Cupola Window project

[devils11217]

I am constructing a cupola on the shack this offseason.. i would like to entertain the idea of having windows vs wood doors. The extra sunlight during the off season makes for a added bonus. How did you guys build them? Pictures would be great!

[Pibster]

http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=11847&stc=1I found a couple of old wooden window sashes. Used a pipe across the cupola opening to act as a hinge, added a rope and pulley to open. It works well.

http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=11845&stc=1http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=11846&stc=1

[maple flats]

Nice idea. it looks like it will be easy to operate.

[devils11217]

Thanks for the window pictures on your cupola.. I am trying to brainstorm some ideas for my new construction and wanted to see what was out there. I notice you have the same 2 x 4 smoky lake pan as i do. How do you like your hood? how do you have that set up? any pictures of that? I cant seem to find any 2 x 2 hoods for the flue section so i am wondering if i should hood over the syrup front sections with a 2 x 4. Sounds kinda dumb to me.. Interested in what you have

[Pibster]

I'm using the hood off my old pan. It was 24x32 with a 12" syrup pan in front. The hood is 32" long but that's almost the size I needed for my Smoky Lake pan. I don't think I would want it much shorter. I would rather not cover the syrup section with a hood. Accidents can happen so it's nice to be able to see the bubbles / foam of the near syrup.
I built this hood out of stainless steel and connected the ends with ss rivets. It initially had a 6" square pipe to vent the steam towards the cupola but I switched that out with a piece of 10" round stainless pipe. The larger vent pipe made a big difference with the ventilation, almost no steam inside the shack. It even pulls most of the steam from the front syrup section. I have a baffle in the pipe to help with the preheater. The preheater will normally give me 170 degree sap along with a good supply of hot water from the drip tray.
http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=11848&stc=1http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=11849&stc=1http://mapletrader.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=11850&stc=1

[devils11217]

Looks great.. i will have to entertain building this after the cupola. heres a question i have regarding the smoky lake operation..how do you finish off your season... i couldnt figure out a good way after the sap was no longer good, how to get all the almost syrup and concentrate from the flue pan and syrup pan and not waste it.. there is a large amount of good stuff left but trying to finish it all is a brain buster for me.. obviously with help i can lift it and get most of it out and finish in a different pan but there has to be a better way.

[Pibster]

I'm not sure there is an easy method.
I run all my sap thru and boil down to a 1/2" and let the fire go out. Then I slide a block of wood under each rear corner to elevate the pan. Open the front valve and let it drain into a large bucket. As it drains, I continue to raise the rear of the pan until everything is drained into the bucket. Then I use my propane stove finish up, it takes 2-3 hours to boil everything down this way but there is no waste.