New fuil tank arch. Any ideas?

[SGSyrup]

I guess the sap season is over in my area. It hasn't been below 30 deg. for two weeks now. I spent about 4 days boiling down a little over 5 pints of syrup! I figure it's worth about $65 a pint. Any takers? :lol:
I'd really like to get a more efficient method of boiling ready for next year. I picked up some kind of old square tank and another aluminum tank at a junk yard of sorts. I'd like to cut the aluminum tank in half and make 2 pans out of it.
After I got it home I thought of the possible implications of boiling in aluminum, but... what do y'all think?
I'm tickled to get the square oil tank... It should be easy to brick up.


http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4489/img3266f.th.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3266f.jpg)
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6497/img3267w.th.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img3267w.jpg)

[SGSyrup]

I suppose I can't expect comments right away since everyone else is in the middle of the season. :) You northerners will probably be boiling for another couple weeks, huh?

[KenWP]

The aluminuim won't really hurt you . It at least will not have any soldered joints in it, What pray tell was it used for would be my next guestion. How deep would the pans become after cutting it in half.

[325abn]

Aluminium will be ok, of course depending on what it was used for. Or you could find some SS steam table pans. There are lots of post with pictures of folks home made oil tank rigs on here.

Here are a few sots of mine.

Just the bare inside showing the arch.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/reagantrooper/Evaporator/8-06070.jpg

Lined with blanket.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/reagantrooper/Evaporator/christmas06-1-07094.jpg

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

What was in the aluminum tank before you bought it? Stainless steam pans are not that expensive and you could probably put 4 or 5 on your arch and then you wouldn't have to worry about it.

[SGSyrup]

I have no idea what was in the tank before. It does have a piece of garden hose attached to one side, so maybe it was just water.
After cutting it, the sides would be 8'' tall.
By steam pans do you mean like what you'd find at a restaurant in a buffet? Where would you find those things?
Thanks for the pics, 325abn. It helps a lot to see how those who have gone before have done it! I've seen a few other rigs on here, but you can't really search for them; you just have to click on the pics when they're in someone's signature.
Are there any precautions I need to take when I cut into the oil tank, or would the fumes be long gone by now?

[Diezeldog]

I think the tank is a good idea. People boil on turkey fryers with aluminum pots, so why not? You were talking about cutting the tank? Make sure it's full of water when you do. I don't mean fill it then empty it , I mean keep it full as you can till you get a good opening. I welded a gas tank once and it had been filled with water numerous times, maybe 7-8 and I thought it was okay and it nearly blew my hand off not to mention burns, and broken bones. Be very careful.
It seems to me like any upgrade is improvement. If you don't gain anything atleast you'll gain knowledge and the next time you'll know and maybe we'll know. Good luck/be careful.

[SGSyrup]

Right! I'll take your advice. Thanks, Diezel!

[SGSyrup]

Ummm, yea... strong smelling water. I just looked (or rather smelled) into what was in that aluminum tank. It wreaks of gas. Is there a tried and true way to clean it out? Thanks for the help!