Pan guage

[Millwright]

Thinking of building a new flat pan, and would like to know what gauge stainless is best. Thanks

[maple flats]

22 ga. is common but unless you are good at welding thin SS you might want it a little heavier. The heat transfer however is better on the 22 ga.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Making a basic flat pan without corrugations requires a heaver gauge. Are you going to Tig weld it?

[Millwright]

It will be a flat pan 30” wide by 60” long I can tig weld it

[maple flats]

A 30" wide by 60" long will sag in the middle, even with just 1" deep in it. Consider adding channels (dividers) if you can, with a full weld along the bottom and alternate the pass thru openings. That will strengthen the pan. Consider making them cross ways not front to back, then add new sap at the front and draw off at the rear.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

That is a pretty big pan so will definitely need some cross member reinforcement. We have 4- 3/4" round stainless bars on our 2x5 pan. It helps reinforce and also helps for lifting the pan to drain sap/clean and for physically lifting the pan and moving it around. Last year though, new toy on the way.

[Millwright]

I was either going to put dividers in, or weld a couple of angles across bottom for stiffeners.