New to Maple Trader

[Jim Coleman]

Hello my name is Jim Coleman and I live in Strabane Ontario. (between Guelph and Hamilton). Have been making syrup for close to 25 years as a hobby just for our famiiy and friends. I tap approx. 20 trees and was able to make 5.5 gallons this past spring. I am currently building a sugar shack (have been doing it outdoors) and am looking forward to increased efficiency and production. The shack will be 10 by 12 with 8 foot ceiling. I have the building up and currently closing in with windows doors etc.

I will build the cupola separately and place it before spring. I use and airtight "Baby Bear" Elmira woods stove with the top cut out and a stainless pan my buddy made for me. Finish with propane.

I am looking for advice on the cupola and wondering whether it is a good idea to run the stove pipe and steam out of the cupola or keep it separate?

Anyway I enjoy the site and wish you all well.

Jim

[maple flats]

Welcome aboard Jim, normally in my welcomes I warn you to get out before it's too late, because this is addictive, but with 25 yrs. under your belt it's 25 years too late.
I would not run the stove pipe out the cupola, but if you add a hood sometime, I've found that it can just be run up to the level of the opened sides, or if you prefer it can go thru the cupola roof. Either way I find it very helpful to suspend the upper portion of a steam stack from the top and run a slightly larger stack from the hood to extend over the suspended stack. That way you can raise the hood when needed.
What is your pan size and is it a flat pan or do you have any drop flues or tubes? Is it with or without dividers?
Again I say welcome.

[BreezyHill]

Welcome Jim! Good to see you are in control of your addiction. LOL Seems that most of us just keep on growing to feed our addictions.

I have separate stacks for our steam and smoke but our sugar house is in the basement of a metal building that was built out over a step bank. Works great with a tee top on the steam and the smoke is straight but we use air forced drafting. The only issue is the new metal ceiling will condensate any steam that doesn't make it out the front hood. Flue hood feeds a preheater.

This season we will be retrying a Chicago fan on the steam stack to suck the steam thru and a larger pipe to feed the fan.

Good Luck and keep on tapping!

Ben

[MISugarDaddy]

Jim, welcome to the Trader,

I agree with Ben and Dave, don't vent your chimney out of the cupola. When we built our sugarhouse in 2013 we built the cupola on the ground and then lifted it into place with an extending aerial lift. Our cupola is 2' by 6' so there was no way for my wife and I to get it up there without the aerial lift. I am fortunate to have married a woman who isn't afraid to run large equipment!!! My only problem was I built the cupola to be a tight fit and it was a little too tight, requiring us to trim the roof sheeting back slightly before it dropped into place. You are going to love boiling inside...no wind, rain, or snow to deal with.
Gary

[nas]

Howdy neighbour:) I'm just northeast of Carlisle, on the town line. Your cupola is for steam. Run the stack separately.

Nick

[Sugarmaker]

Welcome Jim! You will like being inside too!
Regards,
Chris

[Jim Coleman]

Welcome aboard Jim, normally in my welcomes I warn you to get out before it's too late, because this is addictive, but with 25 yrs. under your belt it's 25 years too late.
I would not run the stove pipe out the cupola, but if you add a hood sometime, I've found that it can just be run up to the level of the opened sides, or if you prefer it can go thru the cupola roof. Either way I find it very helpful to suspend the upper portion of a steam stack from the top and run a slightly larger stack from the hood to extend over the suspended stack. That way you can raise the hood when needed.
What is your pan size and is it a flat pan or do you have any drop flues or tubes? Is it with or without dividers?
Again I say welcome.


Dave: I am just a small hobbyist who uses an old airtight woodstove with the top cut out. My stainless pan is 2 feet by 2 feet. I am already dreaming about a bigger evaporator....

I hae no drop flues or tubes without dividers. I don't really know too much about that level of sophistication but will as many have said enjoy being inside. It certainly opens up options for me which I need to explore.

Thanks for the welcome and your advice regarding the stove pipe and cupola.

Jim

[Jim Coleman]

Thanks Nick, Perhaps I can see your operation in the spring? Let me know if there is a good time when we get closer.

Jim

[nas]

Sure Jim, contact me when you want to come down.

Nick

[Jim Coleman]

Hey Nick: Jim Coleman from Strabane here. Just about finished my sugar shack and will place the cupola on the roof in the next few days....are you making any syrup yet? The weather has been odd to say the least. My daughter just moved up to Conservation Road so I am up your way quite often.

Is there a time I can come up and see your operation?

I am retired and my schedule is flexible...

Jim