Ok, so here's my plan. I've ordered the Condar probe thermometer (Thanks William!), and I'm picking up a bunch of extra firebrick tomorrow to build a low wall between the syrup pan and the flue pan. This year I used 1" arch board as the first layer inside the arch then bricked it with half bricks, so it's already very tight in there near the stack where the ramp is highest, but I think I can close the gap significantly at the bottom of the ramp. I'll also continue to keep the draft door a little more closed than I have been. It's looking like huge sap days ahead, but I'm trying to hold off boiling until Friday when I can do a longer boil. I'll report back with the results!

-Laz

-Laz