Smoky Lake Hybrid 2x4 report

[TrentonMaple]

Just a report for anyone considering a Smoky Lake pan. I was looking for info like this when I was considering buying mine.

Here's my setup:
Mason 2x4 arch with blower (on speed control)
Smoky Lake 2x4 Hybrid Hobby pan modified to fit on the arch (flange on the rear of the Mason arch so the drop flues have to be stepped in)
Smoky Lake float box
Homemade parallel flow preheater (3/4" copper pipe and drip channel)
Super dry hardwood (ash, maple, little bit of pine), split a little bigger than preferable
Firing every 10 minutes

The pan is beautiful and exceptionally well made. The float box is the best invention ever. I couldn't imagine boiling without one now that I see how much better the process is.

Last night I hit 20gph twice. Yes, I boiled off 40 gallons of sap on a 2x4 from 7pm to 9pm. I was really, really impressed with that. I had been doing around 16-17 regularly. The sugarhouse was like a sauna last night, as the night temps were in the high 50's and it was around 80 inside. That may have contributed to the efficiency. I didn't think I could get a rate like that on a 2x4. While I don't expect to routinely boil that fast, it was nice to know it was possible.

My biggest issue right now is the small firebox door on the Mason. I have to be very careful loading wood and contorting it to fit in the firebox, while trying to keep my eyebrows from being toasted off. I'm also considering chopping off the rear of the arch to put in a proper tapered base stack in place of the 90 degree elbow there now.

I have 170 taps, half on 3/16 tubing and the rest buckets.. This season it has been manageable due to the crazy weather, but in a good season I think I would still have a lot of trouble keeping up. I'm trying to figure out if I should be happy with the 2x4, or go up to a 2x6. If I do upgrade again it will be with Smoky Lake, though.

[Tater]

Thanks for your post. I am looking to expand for next year, and seriously considering a Smoky Lake hybrid setup. I'm looking at a 2x5 or 2x6 setup, but info like yours is always helpful. Thanks again!

[kitkat]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like this is just what I need. By the way. Do you have the auto draw off ? And if you do, how do you like it ? Thanks

[sweetwater sugar shack]

I purchased a 2x5 smoky lake this year have a homemade oil tank arch was very happy I did also get his auto draw worked very good could get 30 gph if I really pushed it

[MunsterMapler]

I have a 2x4 hybrid on my homade airtight arch with a blower and boiled 50 gallons on Monday in 2 hours. That's including start up with a cold pan. I consistently boiled at 20gph the whole season. Was really amazed at how well that pan boils. I had 100 taps this year, and didn't have any problem keeping up with the flow. Can't speak highly enough about their products. I was also interested in their auto draw off for next season!

[zandstrafarms]

we just got in our custom-made 2x5 Smoky Lake hybrid pan sets. unfortunately, it did not come when they said it would and it was about 10 days late. plus they forgot to include a lot of the upgrades we had ordered so we were not even able to use our auto draw off yet.

We had intended to preheat the sap in a parallel flow system as well as put in a blower. But since our pans came in so late I didn't have time to put any of those add-ons on to it before we had to burn 275 gallons of sap. However, from what we saw our burn off rate with no fan or preheater was at 27 gallons per hour. Our arch is a modified steam table that we cut, re welded and insulated and bricked the death out of.

But burned off 200 gallons with still no syrup...

Cooking again today with the auto draw and hopefully the blower. Should get plenty of draws from second round.

We run 150 taps, collect into 275 gal tanks and bring in to cook.