Copper Pre-heater

[Squaredeal]

OK. I've been thinking about adding pre-heater to my 5x14 intensofire. Just got back where I saw some beautiful stainless ones that cost ~2500. installed. To me, it doesn't seem worth it to spend that much to achieve and estimated 10% increase in evaporation. However, I'm a son of a plumber and quite handy with a torch. I'm quite sure I could make one with a similar design for a couple hundred. I think it might be a little more efficient as copper should transfer heat better than stainless. Anyone have any thoughts on why I shouldn't use copper?

[KenWP]

I spent the weekend going to garage sales and I seen this huge copper container that would have worked great as a preheater. It was actually formed instead of soldered so it had no joints but the price was a little much. I find a lot of SS stuff is over priced for some reason also. Its either because they don't sell enough or they like profit to much.

[Squaredeal]

Ken, Plenty of opportunity to visit "maches de puces" and ventes de garages" I couldn't believe how many we saw on the way back from Quebec. Wish there was more time, looked like some good stuff in a lot of them.

[maplehound]

squaredeal,
My preheater is copper and works great. I bought it a couple years ago, and the dealer had told me that Canada had for some unknown reason outlawed cappoer preheaters and that the dealers up there were selling the preheaters to American producers at a cheaper rate. I did get a great deal and the preheater looked like it had been cut down to fit my evapoator from a much larger size. I would say though if you could make one yourself then go for it.

[Fred Henderson]

I made mine out of copper.

[tessiersfarm]

I built my own, I don't know what temp the sap comes out at but its too hot to stick your finger under. 48' of 1/2" copper into 3/4" manifolds for a 2x6 evaporator.

There is a website that I based my design around: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmaple/sappreheaters.pdf

Good luck!!!

[KenWP]

I was thinking a box preheater not tubeing. Who knows what's allowed here it's all in french.