Increasing boil rate

[evanstj]

Hi,

First post to the forum even though I have read many topics. I have a 4x14 foot drop flue Leader evaporator. The back pan is a 4x8 English tin drop flue(hoping to upgrade either next spring or the year after) and the front pan is a 4x6 stainless solder pan. I do not feel that I am getting the boil rate that I should be. The arch is set up for natural draft, but I put on a blower to improve boil rate. I know that I do not have the best wood this year. If there is any specific advise for my situation I would love to hear it. My question in general is what are specific things to look at or do to increase boil rate. Hopefully everyone will learn a thing or two from this thread. Also, it is outside and wondering what increase in boiling did anyone get from moving inside, if any. Anyone with a setup like mine, or someone with experience, I would like to know what their boil rate is per hour or about what I should be able to achieve with good wood, so I can plan for the maximum number of taps that I can handle. This is my first year going bigger, I put out 1200 taps on 3/16. Quite a jump from a 100 on a 2x4 flat pan last year. Feel free to ask me any specifics about my setup. Thanks in advance for any help!

[SeanD]

I really can't help with anything specific about a 4x14. That is a huge rig!

What I can definitely say is that the quality of the wood makes a huge difference. This year, I was late getting the last of the wood inside. Using that damp wood dropped my boil rate from a typical 35 gph to 28. It sucked and it was during a time I had the most sap to get through. Later in the season, I got into my older, dry wood and I was up in the high 30s and had consistent hours at 40 gph.

The only thing different for me was the quality of the wood going in.

Sean

[motowbrowne]

Welcome to the forum. I've also got a 4x14, but I've never cooked any sap in it. I just brought it home to use for the years to come. The guy I bought it from said they could do 200 gph no problem, though(we'll have to see about that once I get it set up). Firing about every 8 minutes. My rig does have a 10' flue pan, though.

What kind of rate are able to get? Another thing, is this your first year using an evaporator like that? It's a whole different ball game than a 2x4 flat pan. When I first brought my 2x10 home I was getting half the evaporation rate that I thought I should. I talked on the phone with a guy I met on here and he really helped me learn what I should be doing better. Namely, he asked how often I was firing (every ten minutes), and if I was opening both doors to add wood (I had been). He told me to add wood through only one door at a time and to do it every 3 minutes. What a difference! I burn dry softwood spilt pretty small and fire as often as I can. I can cook sap twice as fast as when my dad runs the rig.

A 4x14 should be more forgiving of larger wood, but dry wood smaller than you think might help a lot.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Normal is about 3 gallon per hour per square foot. Might be about 2.5 on that evaporator since it has a 6' syrup pan.

[evanstj]

I have been getting about 90 gallons an hour.
i know the number on culprit is the wood(surprising since I am a logger). Are there any specifics to look for in increasing boiling rate such as cleaning flues and stack temperature or things along those lines. Thanks!

[mellondome]

You should clean the flues before every boil. Your stack temps should be over 700 F with internal probe. Most try to run between 800 and 1100. Maybe your blower isnt big enough for your firebox?