Flip Style Stack Cap

I have always had a China Cap style stack cap and now in the process of installing a flip style cap. My theory as to why I am switching is safety. With my current cap it seems embers hit that cap and deflect and fly in every direction. With a flip style they will shoot straight up and have a bit of time to cool before coming back down.

Anyway, I am at a standstill as too how to mount the cap, and how to orient it to have the cables come down to operate.

Would love to see some close-up pictures of your solutions!!

Thanks!

Noel,
I like the flip up cap style. I think you will get better draft on your arch. As far as embers, yse that can and still be a issue. I reduced my hot embers the most when I added the Air Over Fire system.
I have a rope coming down the back wall that pulls the stack lid open.
Regards,
Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sugarmaker

Noel,
I like the flip up cap style. I think you will get better draft on your arch. As far as embers, yse that can and still be a issue. I reduced my hot embers the most when I added the Air Over Fire system.
I have a rope coming down the back wall that pulls the stack lid open.
Regards,
Chris

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Any pictures Chris? Did you "guide" the rope in any way, if so, how?

I don't have pictures but I run mine with small cable so it won't rot through the roof with a rubber grommet. Then I have the cable running trough a couple pulleys to my back wall. I have screw in the wall that I hook it to that keeps it closed.

On my wood fired arch my pull was plastic coated wire. It didn’t come inside, I went outside to open it and hook the wire to a nail. I’ve switched to an oil fired arch and don’t know what kind of cover I’m going to use.

Noel,
I dont have any good pictures of my homemade lid. It has worked good for almost 20 years and we get good draft when its open. Not so good when closed, don't ask me how we know that!:) Like most things maple, the customization factor takes over at some point to fit the project or the sugarhouse. Did you try to do a search on here? Do you have the lid already? Maybe some pictures of it may get some thoughts going too?
Regards,
Chris

My 2x6 had a flip cap which worked well, 2 cables, pull one it opens, pull the other it closed.
My current 3x8 flip cap, not so. The operating arm that flips is welded wrong. Rather than try to cut it off and get the arm right, I just use 2 cables. The first holds the flip cap from opening too far, before I set that the cap would tilt so the cap hung straight down, then there was only one way to close it, I had to climb a ladder and flip it. After 1 day of that I attached cable #1 to hold the cap at just short of flipping over, it is attached to a fixed point on the arch. The second cable (each is light weight SS cable) has a hook on the end, to open the cap I pull until cable one stops it, then I hook #2 to a chain at the back of the arch. This works well thus I won't likely ever change the position of the operating lever. My first one had a stop welded to the mounting bracket, the current one does not. Both just run thru a small hole in the steel ridge cap. If memory serves me, I think those holes are about 1/8" (made by driving an 8 penny nail thru the steel ridge cap) and I think the SS cable was 5/64' This has worked well for about 12 or 13 seasons.

Yeah, I've searched all over the place for pictures of flip cap installations, not many to be found.

I already have it, bought it from Leader.

I am using cable (I have it already) 1/8" or maybe slight bigger.

Two cables will need to be used, and it appears both will need to be simultaneously used for opening, and closing. Nearly 270º of movement with no stopper. Might have to fabricate a stopper of some kind.

Haven't decided whether I was going to go through the roof, or go down the outside.

I even thought about attaching large eyebolts to the "control arm" and using a long pole with a hook/stud on the end to open and shut it. Would need to be about 14' to 16' long though. 1/2" EMT conduit might be an idea, IDK.

Thanks for the ideas so far, keep them coming!

I'm not sure who made mine, I bought it from Bascom from their clearance bin. I later thought it was in there because it was designed poorly (no stop and the wrong position on the control arm), but as I described, I got it to work.

wyn,
Maybe mentioned but if you can spring load it to over center back to the closed position then you can just have a pull cord to open and then lock the pull cord. That is how mine works, release the cord and the lid springs back closed.
Regards,
Chris