Double barrel evaporator unveiling

[mudr]

Hi guys and gals,
First off, thank you for the treasure trove of information available on here. You were a huge help. I just got done painting my evaporator. I had plans to make the standard 55 gallon, two steam pan evaporator. Then I went to my dad to get a barrel and he said take two. I said I only needed one. He said heck, make it bigger. So I did, and brazed the two open ends. Here's the info.
-4 steam pans
-vogelzang deluxe kit
-custom (ghetto-rific?) Frame and wheels
-2 inch ceramic throughout
-half bricks lining the firebox over the blanket. Finished box is about 16 inches deep.
-Homemade grate at the bottom of the door yet above the ash clean out that I will keep mostly open for air intake
-I built a frame inside the barrels and laid the blanket on it. This forms the back of the firebox and pushes up the exhaust under the pans. I think there is about 4 inches of space.

Let's see if I can find the photos and post from my phone....

[mudr]

Hmm. Tapatalk did not upload all my photos, let's see if I can get one more, preferably an action shot. Also, the combination of cell phone pic quality and wet paint makes the evaporator look worse than it actually is.

[Bucket Head]

It looks good, nice job.

And your father was right- few people have ever said their evaporator was too big! Lol.

Good luck with it.

Steve
.

[mudr]

I have one quick question on my build shown above. How do you guys get the 6 inch stack to stay into the Vogelzang cast iron base? Mine does not have holes drilled to accept sheet metal screws into the stack pipe. It seems very wobbly.

[ericjeeper]

Drill 3 holes in the cast ring/

[epd0407]

What did you use for insulation closing the holes up?

[mudr]

You mean around the pans? The same ceramic blanket. Just peeled it apart to make thinner strips

[TerryEspo]

Looks like a keeper, nice job and good luck this season.:cool:

Terry

[DJ Lasell]

looks nice.. Is the ceramic to preserve energy by channeling heat to the pans, or to protect the barrel?

Do you think the chaffing pans are more efficient than a flat pan?

[sluggish]

I'm curious when I see units that size. What are you using for firewood? Regular 12-16" pieces or do you use long lengths and shove them right to the back? If you use smaller pieces, do you have multiple doors to put the wood in?