Minimum galons of sap for a 2x6 and 2x8

[regor0]

I am going to buy a new evaporator Saturday, I'm trying to decide on a 2x6 or a 2x8. What is the minimum number of gallons of sap you could run through to make a batch on each.:o I don't want to go to big and not have enough sap. I have 50 acres of all maple, with thousands of trees, but at this time in my life I don't have time to tap more and a 100 or so. 3 kids under the age of 3. Any help would be appreciated.

[TimJ]

100 taps is likely not enough to run a 2x8, but I only have experience with a 2x6.

We start with at least 120 gallons and a flow coming in on top of that to make it worth while to run on our 2x6.

[Maple Ridge]

A 2X6 will do 50 to 250 taps. I have a 18 X66 and 180 taps and thinking of going to a
2X6. I know people with them and they like them. You have to make sure you have enough sap to run them. If you are only thinking of 100 trees a 2X6 is fine, but I know you may not stop there.

[regor0]

I want to get it this year so next year, when i have more time, i'll know what i'm doing. I'm in the upper peninsula of michigan and its supposed to be 0 to 20 for the next week or so. I have at least a 100 tapped so far and will be running mainline and tubing for a hundred or so more so more next week. Should have enough time to get it done before we get a warm up. Plus the wife paid 59.7% in taxes last year with state and federal income and property taxes. I need a business were i can try and offset the money going to the government.

[jrgagne99]

200 taps is probably the lower limit for a 2x8. Yes it is doable, but you might need to save sap for a few days before boiling. Figure on evaporating between 60-80 gallons of water per hour. Since it doesn't really make sense to boil for less than two hours, you'll need at least 150 gallons of sap just to start the fire. That doesn't include filling it the first time, which will take 50+ gallons. And don't forget you'll probably boil at least 300 gallons before getting your first draw. Hopefully you have enough season left to make it all worthwhile.

[jrgagne99]

What is the minimum number of gallons of sap you could run through to make a batch on each?

Just FYI, you don't do "batches" on these rigs. They are continuous flow.

[regor0]

I understand that. I guess I should have asked at the end of the season what is the least amount of sap you would bother running through it. I also have a half pint and a turkey fryer. 2 years ago I made 13 Gallons on a turkey fryer, that was a long month. I got up every 45 minutes and filled the coffee can i was using as apreheater.

[ejmaple]

go with a 2 x 8. if your tapping 100 now and have lots of trees to expand with, i'am positive you'll at least do 200 next yea,r with a 2x8 you could easly handle 300 to 400 taps without boiling too long. and then in the future get an RO.

[Mike in NY]

our 1st yr on our 2x6 we hung 180 buckets. Since then we done a mix of lines and buckets up to this year of about 325 taps online. I won't start up unless I have over 100gallons in the tank w/ a steady stream coming in. A neighbor does 80-90 buckets on a leader 1/2 pint evaporator. my opinion is a 2x6 is to big for 100 taps

[Ed R]

I have a 2x6 and I'm running 70 taps on it and I love it. I can come home after work, gather , lite the fire and be done by 9-10 most nites so I can get to sleep for work the next day. I have no problem starting it up after the original fill up and running small runs though it ie 25-35 gallons. I would rather boil the sap as it comes in and not store it. If your trees run well, and you have other time constraints, I would not hesitate to go to a 2x8.

[white76]

If you plan on expanding go with a 2x8. But if you plan on staying under 200 taps I would go with a 2x6. I personally have a leader 2x6 patriot and run 385 taps,I would love a 2x8!

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

im running a 2x6 with 189 on gravity and close to 400 on a sap sucker. stay with a 2x6 and build or buy an ro. The one I helped build is amazing. Still working out a couple snags but think by this weekend it will be set.
Last weekend we gathered around 1100 gal of sap and boiled just over 200.

[boondocker]

I run a 30x8 with no r/o and burn 65 gph. I wont even fire mine without at least 250 in the holding tank. I use over 50 gallons just to fill the pans and that 250 gallons goes in one end and straight out through the roof pretty quick! Remember you could always go with a 2x4 and add a blower or go with the 2x6 and when you go bigger add a blower, preheater or r/o. Good luck!

[Wood burn]

Hi guy I'm new at this are you guys talking about a flat pan or a flu pan . I was planing on building a oil tank evaporator for next year with a 2x6 flat pan and from my understanding I should get 10 to 12 gph. I can only boil weekends and have about 35 to 50 taps will that be enough

[Tappy Sap Master]

I too run a 2x6 maple pro, I wont run it unless i have at least a hundred gallons + 45 in head tank because you will go through it pretty quick. Last year i was using a barrel stove so this is quite the upgrade, its kinda nice not sitting around all weekend to boil 80 gal.:cool:

[bowtie]

i would think a 2x6 is ideal for you. you can add a preheater in the fiture if you expand. the problem with starting with a bigger evap is that you need a lot sap to fire the thing and then get the hang of the new set up. a 2x6 with blower and good pre-heater can probably do 40-45 gph. if you had 250-300 taps you could go with bigger one but would still need a good 2 day run to really get it going.

[TheMapleMoose]

It seems that with the technology in the maple industry now has made a 2x6 evaporator very versatile. With flat pans we were boiling between 20 and 30 gph. We went to a Max Flue pan and are now able to process 40-50 gph. As we grow and add taps we can add equipment to up our processing capacity. We started at 250-300 taps and now have grown to 1060 on the same evaporator. 2x6 would be my short answer.

[Daves Maple Farm]

Running a Smokey Lake 2x8 drop flue on 266 taps. Pretty easy to get it to run 60 gal hour. We don't fire unless we have 300 gallons in main tank and 60 gal in header. I don't recall the exact numbers, but not that much difference to go up to the 2x8 and gives room to expand. Call Jim at Smokey Lake great guy to work with and superb product. good luck.