My plan 2022/23

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Originally Posted by maple flats

2 things. Earlier you were asking or wondering about draw off frequency, just do it by temperature and don't try to time it. Actually back when I had a 2x6 I attended a seminar by Glen Goodrich and he said he draws continually. Yes his evaporator was far bigger, but I started doing continuous draws. As the temperature got to syrup, I cracked the draw off valve slightly. Early when I tried I was able to get 15-20 minute long trickle draws before I had to close the valve. In time I got better and a few times I got draws of 45-60 minutes. Then I graduated to a 3x8, the draws got longer. However after fighting getting an auto draw I finally got one, WOW, so much easier.
Cupola, they are easy to build. It's common to make them the same size as the evaporator. Just make them a little house on the roof with both sides openable and closeable, from below, at floor level.

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Thanks

When you say “In time I got better”, what did you do differently than before? Just cracked it less?

I finally received all of my parts for the pipe that will go through my garage wall. I will be pumping from collection barrels and transfer tanks into the garage into the RO raw sap barrel.

It is a 16” stainless steel pipe, with stainless steel couplings and brass fittings and brass quick connects. I will be able to have quick connects to connect to both ends of the pipe. I will wait for fall to drill the hole and hook up the pipe.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/046b...I9f4pNJvTtRdXg

Today I picked up my 3/16 tubing for my two new lines. I got the last two 500 rolls on the shelf. I also purchased all of the necessary fittings and new filters for the DYI vacuum filter.

Best of all I found a relatively cheap source for the translucent horizontal 35 gallon tanks. Still not cheap, but a lot cheaper than CDL and some other sources. I will buy two, one to go on my ATV to transfer sap from my remote collection barrels and the other will be my head tank.

My divided pan looks like it will come later than sooner.

I have a question. Last year with the batch boiling I never mixed batches. I had 14 separate batches. With the divided pans and draw offs, can I mix draw offs from different consecutive days, until I have enough that I want to then finish it?

As long as there is good flavor you can combine whatever you want to. It is purely up to you and what you want to achieve. I add my finished syrup to my bottler until I get enough to fill whatever container I am using at the time. I then grade this and bottle. The advantage for a smaller producer is less overall work by finishing less batches. The disadvantage is that you will not be able to keep all of your batches separate if that is you goal.

Picked up the metal for the frame that will go on top of my cinder blocks, that will support the divided pan. The angle iron pieces will also help secure the top of the firebricks. I will get them welded up next week. The angle iron is 1/4” thick and is 3”x2”, The end flat plates are 1/4” thick and 1.5” wide.

I will put gasket material between the metal and the pan.

The frame as shown is upside down. The angle pieces will point downward on the evaporator.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0400...A06oLrjWu99Geg


https://share.icloud.com/photos/023i...5DAj6PkCZCn4Ew

I also droppped a string from the rod where the centre of the stove pipe will go and made a mark on the concrete pad below. Based on that mark, I can start to build the evaporator again, but will wait to mid August to start to build it. I will start bringing over the firewood that will surround the evaporator at the beginning of September.

Although I hope to get my pan and base stack before the snow flies in November, I am not positive that will happen.

When you say “In time I got better”, what did you do differently than before? Just cracked it less?


Yes, I just got more accurate in the amount I opened the valve so the draw could keep going longer.

I am still waiting for my metal frame to be welded and that should be done shortly.

In the meantime, I am starting to piece together my cinderblock evaporator. It is slightly shorter and definitely wider than last year’s evaporator. I am just putting some blocks down to determine whatever size blocks, metal floor and firebricks I will need. There will be a layer of firebricks over the metal floor.

The fire box will be 23.5” wide, 30” deep and 18” high. There will be an angled ramp for 7.5 inches, then a flat ramp for 15”. All of that will have firebrick on the surface. There will be 1.75” from the top of the firebrick on the flat ramp to the pan. With the fire grate added, there will be 12” from the grate to the pan. I can make it so there is 16.5” inches from the grate to the bottom of the pan, but that will result in considerably more firebrick

https://share.icloud.com/photos/099I...GyQGPj22sFDL0Q

I might not get my pan, float box and base stack until October. Hopefully not later than that.

My metal frame to hold the 4x2 divided pan and to help hold the fire bricks, arrived today. In the pictures the evaporator is not close to being finished, it is just little parts to see just how I am going to put it all together.

I needed to make sure my cinder blocks were the exact distance apart from each other and wanted to wait until I received the metal frame. It turned out it fit exactly and not only held the fire brick to the side of the cinder block well, but also had slight down pressure to help hold the fire bricks in place.

As this year’s evaporator is 10” wider than last years, I will have to make an additional 10” wide angled ramp and also make a 2.5 inch filler for the other parts of the ramp. I will be pouring concrete into forms tomorrow to make those pieces.

I may also get my wider fire grate tomorrow. Before the end of this week, I should have all of the evaporator built, with the exception of the base stack. I hope I get that before the snow flies.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/08ef...GJzWfsip8NcBzA

https://share.icloud.com/photos/041r...Of4R8OA37ouvew

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ecv...lu1meuFcTEY1cg

Today I poured the concrete for the missing pieces of my cinder block evaporator. Before the end of the week, it should be all built except not having the base stack and divided pan.

Before I finish the evaporator, just wondering if I am building something that will succeed. I will have four inches of space below the fire grate. The fire box will be 23.5” wide. There is a 45° angled ramp about 7.5” long, then a flat ramp, 15” long, with a 1.75” space between the ramp firebrick and the bottom of the pan. There is a base stack over the end part of the 15” flat ramp that feeds into an 8” stove pipe, that will be 12’ tall with no rain cap.

Right now I am not planning on a blower, but could add one, but I am not sure one would be good for the cinder blocks.

Do you think I should have good draft with this setup?