Finishing stove for 2000 tap operation

[cbmapleguy]

A question for mid-size producers.. what are you using for finishing and where did you buy it?

Is it Oil fired or propane?

We currently have a 18 x 36 (approx) old DG propane burner but looking to upgrade to finish off larger batches. The only company with anything in their catalog is Leader.

[maple flats]

I use a 2x6 propane fired finisher, a Leader, bought used. Before that I used a 16" x 34" Leader propane, also bought used. When I bought the 2x6 I had 1320 taps with plans to grow, then age caught up with me and had I known at that time I would now be doing 800 taps, I would have gotten a 2x5 or maybe a 2x4 finisher. The 2x6 works fine, it's just bigger than I need. I do however, finish batches big enough to pack my 26.5 gal SS barrels without needing to wait for more, in fact I can get enough ready to fill 2 barrels in a batch.

[wiam]

I have about 2000 taps. I finish on my 3x12 evaporator so I don't need a finisher.

[lew]

I agree with wiam. Finish on the evaporator. I do have a finishing rig, but it is used for reheating syrup for bottling and cleaning out the evaporator.

[maple flats]

Mine is basically finished on the evaporator, it then gets pumped to the finisher to get a quantity large enough to pack a barrel or 2 at once. The density is then final checked, sometimes I need to dilute it some and rarely I may need to boil it some. Once ready and heated to about 205-210 I send it to my mixing tank where I blend in DE and then it goes thru the filter press and sent to barrels or the canner. At one point then I grade it. If going to barrels I catch some from the overflow to grade, if going to the canner it is graded there. Usually the only time I truly finish it in the finisher is at final end of season, when I drain both pans and finish in the finisher.

[cbmapleguy]

Thanks for the replies. I figure that is why the other big manufactures don't carry.