Evaporator Set-up for 50-60 taps.

[khuberpt]

I have a oil barrel evaporator as seen in the picture and was thinking of upgrading next season. I average roughly 5 gallons per hour, maybe 6 or so. If I am getting 30-55 gallons a day I find that I am evaporating up to 18 hours a day, and I have a full time job. Any reasonable priced recommendations out there. Thanks and have a good season.

[optionguru]

Reasonable is pretty relative. How much are you looking to spend? Any chance of expanding in the near future? What matters more cost or time?

[Rangdale]

Maybe make a little RO unit? That would cut your boil time substantially. You can build a small one that will process 120gpd for around $350

[Clinkis]

If time is most important then you may want to consider a small RO. I was in a similar situation where I was spending too much time boiling and using more fuel then I wanted. I built a small RO for about $400 and it reduced my fuel and boiling time by 60% without having to upgrade my evaporator and making the same amount or more syrup.

[Sugarmaker]

Yes mini R.O.s seem to be the way to go, to reduce boiling time and not get a bigger arch and pans.
A good used 2 x 6 evaporator should get 20-30 gallons of sap boiled per hour too. Price could be $500 to $1500.
Regards,
Chris

[Quagmire33]

10835

I have thought about making one of these. I have a leader half pint evaporator and get maybe 7 gph out of it. I bought used for $700 and had about $200 of fire brick to put in it. I think a small RO might be the way to go.

[khuberpt]

1000-2000. most i can expand to is 60-70 taps. time is also important as i have 3 children and work 40-50 hours a week.

[khuberpt]

But are they hard to build? I am not too technologically sound!

[khuberpt]

do you have pics of your RO? that may be ideal if they are easy to build.

[SDdave]

Try this site out. It's one of the members on here. He does a really good job describing the how to's. I built one and love it. I'm at 40 taps and have the same work/family life situation.


https://sites.google.com/site/mattatuckmadnessmaplesyrup/

Hope that works.

SDdave