1st time poster-half pint question

[David Wayne]

Hi all, after two years boiling on my shop wood burner I decided to get a half pint supreme. Got it all bricked and cured. When I boiled water with the baking soda to clean the pan I had a super rolling boil on the center drop flue section and not so much on the flat sections. So it seems to me the center will reach 219 long before the flat end where I want to draw off nearly finished syrup. I have never used an evaporator or gradient system before, am I over thinking it and it will work, or is there a procedure to follow I am missing?

Thanks
David

[phil-t]

Sap beging added to one side, or the other, it will flow to the opposite side as it is concentrated. Keeping the level in the pan consistant is important, so the gradient goes from sap to syrup. The center, boiling at a faster rate will just bring more, less dense sap, in. At least, that is how mine works out.

[wnybassman]

In my little raised flue rig, the flat syrup pan portion of the rig takes FOREVER to boil with straight water or raw sap, while the flue pan takes literally minutes. Once the syrup pan gets more dense and closer to syrup, it takes much less time at start up to get that to boil for some reason. So perhaps you didn't boil long enough to get the flat parts to boil good?

[maple flats]

Dave,
You don't get a true picture of what will happen until you have sap boiling in the pan. The flues will always boil harder, but don't worry, the syrup will end up at the draw off valve when dense enough. Just keep a good hot fire and keep adding sap where instructed.
The first draw off will take what seems to be way too long, but it will happen. Just have enough sap to boil hard at least 3 hrs before first firing the arch up to get enough sugar in the pans to protect it from freezing. After that first time, you can boil each time you have enough sap to boil, but I suggest you don't boil if you don't have at least 2 hours worth boiling time. Too many short boils results in darker syrup.

[David Wayne]

Sounds like I am over thinking. Thanks for the tips, I am excited to get started this year. Long boil times wont be a problem when the peak hits,I am retired and taping more than recommended for this size evaporator.

Thanks again
David

[phil-t]

Thanks for the tips, I am excited to get started this year. Long boil times wont be a problem when the peak hits,I am retired and taping more than recommended for this size evaporator.David

Me too. Just hope I don't get too "tired" :D Good luck with your new system.