New Sugar house

[Chasefamily]

Made a little bit of a late call and chose to build a new sugar house. So had to tear down our old one and here is the progress on where were at.

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[Chasefamily]

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[maple flats]

Nice, what size are you making?

[Chasefamily]

Nice, what size are you making?

It will be 24x40

[Windy Acres]

looks good!

[maple flats]

That's a great size. When I built mine I figured 16x24 would be plenty, I'd surely never fill it up. Well, was I ever wrong. I now have 2 chest freezers, counter space and an RO closet on one wall, then a 6' wide door at the end, along the other long wall I have a filter press, a water jacket bottler, a 2x6 finisher, more counter space with a micro-wave on it, a bunch of solar equipment on the wall, then on the last side is my SS sink, my wall mounted tankless HW heater, more counter space for use when cooling bottled syrup, and more solar equipment. Thru that wall also enters my feed line from my elevated tank outside, the main valve and lots of plumbing. My sugarhouse is full. I also have a rolling baker's tray rack blocking the aisle on the side where the finisher is, I use that when I bottle, and on the other side I have a draw off tank where I draw syrup on my same side draw evaporator, which reduces the width of that aisle where the draw tank is to 24" wide. I've drawn plans to put an addition on since the 7th year I had my sugarhouse, but it never seems to get built. Life keeps getting in the way. I wish at this point I'd built one at least 24x36, but 24x40 or more would be even better. As it is, I only have room for 2 barrels in the sugarhouse, before I can bring another one in to fill, I need to haul one or two out to my bulk storage building which is off sight, about 1/4 mile away. That will change next year, I'm putting a 14x28' long storage building right now, then next year I'm making a walk in cooler on one side of the new shed , a lean to roof on the other side for farm equipment storage and a blacksmith shop on the back.

[red dorakeen]

Looks like you'll have a great sugar house. Just doesn't seem like it can be called a shack at 24 x40. Look forward to seeing it take shape.

[Chasefamily]

Well its been a while, but finally starting to make some progress
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[Chasefamily]

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here is my updated design

[BAP]

That’s going to be quite the sugar house.

[TapTapTap]

It looks like I'm ahead of you - but not by much.

16x34 with a wood shed to be built on the left end.17578

[Chasefamily]

Haha. yes does look like your ahead of me. I just finished all the floor joists for the 2nd floor. Now i will need to lay down the 2x6 Tongue and groove floor, then can get started on framing the walls upstairs.

[Chasefamily]

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[Chasefamily]

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[Chasefamily]

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[prairietapper]

those are nice! I have to build one this year also. it keeps getting bigger in my head I am sure 20 x 24 is over kill for what I need, so that is what I am planning on doing

[Chasefamily]

thanks. mine has also grown in size since i first started. actually first i was just going to put on a 8x16 addition and then moved to tearing old sugarhouse down, to this. Now already planning what to build next off of this building. Feels like im making slow progress but atleast its progress.

[Chasefamily]

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[Chasefamily]

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[Chasefamily]

have been making some more progress but its been slow. Going to be a rush to try and produce atleast a little bit of syrup this year. But atleast i know have some heat.
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[Chasefamily]

Got the outside of the RO room all finished.
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[johnallin]

I have to say, that's a beautiful looking building. Very nice job indeed.

[Chasefamily]

I have to say, that's a beautiful looking building. Very nice job indeed.

Thank you, i have def put lots of time into it and still have a long ways to go as well. But i just keep chugging along and things seem to get done slowly, and think im happy with the way its coming out.

Also looking at your profile pic, i really like your hemlock Timber frame.

[TapTapTap]

Are you heating the RO room by heat pump? I selected a propane Modine Hot Dawg for mine.

[Chasefamily]

Are you heating the RO room by heat pump? I selected a propane Modine Hot Dawg for mine.

Yes that is a 2 Ton mini split heat pump setup, i will also have a back up heat source. although it has worked very well so far.

[Chasefamily]

Finally got the front door finished and installed, Glad to keep that draft out now.
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[Chasefamily]

Well i wanted to do my lighting a little different and try to hide most of it. This is what i came up with, it seems to be a pain to install the way i am but think i like the way its coming out.

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[maple flats]

You have too much free time.

[Chasefamily]

You have too much free time.

Haha, im not too sure about that lol. I was in there till 1 am doing this the other night. it seems to be taking away from my sleeping hours.

[johnallin]

That's a really nice looking sugar house you have there. And 10-4 on working til' the wee hours on Maple...I've got the T shirt.

[Chasefamily]

Well it was a rush and i didnt get too many taps in (467) but atleast i am back to making some golden liquid again. Didnt get my new evaporator in time, so i actually had to move in my old waterloo 3x10. Not sure what the rest of the sugar season has in store but i hope it can hold out for another couple of weeks. Then ill be back to finishing the sugarhouse and getting more lines up.

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[BAP]

What is your new evaporator?

[johnallin]

I’d say your old Waterloo looks like it’s been kept clean and well taken care of!
Looks like new.

[Chasefamily]

What is your new evaporator?
Will Be a creekside 3x12 oil fired rig with steam away

[Chasefamily]

I’d say your old Waterloo looks like it’s been kept clean and well taken care of!
Looks like new.

Yes its def not in too bad of shape and is still serving its purpose. I am getting 120+ gph out of it burning 3-4 ft wood and not having to stay on top of the fire every 5 mins which is nice.Also my trees really seemed to wake up yesterday as i have gotten in about 1.5 gals/tap since noon yesterday.

[BAP]

Will Be a creekside 3x12 oil fired rig with steam away
Sounds like a nice rig. How many taps do you have?

[Chasefamily]

I only have about 475 for this season as i was in a rush and dont have everything setup. My RO is still in my basement and not even at the sugarhouse figured it wasnt worth it for 475 taps. I have 3000+ all marked at the other bush and all the mainline is hung. but ill get to 4000+ im thinking. Then will have to look back and see where want to go from there.

[BAP]

Sounds like you will have a great setup and size.

[VT_K9]

Looks good and good timing. We torn our old sugarhouse down last April. Built a 28X60 (includes space for the tractor and equipment). Wanted to expand this year to about 1000-1200 taps, ran out of time. We boiled our 425 on the new 3x10. We did not use the RO because there would not be enough permeate to clean it.

The things we do to grow.

Mike