how many taps

[garyp]

I plan on making a evaporator out of a 275 oil drum like the ones on here with slanted fire box and fire bricks
with a 2'x4' cross flow pan and a 2'x8''warming pan
id like to have about 70 taps,and boil 10-12 hours a day every other day. Is this to small or to many taps to handle any help thanks

[SadSams]

My guess is you'll boil at about 8 gph. So on the slower runs, yes you will hit your mark, but on heavy run days you'll have to boil every day. My 1st setup boiled at 6gph and I think I had 90 taps. We had to boil everyday. Min. 10 hours per day. Hope this helps, good luck.

[garyp]

what could i do to get around 10gph, would a bigger pan like 2'x5' or big preheater pan help.
thanks sadsams buy the way do you remember how much wood you burned that seasons

[Gary R]

I had a similar size set up. I had a 2' X 4.5' pan, forced air and a real pre heater. I got about 14GPH most days. I would go with the biggest pan you can fit. You should be close to boiling your 10-12 hrs. every other day. Good luck and show us what you've built:)

[garyp]

Thanks Gary thats what i thougt bigger is better it going to be awile for some pics i'am planning on getting a used pan and then building my evaporator (oil drum) around it

[TimJ]

We used a 275 gal oil tank for 44 taps, then 82 taps. The first year we got about 8.5 gph then we added insulation and a grate and got about 10.5gph.

We had a 2x2 back pan and a 2x3 front pan (yes, all backwards - but this is how we bought it)

With an oil tank you should have enough room for 2x5 pans. If I were to do it over again I would go with a 3' back pan and 2 foot front pan. We also contacted Bill Mason about making a back pan/drop tube pan for us. That would seriously increase your rate.

You could also do the "cow udder" drop tubes that others have done to increase your surface area.

good luck.

[jrmaple]

I used a 2x4 flat pan for the past four years and had up to 115 taps on it and managed to get 15 to 17 gph out of it, cement blanket then a layer of fire bricks and I put an insulating blanket behind the cement board, and then at the back of the arch I doubled the insulating blanket and took out the bricks past the fire box, the arch never heated up to the point where kids could get burned if they touched it. I added a blower to the draft box and always used seasoned oak slit to about 2 or 3 inches in diameter, and always boiled with about an inch of sap in the pan. But I would recommend going bigger, more efficient on time, and you will eventually expand your operation, I'm now up to a 2x8 with 274 taps ready to go! Good luck with the evaporator.

[garyp]

Well i just bought a 30''x5' pan ,ill have to widen the top a from 27'' to 30'' to fit the pan and extend the length a little, all in all ill make it work and post pic when done in a month or two,or sooner i hope :D
Also i like to thank Sam Bascom for helping me get what i needed today, Great place Bascom (once i found it ) :emb:
Thanks Sam

[ericjeeper]

I am currently running a 2x4 pan on mine, with a blower and good hardwood. I can get 11 gph. But I am in the process of trying to find a 27x60" pan. I have more money then time it seems..LOL

[The Maple Addict]

I have a 2x4 evaporator and i plan to have about 100 taps.

[adk1]

I am running a 2x6 with AUF, burn primarily softwood with some hardwood mixed in. Dont know what I burn but last year I had about 120 taps, this year will be close to 150 taps and I didnt have any trouble not keeping up at all