My Arch

[bradley153]

Thanks to all for the great info that I have sucked out of this site. I have built a new arch. The pan that will be going on the top is 32 X 48 and will be complete with dividers. I am also haveing 2, 3/4 inch half couplings and 1, 1/4 inch coupling welded in to the pan. The pan isnt as tall as I would prefer but whe you buy it for a total of $20.00 you cant complain to much. I have 11 more brick to install and a stack to build.

[C.Wilcox]

Looks great! Looks like your four-footed friend approves as well. Be sure to post photos of it when you've got it fired up!

[Sugarmaker]

brad,
Very nice looking fabrication! This should boil very well for you. Thanks for posting the pictures! How deep is your pan? Sounds like the price was right!

Regards,
Chris

[maple ridge tappers]

All you need is a diffuser to direct the air from you forced draft up into the fire. This should make your fire a lot hotter.

[3rdgen.maple]

Looks pretty good to me. Just curious what did you use for the insulation? I have not seen any that color before.

[RileySugarbush]

Very nice! That should work very well for you. Have fun this year.

[morningstarfarm]

ok so I thought my arch was done....what should the diffuser look like? a pipe with slots/ holes to blow up? Any pics of one?

[maple ridge tappers]

My arch has an ash pan with rolled fins the full width of the pan. The air from the blower fan hits the fins and the air is directed upward into the fire. With your setup you could simply ad a 45 or 90 degree elbow to achieve the same effect.

[bradley153]

Looks pretty good to me. Just curious what did you use for the insulation? I have not seen any that color before.

it is arch board that was bought from a refractory person the cost for 48 sq ft was $75 cash the supplier in my neck of the woods wanted $133 for the same box.

[bradley153]

All you need is a diffuser to direct the air from you forced draft up into the fire. This should make your fire a lot hotter.

I have a fire brick in the bottom to act as a difusser for this year. I have already started a list of upgrades for next year.

[bradley153]

brad,
Very nice looking fabrication! This should boil very well for you. Thanks for posting the pictures! How deep is your pan? Sounds like the price was right!

Regards,
Chris

The pan is only 5" deep. that so far is the down fall to the whole thing buy Ive only been useing a 4" deep pan for the last 4 years

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Very nice and very well thought out!

[Bucket Head]

Thats a good looking rig! Nice job. My only concern is the grate. What is it made of? It looks very similar to a grate a friend of mine made for a woodstove. It did not hold up for long. It bowed downward after usage. Just keep an eye on it. Chances are the fire you'll get going in there with the blower will be much hotter than a standard woodstove fire.

Steve

[3rdgen.maple]

I had a set of grates like that at one time that sagged. But after looking at the pics I see a brick under them. Is that to support the grates? If not consider moving it to the center and leave it for support.

[vtsnowedin]

plus 1 on the grate. That aint going to cut it. Start looking for a spare or a heavier one to throw in when you need it. Bound to happen when every bucket and tank is running on the ground. Still and all a very nice job.

[bradley153]

Ive been searching but at this point I have not found anything that I feel will be better. the grate is on my list of things to improve next year.

[vtsnowedin]

A ten foot length of No.8 rebar would give you five two foot pieces one inch in diameter. Just lay them on top of whats left of that one when it burns through. Get the bar to have on hand and hack saw it to just fit some day when your waiting for the sap to run. Have a great season.

[Sugarmaker]

5 inch deep pan should be OK. I agree that deeper would be better. Just have some defoamer handy at all times and use it before you need it! I get close to boil over in our 8 inch deep pans.
Run the grates till they wont hold a fire then stick something else in there.

Chris

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

May be able to turn the grate over before every boil so that if it sags a little the prior boil, the next boil may be able to take it out. Never tried it, just a thought.

[bradley153]

good Idea on turning the grate over The grate is 1" thick so the weak part will be the rod at the top that holds it all together.

I alwas have defoamer ready to use so the pan boil or foam over hasent been a issue