Homemade Arch - 275 Oil Drum & Chrome Exhaust Stack

I'm new to Maple Syrup Production. We built our first evaporator from a 275 oil tank.

The top of the oil tank was cut off prior to removing from basement.

The top was tack welded in place and the two ends were cut and welded together to make the exhaust flue:
https://preview.ibb.co/dJdDMH/evaporator_1.jpg
https://preview.ibb.co/gnRiMH/evaporator_2.jpg

Welded 1-3/4 angle iron around the top opening of the evaporator burn chamber for the evaporator pan to sit securely on.
https://preview.ibb.co/mgixgH/evaporator_3.jpg

Cut out the front for barrel kit door. Also cut another 4"x 8" for blower fan below internal grates.
https://preview.ibb.co/hftxgH/evaporator_4.jpg

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Continued...

Welded channels to hold firebrick in place. This arch will be moved seasonally.
https://preview.ibb.co/ij6iMH/evaporator_5.jpg

Closed off the back of the oil tank to push exhaust towards the evaporator pan. The firefox is 26" to support 24" logs.
https://preview.ibb.co/jrJ8ox/evaporator_6.jpg
https://preview.ibb.co/jvAcgH/evaporator_7.jpg

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Continued...

Moving evaporator into place
https://preview.ibb.co/kutmac/evaporator_8.jpg

Test boil on evaporator
https://preview.ibb.co/bKD8ox/evaporator_9.jpg

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Nice, I love the ski instead of legs. Anyone going try riding it back down the hill?

Really nice work, how's it running

Quote:

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Originally Posted by barnbc76

Nice, I love the ski instead of legs. Anyone going try riding it back down the hill?

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It's funny you mention the skis. We have no intention of ridding it down the hill. They are more there for structural support, maybe the ability to move it on snow, and to help ease leveling.

Once we were done constructing the arch we rolled it out to the driveway to paint it. The driveway was all ice and down hill and those skis didn't budge. We could not push it. We had to use a pulley to get it back into the garage after.

Maybe if we grind off the rust and wax them they might work better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cjadamec

Really nice work, how's it running

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We have only tested it with 33°F water in a temporary steel flat bottom pan. We made a temporary pan 8" deep to just test the Arch. We were waiting on our SS evap pan to be made. Very unscientific, but our initial boil up took about an hour. and it evaporator about 10-15 gallons an hour. We should know more next weekend. I'm hoping with the up coming weather we will get a good run.

I can't take credit for this pan as we had it manufactured. It is a 2x4 3 baffle section continuous flow pan. It is made of 18 gauge 304 SS.

We added a warming pan on top. The warming is from some old brewery equipment. It is divided into 3 sections.


Warming pan:
https://preview.ibb.co/f13cGH/evap_warmer_pan_1.jpg

Evaporator pan:
https://preview.ibb.co/nrmxGH/evap_pan_1.jpg

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