New in Maine

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Originally Posted by Ltr77

I am in Mount Vernon, just Northwest of Augusta. Plan is a funny word, I plan on eventually tapping a few hundred, my immediate goals however are significantly more humble. I am hoping to tap up to 30 this next year. Last year we did 20.

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Welcome to the site, though I am posting this somewhat late! I too am in Mount Vernon...small world. I built a concrete block arch lined with brick that supports three steam trays. In conjunction with a stand alone warming stove with one tray I can do 60+ gallons of sap in a days boil. We had 18 or so taps on 2018 for 7 gallons of syrup and are looking to do 24 this season. No problems with the blocks cracking as the brick keeps the heat down. Besides at $1.65 each it's cheap to repair.

Best of luck this season!

Welcome to the site. Everyone here is very knowledgeable when it comes to the various parts of sugaring. We are all here to help. I too started with cinder block arch outside and it was fun. Now I have built a sugarhouse and have a small evaporator and it has made a huge difference.

I went from barrel stove to concrete block a couple years back and like it better.
More flexibility in firebox capacity height, width and length wise means less tending. I am at 3 blocks high.
Some blocks crack but going on 3rd season with same blocks . They will still hold together cracked.
The stovepipe out the back takes a bit of engineering but can be done with a
little ingenuity.