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ctjim
01-07-2010, 06:53 PM
looking to upgrade this season from an old ss turkey fryer setup and cone filter to a complete gas finisher w/ filter rack. we have a small operation about 400 taps between 2 people. i have been looking @ the 16x16 leader unit and it seems like it would fit us well but i have heard that the burner on that unit isn't the best. any thoughts/suggestions would be great. thanks jim

tuckermtn
01-07-2010, 08:25 PM
not sure what the issues are with the burner, but ours has held up well - will hold around 10 gals. only thing I don't like is the fitting doesn't allow it to drain fully...but that is the case on most bottlers..

we ran ours with 475 taps last year. never really had any bottlenecks- pun intended....

Haynes Forest Products
01-08-2010, 01:32 AM
The closer you get your syrup at the evap the less of a burner you need. I dont know if there is a differance between reheating fast or slow has an effect on the color or taste. It all depends on how often you plan on bottling. I have the same problem with the pan not totaly draining my pan so its tipped at the end to get the dregs into the press so you dont see the slude in the bottom:lol:

sugarmaker43
01-08-2010, 10:02 AM
Last season I did a lot of looking for a new canning / finisher. A friend has a leader which works well but only has a 35,000 btu or so burner. I went with one from Dominion and Grimm because it has a 65,000 burner and it was cheaper. It is 16x16 we can put in 12 gallons or so from the filter press to heat for canning. I did get a manual bottling valve from the Maple guys which fills the jugs with no foam which the wife really likes. We don't use the unit as a finishing unit but it would work well for a smaller operation I would think.

unclebuck
01-09-2010, 01:06 PM
I bought a 16x16 filter/ finisher 3 years ago from Leader and have had no problems with the burner. I use this as a finishing pan only.we then put the single cone filter tank under it to filter the syrup. then we remove the finishing pan to clean and put the filter tank on the burner to reheat the syrup to 180-190 degrees to bottle.the onlly down fall is I wish the 3/4 box tubeing was a little longer to accomadate the filter tank ,but if your careful it works fine

Uncle Buck

unclebuck
01-09-2010, 01:20 PM
I bought a 16x16 filter/ finisher 3 years ago from Leader and have had no problems with the burner. I use this as a finishing pan only.we then put the single cone filter tank under it to filter the syrup. then we remove the finishing pan to clean and put the filter tank on the burner to reheat the syrup to 180-190 degrees to bottle.the onlly down fall is I wish the 3/4 box tubeing was a little longer to accomadate the filter tank ,but if your careful it works fine

Uncle Buck
the problem of filtering before the finisher is that when you are finishing the syrup above 205 degrees in temp you make more sugar sand

uncle buck

maple flats
01-09-2010, 07:46 PM
I take my evaporator to slightly higher density than desired and thin to bottle in the canner. Last year was the first time I tried that and liked it better. I use distilled water to thin but if you have an RO permeate would be good to use to.

WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER
01-10-2010, 03:08 PM
I have a 16x24 Leader unit and it has been used for 6 years and never had any problems with it.

tom jr.
01-10-2010, 05:15 PM
ctjim, If i were you i would get a hold of andy wegner (wegnermetalworks)
he makes a similar filter/ finishing pan. I have the 16x16 leader and use a
turkey fryer burner under it as it works a lot better than the burner that came with the unit, Not to dog on leader its a great unit but I am a firm beliver in supporting the small buisness man.

WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER
01-10-2010, 08:42 PM
Bill Mason(username "WF Mason") also makes a very nice unit from feedback on here and it a small business man and have a very good reputation. Might also send him a PM.