W. F. Mason

[wino]

Hello all

I have see on this site W. F. Mason products. How do I contact them?

Wino

[JuniperHillSugar]

Bill Mason is on here under WFMASON. I just bought one of his 2x4 Hobby Evaporators and I think it will perform very well based on my "water only" tests. Great guy also.

If you check out Maine Maple Producers web site under members you can find "Mason Custom Welding" as well.

[Flat47]

More exactly, he is: "WF MASON" on here.

Note the space in there. I've NEVER heard anything bad about him or his work.

[killingworthmaple]

Great Great guy I had some custom pans made 2 years ago was very pleased with his work. Fair price and all around good guy.

Nathan

[foursapssyrup]

i just picked up a 2x6 evaporator from him, and the construction is solid! i can't wait to get some sap running through it!! i would recommend him to anyone!

[Rockwood]

I'm about to pickup a 2X3 evaporator my self (only 20 taps).

My question is should I use ceramic cloth under the fire bricks?

Thanks:confused:

[Dill]

I just bought a canner off of him. Got to look at one of his 2x6 designs. I was impressed. Quality work for a good price.

[MapleME]

I think you will find Bill is a great guy and makes quality stuff. He's a Mainer...what else do we need to say :D

[foursapssyrup]

I'm about to pickup a 2X3 evaporator my self (only 20 taps).

My question is should I use ceramic cloth under the fire bricks?

Thanks:confused:

in my conversation with Mr. Mason, he said we do not need the arch board/ ceramic blanket behind the brick. also bascoms is back ordered, so this year we are not putting any in.

[Rockwood]

Thanks for the info I'll skip the blanket idea.


Now on to my next problem.

I'm test fitting the fire bricks, and am having no luck.
Do they require cutting or am I just inept at finding the proper placement for them?


If anyone has a 2 X 3 could you post a picture of the inside of the arch it would be appreciated..

Thanks

[morningstarfarm]

yes you will need to cut some. place them in until you find the pattern with the fewest cuts. you can cut them nicely with an angle grinder and a masonry blade. They cut really easily.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Get your kids out there to help if they ever had legos they are qualified. Im not a big fan of all the blanket and arch board so start out stright and get the light weight fire brick not that nasty red stuff that cant be cut easy.

[MapleME]

Yeah you need to cut bricks- Its not difficult, I just had a difficult time holding them SAFELY when cutting.

[PerryW]

I had good luck just scoring the brick lightly on both sides with a big chisel then laying the brick on two wood blocks and giving it one whack with the hammer to split them. They weren't perfect cuts, but smooth enough to mortar with refectory cement.

[Mac]

Rockwood I had a Mason 2 x 3 last year loved it made 17 1/2 gallons on it here are some pics of the bricking. Have fun.. Hope the pics help. At about 19-20 " from the front I built a false wall you can see It will make the flame go up and get the back of your pan
Mac1343

1344

[Z/MAN]

I used a a tile cutting saw. With the water in it there was NO dust and very easy to use.

[Daryl]

I had a Mason 2x3 last year, I wished it had blanket or board on the sides. On boils of several hours, it got plenty hot on the sides. Heat out the sides is wasted heat.

[Rockwood]

Rockwood I had a Mason 2 x 3 last year loved it made 17 1/2 gallons on it here are some pics of the bricking. Have fun.. Hope the pics help. At about 19-20 " from the front I built a false wall you can see It will make the flame go up and get the back of your pan
Mac1343

1344

Thanks you for the picture / info.
I do admire the workmenship you put into cutting each brick to fit the exhaust. Good job
When I placed my fire bricks, I had stepped them more like a traditional arch, with bricks all the way to the back with two bricks on the first row, three on the second, four on the fourth.

Now I'm just wondering if the fire cement will hold / set in sub 0 (-32F) temps? :cool:

[Mac]

Rockwood,
I cant tell ya if the cement will se or not. I had a similar problem when I got my new evap.... never got above 19 f. So i rented a 200,000 btu heater for two days.. $20 per day cheap insurance

[JuniperHillSugar]

Rockwood,
I used a couple of 100 watt light bulbs in the arch, and covered it with a blanket for a few days, it seems to heve set up just fine. Probably a small electric heater would have worked as well.

[BryanEx]

Hello all

I have see on this site W. F. Mason products. How do I contact them?

Wino

Really glad to see a web site up for WF Mason Welding (http://wfmasonwelding.com)! If all goes well I should be in touch in a few months for a custom evaporator and pans even though it's cross-border. I like the quality, design, and feedback here on Maple Trader about Bill's work and service. My needs are a little different than most so I can't just buy "off the shelf" but I would really like to improve on what I have now.

[heus]

Nice website.

[Haynes Forest Products]

For the life of me I dont know what the peice he is welding on the home page of his web site is for in the maple industry. Must be a mistake and he should build a bike out of it:)

[BryanEx]

Easy...given the warm temps this year. It's the frame for a stainless steel food grade lawn chair. :D