Spending Money

[sticky mess]

We have pretty well decided that we want to get something different to boil on for next year. We would like to be able to boil off 15 -20 gallons of water an hour. Can anyone make a suggestion as to where to go to look at new units? Who has a good selection and price? I am in Maine but understand we may have to make the trip N.H. Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks
Sticky Mess

[Sugarmaker]

SM,
All the dealers have them.
My suggestion would be to go with 30-40 gallons per hour, a good 2 x 6 or a 2 x 8 would get you real close to that number.
How many taps do you expect to put out and what does the future look like for your maple production? Some of these things can lead you to buying the right evaporator which will service you for many years.
One of the biggest things about maple is the amount of time and dollars you can put into it, just like a lot of other very enjoyable hobbies.

Regards,
Chris

[Haynes Forest Products]

Buying evaporators over the phone isnt all that hard. Its finding the one you want and haggling thats the important part. DO you have a relaitionship with a supplier? If you know what you want then working the phones and the web is the way to go. Starting with the people that fund this site is your best bet. When I decided to get a new rig I made calls and settled on the size and manufacturer and then worked the phones. I did end up buying from the the person that I had gotten most of my supplies from. I think with todays high quality equipment you dont have to live next door to the supplier to be happy. I live in Colo and sugar in Wisc. and had all my equipment shipped from Maple Pro to Denver and built my arch and hauled it back in the spring and for 6 years never had a reason to call the company for service.
I would work the phones till you get your price and options.

[Maplewalnut]

Give Maple Guys a call also Bill Mason is in your neck of the woods.

[5poorsaps]

There are a lot of different sites on the internet that has used equipment but a lot of them are through dealers that are asking top dollar. I just bought my 30"x8' raised flue oil fired from a larger sugar maker that had it sitting in a shed for two years and had forgotten that he had taken it in from a prior/passed away sugerer. I picked it up for a song 1/4 of its true value. You may want to call a few of the larger places to see if they have anything sitting around. I'm online every day...I'll keep my eyes open and let you know if I find something. Dont get something you'll grow out of too quick. How many taps do you figure you'll have this year and how many more next season? A 30"x8' boils 50+/- per hour. I wouldn't go any smaller. It will do a max of 3000 trees w/ RO at 10% and steamaway averageing 80 +/- gallons boiled per hour. Thats 16 10 hour boil days per season if you get steady runs.

[BarrelBoiler]

I'd check with bill mason he's in parsonsfield/kezer falls area of southwest maine. there is also bob's sugarhouse in dover-foxcroft right near by to you

bill helped me with an old pan years ago and builds complete units andthe guys in dover answered questions about different stuff when i was hunting for things

bob's got a web site

good luck

[sticky mess]

We put out 80 to 100 taps. It is just a fun way to spend the month of march / april in maine for us. Besides mud season is here then and there is not much to do. I do not a regular supplier, I have purshased things at Bobs sugar house in Dover and online here and there. I like the looks of the 18 x 60 Lapierre. Does anyone have experience with this unit or one of similiar size / make.

Thanks for all your comments.

[tuckermtn]

unless you have more will-power than the rest of us maplehaulics, I think you would quickly outgrow that unit. see if you can find a good 2 x 6 with a flu pan. When we first started out 140 taps was just fine on a 2 x 6. so your close already...

just my $.02

[vermaple]

Go ahead with the smaller one so you can enjoy the process of trading up like everyone else.;)

[Hurdhaven Farm]

I boil on a D&G Sportsman Model which is 18' x 63' so very close to what you are considering. This size works well for up to 150 taps. The longest boil I had this past season was 5 hours with most being 3-4 hours, start to finish.
There is a learning curve to this hobby/business and starting small and seeing how it goes is how many of us our doing it, and I personally think a wise way to do it.

[red maples]

There are a few factors,* I bought my 2x6 used 2 years old great shape, saved almost $2000,* so money might be a factor,*

if you plan on growing you want to project to get to 150- 200 taps and go to a what is it 20 X66 I think that is what size is If I remember right it is around 20-25 gph.* and what you have space for also.
* But definity talk to the maple guys they are great guys loaded with info and love to share it**

[tessiersfarm]

If your like me and want to deal with a person and not a telephone I have had good luck dealing with Bacon Farm in sidney. They are a producer and are very knoledgeable in the equipment and very helpful as well. They are very much responsible for getting me into the next step. They are also members of this site although I can't remember their exact site name.