Quote Originally Posted by Bucket Head View Post
First question, how wide is a Halfpint pan? Second, what size evaporator do you hope to have "down the road"? I don't know what width a halfpint pan is, but lets say its two and a half feet wide, you would want to fashion the new pan to what a 2.5x8, or 10' rig would have for a syrup pan. Likewise for a 2 or 3 footer. My homemade 2.5 wide syrup pan has 4 compartments and has a floatbox on each side. Can the halfpint arch accept a pan that has float boxes on it? Is it a newer style arch (box-like), or is it the older steel barrel arch type? I'm thinking the newer style just has the pan setting on it and the barrel one the pan sets in it. The older style would need some modification, if I'm remembering correctly. I'm sure others here will share what they have for compartments, and you could always look on e-bay, craigslist, Bascoms, etc., and see what other pans close to what size you want have for compartments.

Steve
The half pint pan is 24 inches wide by 33 inches long.Deffinatly make it with four sections each 6 inches wide.I had a half pint pan last year on my 2 by 6 which i added another channel to make the flow right.The 8 inch channels on the half pint are to wide.It takes for ever to get that much syrup built up in the last section for you to draw off.The 4 sections will make it easier to draw off actual syrup without you having to finish it in another pot.Last year it was nearly impossible for me to draw syrup thats why this year i ordered the right pan with 4 dividers and got the thermometer fittings on them as well. With the four channels it will be easier to add a second pan and keep the flow pattern right.