A&A 2x8 Evaporator

[loganl]

Hey Guys - figured I'd post some pictures of my new 2x8 that I had Nelson make down at A&A Metalshop in VA. Its a 2x8 with a raised flue back pan. During my first boil I was getting between 35 and 40 GPH on dry wood. I am fairly impressed by the build quality and you cant beat the price.

Update - I can't actually post the pictures as the file size is too big. Here is a video of it running: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMD0pNjqy7o

[Spoondog123]

Nice rig for the price.

[maple flats]

Does anyone have contact info for A&A? I'm looking to get a quote on a 2x5 with 2x2 front pan and 2x3 raised flue rear pan.

[O3C]

5403261407. Just picked up that exact evaporator 2 months ago. Ron

[loganl]

540-326-1407 is his number. Call him and leave a message and he will get back to you. You will have to send him a letter with a check to actually place an order. My evaporator took about 5 weeks to be finished but I believe he was fairly busy as this was January.

Also, he doesn't have a 2x5 listed on his price sheet but he does have a 2x6 with raised flues. That would be $3250 for the evaporator and the arch. Looks like a 2x2 front pan would be $440 and a 2x4 back pan with flues would be $1800.

[maple flats]

Thanks, I'll be contacting him in May or June, for next year. I've been working off my inventory of Amber and dark from when I last made syrup, but as of now I only have 2 barrels of amber and 3 of dark left, plus I have 30 gal aging in a bourbon barrel which should be ready in Dec. Then I'll need to produce more. My barrels are all SS and 26.5 gal each. I cut out my online add for my store, and hopefully what I have will carry me the year's time I'll need, I think it will be based on my sales after I cut out the online advertising.
For next year I'll only be tapping up to 300 taps, all on vacuum, but maybe only 20". The only pump I kept is an Alamo 30 which was good for 20", but since I was using it on a Surge vacuum tank I never tried for more. I may be able to enhance the oil flow and gain a little more vacuum.

[Buckfever]

A&A Metal Shop is in Virginia now?

[maple flats]

Are their pans welded or lead free soldered? Years ago I heard they only offered soldered pans, has that changed?

[O3C]

Yes they moved from northern pa to virginia . We went through some big time mountains in West Virginia to get there. Im pretty sure Nelson just does lead free solder , dont recall seeing any welding equipment. Ron

[plattmaple]

When Nelson was in Ulysses Pa he made our custom 4x12 pans with lead free solder. We are very happy with the performance and craftsmanship. We actually had him build several tanks and a 2x4 finish evaporator also. All were priced way less than dealer prices.

[metalhead62]

Anyone have an updated price list for a&a they can post?

[maple flats]

My first three evaporators were leadfree solder, a 2x3, then a 2x6, then my first set of pans on my 3x8. When I had new pans made for the 3x8 I changed from a 3x2 syrup pan and a 3x6 raised flue pan to a 3x3 syrup pan and a 3x5 raised flue (with 10" raised flues), welded pans. Then I lost my help, cut down to just about 425 taps all directly to the sugarhouse and finally I quit making syrup all together. I'm now looking to get back in but much smaller, likely between 200-300 taps total, on vacuum.

[maple flats]

I don't have a price list, but just call A&A, the prices will pleasantly surprise you, especially if you have priced other manufacturers. His phone number is 540-326-1407. When you call you will get an answering machine, just leave your name and contact number. He will return the call same day late afternoon if you called earlier that day. If later I would guess he will call back the next day.
Being Amish, he has no phone in his house nor shop. Part of the way down his driveway he has a small wooden shed much like a phone booth, solar on the roof and a phone and solar equipment inside. He will return the call from there. It's the same A&A but he bought the name and designes from the former owners who were in Pa. I think he works alone. When I picked up my 2x6 evaporator, raised flue, 2x6 hood, 100 gal head tank, 20 gal draw off than, all of the firebricks and blanket insulation for wood fired were included, it came with a nice heavy framed 2x6 arch and I got enough stack pipe for my extra tall sugarhouse with a 6/12 pitch roof (on a 16x24 sugarhouse and enuogh stack to end up 2' above the 30" tall cupola. The whole lot was $4100. Before the extras the 2x6 with 12' of stack was $3250. I have no idea what other sizes were. I was surprised that both drop flue and raised flue were the same price at least on a 2x6. He said he actually prefers making raised flue better.