How to use damper for preheater?

[Bucket Head]

Yes, a damper would be reccomended, but its not a 'must have' for a preheater to still preheat. It just won't get as hot as it could with one. A stainless hood would hold the heat a little better than an aluminum one, because aluminum disapates (spelling?) heat better. However, I doubt you'd see a difference between the two. Mine is aluminum and it works flawlessly. Its less expensive than stainless and its easier to move because its a little lighter.

As for Leaders suggestions, their trying to sell stuff and make money. Their going to reccomend a lot of things and push stainless items over the aluminum ones. We, as frugal sugarmakers, will share what works and what works well for us, and will share how to do it inexpensively.

Steve

[lew]

As others have said, close the damper until steam comes out of the cracks , then open it up until the steam stops leaking out the cracks. On windy days you might need to leave the damper open a bit more. As far as how hot. You need to have a vent on the preheater or you can get it too hot and start the sap boiling in the tubes. without a vent it can vapor lock and not let any sap through to your pan.