Question about Mason XL preheater

[berkshires]

I got a Mason 2x3 XL, used it all last season, and I've been pleased with it. Only thing I'm wondering about is the preheater.

The preheater "box" sits over the fire, which is great, but you need a lot of sap in it to keep feeding the main pan, and most of that sap is exposed to the sides of the preheater, and just loses heat to the air. So it takes a long time to come up to heat, and never gets super-hot.

So I was wondering if anyone had ever tried insulating the sides of their preheater box? Maybe adhere something like this? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Project-Panels-FOAMULAR-1-in-x-2-ft-x-2-ft-R-5-Small-Projects-Rigid-Pink-Foam-Board-Insulation-Sheathing-PP1/203553730

Thoughts?

Gabe

[Pdiamond]

Wouldn't it be better to wrap it with ceramic blanket? I don't believe I would use foam board as it may melt and create a real mess for you on top of the evaporator. These are my thoughts.

[berkshires]

Wouldn't it be better to wrap it with ceramic blanket? I don't believe I would use foam board as it may melt and create a real mess for you on top of the evaporator. These are my thoughts.

Yeah fair enough. I'm just wondering if anyone has done this before, and could share ideas.

GO

[G263]

Hello Berkshires, I am curious what temp your pre heater sap is before going in the evap pan ? I will be receiving my W.F. Mason 2x4 XL this week for next season.

[tombaisley]

I used a 2 x 4 XL for 3 seasons, after everything was up to temp , I was getting 140-160F

[G263]

140 - 160 is in my opinion hot enough for the evaporator. I have 20 x 30 flat pan now with a preheater coil on the smoke stack and I am getting around 150 - 155 and not loosing the boil.
A question Tom or anyone. This will be my first experience with a continuous flow pan. When do you filter the syrup? With the flat pan we just wait until 185 degrees or so and put thru gravity cone filters.

[bryankloos]

I filter as I'm coming off the evaporator through a cone filter. This works for 85% of my production.
The other 15% gets an extra trip through the DE filter when I bottle, if it is going into decorative glass bottles.

[berkshires]

I used a 2 x 4 XL for 3 seasons, after everything was up to temp , I was getting 140-160F

Maybe, but how long did it take you to get up to temp? Last season most of my boils were only three to four hours long, and the sap in the preheater was still getting warmer by the time I stopped. I dunno what it got up to by the end, but most of the time during the boil it was cool enough to kill the boil in half the first section.

Gabe