makes you sleep at night. In my opinion, I don't think there is a bad evap manufactured by the big 4. I am sure D&G makes a tremendous arch, I was appalled at how they threw the inside of the arch together on the display model but there evaporator looked like a very nice unit and their drop flues show the best durability in the industry! :D

I also agree I don't like the hose connections on my evap. Other than that, I don't think there is another problem with it. I think they have gone away from them, but I am not sure as I am not interested in a new evap and don't keep up with the changes. :? I have no reason to argue the point, it is like arguing Ford and Chevy and it is pointless. Well, I only buy Hondas and ..........

[Dave Puhl]

Now I am really scrathin my head..reading about guys plugging pans and unpluggng to get syrup to flow ..on my flat pan if I had a slite lean towards the draw off I could see syrup form there fisrt ..can you do this with an evaporator...

[sweetwoodmaple]

I believe the sides are about 14" high. Mine is a drop flue, so both pans are the same height.

Like Brandon mentioned, I have splash over even with this height on the rear pan when I was running without a steam hood at 1-1/2" depth.

Just gives you a little extra protection on the front pan and foam over. Only an issue when you have niter building up.

These Ford vs. Chevy arguments are fun, but it's all in what you prefer. :wink:

[mountainvan]

my dg dropflue sides are 16"from the rail to the top. pans also have an extra crimp sticking into the pans that keep pretty much any foam from going past them. it's about 1/2 way up. you forgot dodge ram trucks, they're king around here. I just got a nissan titan this year and love it. had a dodge dakota, always something wrong with it.

[John Burton]

measured my flue pan today 23 inches from archrail to top of pan.these are leader raised flue pans welded what they now refer to as the patriot model I have never seen any brand raised flue any taller may be out their just not seen them. i would agree this is a ford chevy debate . The only reason i got these are they were traded a day before i came in looking. my two cents is buy what you can afford it all will make good syrup