First Timer question - very small scale

[jmello6085]

Any advice as to whether this would work as an evaporator pan? I can't afford an expensive one and I will only be tapping 5-10 trees this spring. Was going to buy 2 of these and boil over my outdoor fire pit.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/voll.../92230062.html

[buck3m]

and you should be able to keep up with a good fire.

Have fun!

[Cabin]

They will work. Sometimes you can get a good price on used pans, I got 10 assorted pans/steam trays for $75 some were brand new one had a leak.

[BreezyHill]

Check out ebay...I got several for my oldest sons graduation party and didn't pay over $10 each and most came with lids.

Ben

[psparr]

Just keep in mind growth. Your getting bigger next year wether you realize it now or not. You've got the bug!

[morningstarfarm]

Ok here we go...welcome to the dark side...
Yes those will work fine...would suggest building a block arch to fit them though...
Now before you go spend $70.00 plus shipping here is exactly what is going to happen...

You are going to tap your 10 trees and everything is going to be happy...
By your second fire your neighbor is going to show up and ask what is going on...
By the third fire he is telling you he has 20 trees in his yard you can tap...
Next your other neighbor is going to show up to check what is going on and he is going to bring beer...
He will have more trees he wants you to tap...
Now you need a bigger set of pans...and the spiral has begun leading to an evaporator then a sugar house...
But mark my words...by half way through your first season you will have outgrown those pans...
You will be better off going to your local welder and having him make you a 2x3' steel pan....
Should cost you less than $100...
Still use a cement block arch...cheap and they work fine...

This is the story of how we got started 9 years ago...we now have almost 6000 taps...
And we still boil in the original 2x3 steel pan we had made in the beginning for our maple weekends and at my kids school every year...

[lakeview maple]

Morning star farm You hit the nail on the head,lol it is an addiction and a great one , awesome past time and a great thing to share with the family, welcome to the land of expansion.Al

[Ausable]

Any advice as to whether this would work as an evaporator pan? I can't afford an expensive one and I will only be tapping 5-10 trees this spring. Was going to buy 2 of these and boil over my outdoor fire pit.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/voll.../92230062.html

They work just fine. I am a hobby producer and now have a small 2'x5' continuous flow evaporator. But - I still finish my maple syrup in a restaurant pan over an old turkey fryer burner. It is hard not to grow - like it or not. Although I only tap 55 trees of my own. My Kids and Grandkids haul up sap for me to boil ---- made 18 gallons this past season - a lot for me. But - I still use a restaurant pan to finish my syrup on. So - in my case - restaurant pans come in handy. ---Mike---

[rayi]

The pans are a good start. I have a 2 by6 and use a restaurant pan filled with water on a Turkey fryer. Inside the first pan is a second pan that has a steam pan type holy thing. Flat filter fits on this and can be covered. So when you out grow the pans for boiling you can still use them

[Cabin]

The pans are a good start. I have a 2 by6 and use a restaurant pan filled with water on a Turkey fryer. Inside the first pan is a second pan that has a steam pan type holy thing. Flat filter fits on this and can be covered. So when you out grow the pans for boiling you can still use them

I use the steam trays for filtering as well. I take all the racks out of the oven and place the pans in at 180 degrees(convection oven no bottom burner).