Looking for pan suggestions

[NJG]

2009 was my first year with the maple syrup bug. I'm making the transition from steam table pans to a flat pan and am looking for some suggestions. To give you a little background, I'm tapping trees on our land in north central WI which is about a 2 hour drive, so I'm limited to boiling on weekends. Given the my time limitations, I'm going to go to a 2 x 4 pan with a 1 x 2 preheater that I can also use as a filter/canning pan. All situated on a block arch for now although I intend on building a more traditional home built arch down the road once i can get it under a roof. So, here are my questions......

1) Assuming I can't find a used 2x4 flat pan, what would be a preferred metal thickness to look for? Looking in WI I have found everything from 14 gauge ss to 22 gauge ss in new pans. I understand the principles of heat transfer increasing with thinner ss but how about durability?

2) Anybody bought pans from WI and had good or bad experiences that they would care to share?

3) How about 304 or 316 ss for pan material? I've found both made locally and rember reading on here that 304 works well but is there an advantage to one over the other?

I can't thank you folks enough for all your help.

Nick

[C.Wilcox]

Nick,

Where are you going to be in north central WI? Stainless Specialists in Wausau makes quite a few 2X4 SS syrup pans every year, by their own admission. For a 2X4 flat pan in 18 gauge with a 3/4" draw off port and rolled lip they quoted me something like $250 which I thought was very reasonable. The steam table pans I've been using are 22 gauge and they are pretty thin. Heat transfer is good, but they're durability is really questionable.

[NJG]

We are just west of Ogema, south west of Prentice.

I remember reading positive things about Stainless Steel Creations in either Merrill or Wausau on another thread and have sent asked them for a quote. Don't know if that is the same company but I will check. Hoping they come up with a good pan along with a pre-heater!

[Haynes Forest Products]

Im starting to think that 1/2 the sugar makers in Wisconsin are in the witness protection program. Why cant you just post your town instead of saying I live a little east of the northern most central area to the west of the small river to the east of the southern big lake:cool:

I have a buddy that has two welding/fab shops in Janesville Wisc that does alot of SS and has the plasma cutters, shears, laser cutters, benders and ability to do most everything and he drives all over Wisc. and he does sugering with me every year and he loves tinkering.

[C.Wilcox]

Haynes- Does your buddy actually take orders for pans?

Sorry Nick, don't mean to hi-jack your thread.

[NJG]

C. Wilcox,

No problem, I was thinking the same question. By the way I found both Stainless Steel Creations and Stainless specialists in the Wausau / Merrill area. Will be checking with both for a quote.

Anybody have any preferences or concerns on 304 vs 316, other than material costs? I found a guy in Green Bay who is also advertising pans in 316. Given the time constraints and cost it's not likely that I will be buying any new pans for years to come so I would much rather get a good one the first time.

Thanks again,

Nick

[syrupkid]

hey nick i have an 1.5x4 pan for sale with the arch pm me if you are interested

[NJG]

Syrupkid,

Thanks for the offer but I think I'm going to try to stick with the 24'' width. Just wanted to say thought that reading you tag lines is impressive!! Over 70gallons of syrup last year and you are 13?! Very, very cool!!

Nick

[3rdgen.maple]

I agree he is doing very well. That is over a quart a tap. Im just trying to figure out with about 200 taps a 2x8 and RO how many minutes is he gonna boil a day.:rolleyes:

[NJG]

That's funny, especially for me because when I hear the term "RO" mentioned I think it sounds like the advanced stages of this maple fever and it scares the hell out of me!

I must say that my wife deserves some awards for putting up with and supporting me in my hobbies but on the bright side he will never have to explain to his future bride why he really, really needs to spend a bunch of money on new equipment!:D