Homemade drop flue

[Gratefulmaple]

I'm looking to make a set of pans. I'm planning on a tube drop flue style similar to Mason's style pans. Im planning to have a local shop weld then up, any advice? Anything I need to worry about? Any finishing that I need to do? I was reading through some forums last night and got nervous with reading about finishing stainless pans to make them food safe. Am I thinking this right. Thanks in advance.

[barnbc76]

I have seen a thread about this exact same thing, I don't know how to link to it, but it is like 3 page long discussion with the title "drop tube flue I tflue" it is a recent thread I think it is in the homemade maple equipment.

[berkshires]

I have seen a thread about this exact same thing, I don't know how to link to it, but it is like 3 page long discussion with the title "drop tube flue I tflue" it is a recent thread I think it is in the homemade maple equipment.

This thread is the one you want: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?6647-Adding-fins-to-bottom-of-flat-pan

Cheers,

[berkshires]

This thread is the one you want: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?6647-Adding-fins-to-bottom-of-flat-pan

Cheers,

And I think what you want to wind up with is something like this: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uekyxmghj6hcaxr/AACnxyG0GAOEKSi_M6AqKNDaa?dl=0

Note: this is not my pan, it was made by RileySugarbush. I hope to make one like it for next season.

[Gratefulmaple]

Excellent thanks for the reply. I'll check it out now.

[Gratefulmaple]

I'm looking to do something more like this. 15153

[whity]

I'm looking to do something more like this. 15153
We just bought drop tube pans from Bill Mason. They are 2" 304 stainless tubes. 20ga set 1/2" apart. Our pans are custom for a 2x8 arch with a 8" drop in the arch and 10" above the rails. We did a test boil a few weeks ago and the water boiled right over the top

[wiam]

If you can get one made like Mason's you will be happy with it. I had a 2x6. Boiled like crazy.

[berkshires]

I'm looking to do something more like this. 15153

On the thread I referenced above there are a couple of people who made flue pans similar to those Mason ones. For example, look at this one from MartinP with pictures near the bottom of page 7: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?6647-Adding-fins-to-bottom-of-flat-pan-(-)/page7. And then there's another one from Parker Maple on page 9: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?6647-Adding-fins-to-bottom-of-flat-pan-(-)/page9

Cheers!

[wiam]

On the thread I referenced above there are a couple of people who made flue pans similar to those Mason ones. For example, look at this one from MartinP with pictures near the bottom of page 7: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?6647-Adding-fins-to-bottom-of-flat-pan-(-)/page7. And then there's another one from Parker Maple on page 9: http://mapletrader.com/community/showthread.php?6647-Adding-fins-to-bottom-of-flat-pan-(-)/page9

Cheers!

I talked to a past Leader employee that made similar pans years ago. Copper pipes English tin pans. Soldered. Different expansion rates. Cracked solder every year. I don't know if copper/stainless would have the same issues.

[Gratefulmaple]

Now I'm debating on a mason style or making drop flues. Think I figured out a way to make a drop style pan. My only worry now is if the mason style will would work with aof. I forget which thread it was but some one said their mason pans didn't work with the aof they made which makes me wonder I would think it would work great as there is more boiling service area.

[TapTapTap]

So I'm new to sugaring, and I'm not a fabricator/welder/metalworker. So my 2 cents are worth anything more than $0.02.

I wouldn't have anyone build a pan unless they've built for others that can recommend their product. It takes specialty press and welding equipment to build a good pan. Also, working with 304 is not as easy as other materials and could get costly if mistakes are made. I know that even simple flue pans are expensive but there is a reason. I can understand the desire to do a simple flat bottom if you had metalworking skills and basic equipment. But I think that a flue pan is a different matter and you will get the best product from an evaporator company.

BTW: I don't work for an evaporator company. I'm a contractor and I have significant fabrication and equipment assets - but I still wouldn't consider self-making a flue pan.

Ken

[Gratefulmaple]

I do have experience working in a metal shop I've got the knowledge to do it all. Just don't have the experience welding stainless. Why I'm going to lay it out and have a local shop weld it up.

[wiam]

I was the one that tried aof with my Mason. I built as shown in the PDF from proctor. With auf it boiled like crazy. Could not keep sap in back pan. With aof I could not get stack temp to 400. Would not boil. Tried many different adjustments with air. Gave up and hitched blower back up with wood still burning and concentrate in the tank......

[Gratefulmaple]

That doesn't make sense to me. Makes me wonder why that would be.

[wiam]

That doesn't make sense to me. Makes me wonder why that would be.

I am in no way saying aof can't be done with one of these pan. Just did not work for me.

[Chemist]

I'm excited to report that my ten drop tube pan did great on its test run today. The tubes boiled fiercely, but not out of control. I think the tubes will make a big difference.

I also put together a makeshift blower out of an old air mattress pump, an old CPAP hose and a piece of copper tube that was left over. It blew air into a hole in the door and that really fired up the stove.

So my work on the main pan, the file cabinet arch and the little blower all worked. I have just under six square feet of boiling pans so now we will see how much I can boil per hour.

The only question now is do I put drop tubes in the steam table pan before the season?

[barnbc76]

I am curious, is the drop tube method more economical? Easier, or more dificult to make than other drop flue, raised flue pans? Thinking about the inevitable long term before I even start using my new 2x3 pan.

[Chemist]

There was a definite learning curve. There are two gues on here who gave me advice and it really helped. If you look through the thread called "2x4 drop tube flue pan". thread has a wealth of information. Warners's Point and Riley Sugarbush are the people I found the most helpful on there.

[wiam]

I would like to point out I believe there are 2 different pan styles being talked about on this thread.