Homemade evaporator

[Scott Ameigh]

I made my evaporator out of an old water tank, it's about 6 ft long and 2 1/2 ft across. I cut a section out of the top to fit 2 buffet pans on top to boil sap. my question is how can i speed up the process? It took 11 hrs to boil down 60 gallons of sap yesterday. I put the piece i cut out of the top behind where i the pans are and I'm heat this contraption with wood. And my stack is coming out the back with two sections of pipe high. Any help would be great as I'm just getting started into this this year.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Do you have any pictures? that will help a lot....

[Scott Ameigh]

no i don't, all it really is is a 6ft long barrel, with a door in one end and the stack out the top in the other, where i put the piece of steel it stands stright up behind where i cut out for the pans to sit. if i could get a pic how would i go about putting it on here?

[waterfowlah]

that's not terrible time for 60 gallons, add a blower it should help

[Scott Ameigh]

Would one like out of an old furnace work?

[waterfowlah]

Sure, Might need to have a speed control or damper to control the air flow

[psparr]

Can you create a ramp and restrict the distance under the back pan to 2" or so? Even dirt with a layer of sand on top would do.

I use portable squirrel cage fan on mine.

Good luck!

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Scott, here is a pic of my "homemade" evaporator...took me 8.5 hours yesterday to go through 55 gallons of sap....its my 1st season using it, and yesterday I really figured out how to get my hottest fire and most rapid boil near the end of my day...I think I will be able to increase that boil rate for my next run.

Your time wasnt that far off from what mine was....some things to help your fire is smaller wood, I chopped mine much smaller later in the day to keep it going faster, also added a fan but its not ideal with the way my evaporator is set up. I will keep playing with that.

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[5050racing]

924792449245. You have to add the blower,I would never believe the difference just about doubled the rate now about 10gal/hr finished 105-110 gal 10hrs and had to leave to go to tractor supply for a acetylene bottle for the work I was doing besides boiling.9246 the door almost melting! Here is the motor #s

[Scott Ameigh]

My fire is directly under my pans. Was wondering if i should build a ramp in the back instead of the piece of steel, and would that help keep the pans boiling faster.

[waterfowlah]

924792449245. You have to add the blower,i would never believe the difference just about doubled the rate now about 10gal/hr finished 105-110 gal 10hrs and had to leave to go to tractor supply for a acetylene bottle for the work i was doing besides boiling.9246 the door almost melting! Here is the motor #s

now that's a fire!!!!!