finishing pan

[Bobbybreach]

I have a 2x4 continuous flow pan and I was thinking about adding a 2x2 finishing pan but I have a few questions on it.

the 2x2 connects to the 2x4 by a pipe right? and I bring the syrup to the correct temp on the finishing pan and draw off strait into bottles? after I draw off the finishing pan will it automatically fill back up from the 2x4 pan or do I need to add a valve in order to manually fill up the finishing pan?

[maple maniac65]

Is your finishing pan gas Fired? Is the 2x4 wood Fired? I wouldn't run gas that close.

Never seen a finishing pan with a float valve on it.I have seen a 2x12 oil rig next to a 5x14 oil rig but valves were never closed filling 4 barrells an hour.

Once you heat syrup over 190 it needs to be filtered because it will make niter.

[Mr. Red Maple]

I have a 2x4 continuous flow pan and I was thinking about adding a 2x2 finishing pan but I have a few questions on it.

the 2x2 connects to the 2x4 by a pipe right? and I bring the syrup to the correct temp on the finishing pan and draw off strait into bottles? after I draw off the finishing pan will it automatically fill back up from the 2x4 pan or do I need to add a valve in order to manually fill up the finishing pan?

Do you mean a syrup pan on a wood fired evaporator in front of a 2x4 cross flow in the back? Is that what you mean when you say finishing pan?

In that case you would probably want a float valve in between the two pans since you will likely be running them at different depths. A float valve will automatically refill your syrup pan when you draw off.

You can get syrup to finished temperature on your syrup pan but you want to filter your syrup before you bottle it. I'm assuming by your size of an operation you will be fine with cone filters. But anytime syrup goes above 190 you will have niter forming.

[Bobbybreach]

Do you mean a syrup pan on a wood fired evaporator in front of a 2x4 cross flow in the back? Is that what you mean when you say finishing pan?

In that case you would probably want a float valve in between the two pans since you will likely be running them at different depths. A float valve will automatically refill your syrup pan when you draw off.

You can get syrup to finished temperature on your syrup pan but you want to filter your syrup before you bottle it. I'm assuming by your size of an operation you will be fine with cone filters. But anytime syrup goes above 190 you will have niter forming.


yes the finishing pan will be in front of the 2x4 on a wood fired evaporator. but basically the 2x2 finishing pan makes it so i can get up too correct syrup tempurature on the evaporator rather than finishing it on the stove correct? basically just cutting down on time right?

[Mr. Red Maple]

yes, you will have more surface area so you will get more gallons per hour and if you are controlling the syrup pan with a float valve you will be able to finish syrup in that pan.

[wmick]

I just built a rig this past winter, similar to what you are suggesting... 2x4 drop flue pan behind a 2x2 syrup flat pan.
originally I was going to keep the syrup pan lower than the sap pan and use a float box between, however someone on here, said that was a weird idea for a drop flue... that generally a second float box would only be used after a raised flue pan... (I really have no idea what the difference would be, however I changed it to have both pans at the same level and no float between.. It worked quite well..
My two biggest mistakes that need correcting for next year were.
1. I used too small of fittings and hose between the two pans.. 1/2" - I got dangerously close to running the syrup pan dry, because it didn't replenish fast enough through the small fittings..
2. I had my outlet from the sap pan right at the front corner.. There was such a raging boil at that spot, that I think this (the boiling bubbles at the outlet) also contributed to the insufficient/slow flow to the syrup pan..

I prevented the scorching by raising the sap level in the sap pan with my float box... (a little deeper than ideal... but the extra depth and gravity kept the syrup pan to a decent depth through the small fittings.) I am going to lower the syrup pan and add the second float box for next year.. Little more control, I think??

[Bobbybreach]

I just built a rig this past winter, similar to what you are suggesting... 2x4 drop flue pan behind a 2x2 syrup flat pan.
originally I was going to keep the syrup pan lower than the sap pan and use a float box between, however someone on here, said that was a weird idea for a drop flue... that generally a second float box would only be used after a raised flue pan... (I really have no idea what the difference would be, however I changed it to have both pans at the same level and no float between.. It worked quite well..
My two biggest mistakes that need correcting for next year were.
1. I used too small of fittings and hose between the two pans.. 1/2" - I got dangerously close to running the syrup pan dry, because it didn't replenish fast enough through the small fittings..
2. I had my outlet from the sap pan right at the front corner.. There was such a raging boil at that spot, that I think this (the boiling bubbles at the outlet) also contributed to the insufficient/slow flow to the syrup pan..

I prevented the scorching by raising the sap level in the sap pan with my float box... (a little deeper than ideal... but the extra depth and gravity kept the syrup pan to a decent depth through the small fittings.) I am going to lower the syrup pan and add the second float box for next year.. Little more control, I think??


my 2x4 is a flat continous flow pan. in the existing location where i would draw off can i just add pipe from that to the 2x2 finishing pan so that when i draw off on the finishing pan i can open the valve on the 2x4 to let more sap into the finishing pan? i would just have to manually open and close the valve to let in sap to the 2x2 from the 2x4. would that work?

[n8hutch]

my 2x4 is a flat continous flow pan. in the existing location where i would draw off can i just add pipe from that to the 2x2 finishing pan so that when i draw off on the finishing pan i can open the valve on the 2x4 to let more sap into the finishing pan? i would just have to manually open and close the valve to let in sap to the 2x2 from the 2x4. would that work?

That should work just dandy, lots of guys run evaporators with just valves and no Floats, just requires more attention that's all, you can even set your valves at just a trickle and build up a large batch in your syrup pan and when your ready to draw open your sap pan valve up to push the syrup out. Just make sure you have enough in the back pan. Good luck

[Bobbybreach]

That should work just dandy, lots of guys run evaporators with just valves and no Floats, just requires more attention that's all, you can even set your valves at just a trickle and build up a large batch in your syrup pan and when your ready to draw open your sap pan valve up to push the syrup out. Just make sure you have enough in the back pan. Good luck

ok perfect. that's exactly what I was looking to do