Steam hood for 2.5 x8 foot Dominion Grimm Evaporator

[Big Stoney]

We are building a sugar shack and my plan was to purchase a steam hood for our evaporator so that we would not need a cupola. After pricing a steam hood ( about $3000 not including the two stacks that it would need maybe another $1000). I was wondering what would be some cheaper options. Does anyone make a good, cheaper, stainless hood with drains that would be almost as good or is boiling with an uncovered evaporator and a cupola a good option?

[jimsudz]

Do you have an amish community in your are? My want to talk to Darrick Hilton north of syracuse. I know its a few hours ride but he does some good work at a fair price. He goes by the name 3rdgen. on SBI.

[MISugarDaddy]

You might give Smoky Lake a call or send them an email and see what he would charge.

[maple flats]

That is way too much. When I bought my new 3x8 pans from Thor (in Quebec) in 2012, they priced a hood at $1950 complete with 2 SS stacks at 15" each and 6' tall with Chinaman's tops and a lockable position damper on the flues stack. I turned it down, but when I went to get the pans, they had exactly what they had offered with 2 small insignificant dents and I got that for $800. When I hooked it up, I ran 13" SS stack, suspended from my cupola down into the 15" stacks, just hanging there. Now I use a winch to raise the hood and the 15" simply goes up around the 13", and I get very little steam escapes thru the gap between them. When I show people I have a hard time finding the dents.
A hood helps you boil faster and it's easier by far to utilize a pre-heater with a hood, even though possible without.

[Big Stoney]

Thanks for the help. I do not know what I am going to do, but I will investigate some of these suggestions.

[madmapler]

We are planning to fabricate an aluminum hood over the weekend. If all goes well I'll post pics in a few days. I have a 4x12 and we're planning a hood over the front pan as well. The cost for materials is around $320 to $340 and the sheetmetal brake rental is $45 per day. I have little experience with this so it'll be interesting.

[themapleman54]

just read your post I can get you a D&G hood pre- heater with all the stack & covers for $ 3100.00 585-567-2738 Fillmore Maple Supply Fillmore NY