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Thanks for the ideas on the grates guys. Jemsklein I'am not sure of the exact size of the fire box. I think its 26x36. I have a couple of pieces of mine rails that I will cut to length and there is a scrap yard about 15 miles from me where I think I might be able to find some angle iron or square bar. I will set the rail in length wise and weld the angle across it. I'll let you how it works out.
Andyp
Chris - grates warped after 6 years of firing or after 6 firings?
Danno,
Sorry if I was not clear. and thinking back it may not have been six firings but I think the grates were warped after the first season which usually is a dozen or so boils. They may have warped some more the second season. I think I will go to the sugarhouse take some pictures and post them. The old 1000 word thing. I will be right back in say 15 min.
Chris
Grates ( one )
They may look a little crusty but they work:)
Chris
Thanks Chris - going out to take pics was beyond the call of duty. Those "grates" have held up well. I may give it a shot. Makes me wonder if the previous owner of my arch was tossing grenades in - my grates, allot heavier duty than angle iron, are just mangled.
Grate condition depends alot on the kind of wood you use... One year I used 3 year old hard wood and fired hard and my grates where junk (6" sag) and others I have used hemlock and or not let the ash build up and I have used the grates for 4 years and still no warpage...
A blower will help extend the life of the grates also because it keeps one side of them cool. Also, cleaning out the ashes every day or two if you don't have an airtight arch also helps because it keeps the underside of them cooler and plenty of airspace for cooling. The hotter the underside gets the more likely they are too warp.
I can't believe no one did any work on tubing or stacked firewood or lets say test fired a rig today! Well if everyone else was loafing I went to the bush tonite after work and finished my racks for my bulk tanks and tied up 500 ft of mainline.
another 150ft to go. I think i will scrub out the new tanks tomorrow night. One month to go. I believe that any syrup to be made this month has already been made. In this neck of the woods any way. Van is probably still boiling
Everyone has been busy on the "Trader"
Thats the bad thing about the Trader. Cant get any work done when your typing!