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Thread: New flue pan finished!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Palmyra, Indiana
    Posts
    136

    Default New flue pan finished!

    Got the sides cut yesterday and finished welding today. Checked for leaks and filled it with sap this evening! I haven't started to boil yet, but will tomorrow morning (not enough sap to mess with tonight). I hope it shows a significant improvement. I went from 6sqft to 17.25sqft of surface area. I have a 3/4" port to weld into it for my new valve, but I have to do some cutting on the evaporator to allow clearance for it.



    Matt M.

    2008 - 15 taps, boiler made from a file cabinet, 4 gal pots
    2009 - 31 taps, same boiler
    2010 - 71 taps, new 2x6 homemade evap, flat stainless pans
    2011 - 99 taps, new sugar house, same evap as above, working on flue pan
    2012 - 138 taps. New 2x3 V-flue pan
    2013 - 150 taps.
    2014 - Shooting for 200 taps, new dedicated sugar shack, will start work on new pans and evaporator.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Broad Brook, Connecticut
    Posts
    540

    Default

    That looks great, where did you get the design from? I will be getting a 2 X 3 and am already kicking myself for not getting something bigger. Do you think it would be worth asking the local high school to build a flue pan for a 2 X 3 or should I just buy a bigger evaporator next year? Also, do you plan to put dividers in your pan? Thanks and congrats!
    2011-8 Taps on a very crude block arch
    2012- 38 taps 2 X 3 with blower.
    2013- 70 taps total-50 on tubing, 20 on buckets
    2014- 75 taps- Low vacuum, 2X4 drop flue
    2015- 100 taps-2X6 Mason Drop Tube, low vac
    2016-115 taps high vac, 60 taps buckets
    14X20 post and beam shack with attached 10X14 wood shed
    12 beehives and an avid waterfowl hunter.
    Wishing I can quit my day job, keep bees, farm, and make syrup!
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moshe...40072296064422

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Palmyra, Indiana
    Posts
    136

    Default

    I designed it myself, but its a pretty simple and somewhat common concept. I got some quotes from some local places as well as some bigger shops, and it just wasn't worth the money to me. I am a so-so welder, and this was my first attempt at stainless. It came out well - it doesn't leak! I will not be putting dividers in any of my 3 pans (I have a 2x3 flue pan, a 2x3 flat pan, and a 2x1 preheater). At 110 taps, I am having to get up at night to feed the fire and add sap just to keep up on the heavy days, so I hope this pan allows me to sleep a little and to expand to more taps. We want to hit 175 taps this year.

    Next year, we want to try to hit 250 taps, but we will be building a bigger sugar shack and a larger 3x8 or 3x9 evaporator with a bigger flue pan.
    Matt M.

    2008 - 15 taps, boiler made from a file cabinet, 4 gal pots
    2009 - 31 taps, same boiler
    2010 - 71 taps, new 2x6 homemade evap, flat stainless pans
    2011 - 99 taps, new sugar house, same evap as above, working on flue pan
    2012 - 138 taps. New 2x3 V-flue pan
    2013 - 150 taps.
    2014 - Shooting for 200 taps, new dedicated sugar shack, will start work on new pans and evaporator.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Broad Brook, Connecticut
    Posts
    540

    Default

    Is it worth making a flue pan with a 2X3 or should I just buy a bigger evaporator?
    2011-8 Taps on a very crude block arch
    2012- 38 taps 2 X 3 with blower.
    2013- 70 taps total-50 on tubing, 20 on buckets
    2014- 75 taps- Low vacuum, 2X4 drop flue
    2015- 100 taps-2X6 Mason Drop Tube, low vac
    2016-115 taps high vac, 60 taps buckets
    14X20 post and beam shack with attached 10X14 wood shed
    12 beehives and an avid waterfowl hunter.
    Wishing I can quit my day job, keep bees, farm, and make syrup!
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moshe...40072296064422

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    hopkinton nh
    Posts
    1,116

    Default

    are you talking about a 2x3 flue pan or a flue pan for a 2x3 arch? patrick phaneuf makes a 24"x30" flue pan with 10-7" drop flues(25-30 gph!) so a 2x3 flue pan would work. you would just have to make pretty big flues. i was thinking about making one.

    spencer
    Spencer Carney
    350 taps
    phaneuf 2x4 with hybrid pan
    2-350 gal, 5-55 gal drums, and a cage tank

    only 16 yr old at school making syrup!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carney...3279081?ref=hl

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Broad Brook, Connecticut
    Posts
    540

    Default

    I have the basic Mason 2 X 3 evaporator. So I guess arch would be what I am referring to?
    2011-8 Taps on a very crude block arch
    2012- 38 taps 2 X 3 with blower.
    2013- 70 taps total-50 on tubing, 20 on buckets
    2014- 75 taps- Low vacuum, 2X4 drop flue
    2015- 100 taps-2X6 Mason Drop Tube, low vac
    2016-115 taps high vac, 60 taps buckets
    14X20 post and beam shack with attached 10X14 wood shed
    12 beehives and an avid waterfowl hunter.
    Wishing I can quit my day job, keep bees, farm, and make syrup!
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moshe...40072296064422

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    hopkinton nh
    Posts
    1,116

    Default

    i would go with a bigger arch. you might be able to make a 2x2 flue pan and have a 2x1 syrup pan. but i think you should get a 2x4 or a 2x5 if you plan on expanding.

    spencer
    Spencer Carney
    350 taps
    phaneuf 2x4 with hybrid pan
    2-350 gal, 5-55 gal drums, and a cage tank

    only 16 yr old at school making syrup!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carney...3279081?ref=hl

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    clymer NY
    Posts
    113

    Default

    that looks awsome!should work great! maybe 25 gph or more!
    Last edited by kinalfarm; 01-30-2012 at 10:28 PM.
    2x6 with blower and drop tube pan
    inside flu pre heater
    new homeade 20 gallon cone filter tank ss
    09 4x4 polaris ranger 110 gal tank
    2nd year on brand new ss pans
    16x12 sugarin house

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