Tent Stove

[kjbudsberg]

Hello!

I've made syrup for about 10 years, never a big operation, only about 2-5 gallons per year as a social event. This year, I'm looking to try something a little different and smaller. A turkey fryer seems to be a little too small for what I have in mind, and I would like to avoid propane if I can. What I have in mind is a small tent stove.

I like that I can get the flame on the bottom of the pan without any modifications, and these stoves seem to be built well enough to hold a ball of heat, but portable enough to get out of the way with the limited space I have.

Has anyone tried this? My main question is would they get hot enough to achieve a good boil?


Thank you!

[johnallin]

In 07' I iused a stove very similar to what you have pictured. Had a simple SS pan welded up, a thermometer and would just add sap as needed. It was slow, but we made good syrup - albeit a bit on the smokey side flavor wise. Graduated to a half pint the next two years.

13892

[Cedar Eater]

It looks like a Vogelzang stove and they'll get hot enough to boil a deep pot of water, so I suspect they would boil a steam table pan or a custom pan if you keep the depth shallow enough.

[maple flats]

Your picture looks like you can either remove 2 round plates or even a bigger area. If you remove all those and cover the hole with a flat pan, it should work good. I'd even suggest using gasket to seal between the stove and the pan for a better boil.
If you don't remove those plates a good boil will be hard to get. You may even want to add a small blower for more draft and faster boil. Go in the draft inlet, don't go in the feed door.
Then add a smoke stack at least 6' tall and brace it as necessary to keep it upright.
My first evaporator was a 1/2 pint, I had it on my patio and pitched a vendor's canopy over it. On the stack, I tilted it about 30 degrees (to keep away from the tent) and braced it using some electrical EMT. It was 12' tall and it worked well. Screw the sections together or it will fall.

[kjbudsberg]

Thank you all for the quick responses!

[johnallin]

The stove I used was simply castings bolted together. which allowed me to unbolt, remove the top and place the pan in its place. I had tabs welded on the pan for that reason. This put the pan directly over the fire. Didn't use gasket, but that would have been a help.

13899

[brass maple]

My first rig was a simulare type of stove. Worked well and was the beginning of my addiction. Now on a barrel stove for second year and planning on building a regular type arch. Problem I have is this year I have lost the trees I had been tapping. Some friends have been supplying me with sap. Have to find a bush to lease. My little hobby is starting to get expensive