Big_Eddy,
Been looking at your block arch tutorial.
I will have to get serious in building a better one after this season is over.
This is my 2nd year on the block arch - built with the cinder blocks with holes in them.
Problem is that they crack a lot quicker and this year we really screwed up the setup.
Totally not level and there are gaps in lots of places.
So I am getting smoke from every crevice as well as the between the steam pans ad also between where the lip of the pan sits on the blocks. Most un enjoyable as I am smelling smoke all day long instead of sweet sap.
ANYHOO, my question is this - do you get smoke escaping between the bottom of your pan as it sits on top of the blocks? Trying to figure out what I can do to improve my setup this season, short of taking my setup apart... I already have the beginnings of a cinder cemetery.
Homeschooling mama to 8
2010-30 taps, steam pans on a fisher grandma bear woodstove outdoors. Bottled 18.5L
2012- 70 taps - 20L
2013 - 70 taps, 3 steam pans on concrete block arch. 50L
2015- 70 taps, 50.5L, 3.3lbs accidental sugar
2021 - 120 taps, new-to-me 2x5 flat pan with a cast iron arch atop a brick firebox.