I bought a new to me evaporator. Is there a downfall to blanketing the whole evaporator? Or should I got with bricks? I'm in a time crunch. Blanket would go a lot quicker. Don't . Want to ruin evaporator though. Thanks
Firebrick vs blanket?
I bought a new to me evaporator. Is there a downfall to blanketing the whole evaporator? Or should I got with bricks? I'm in a time crunch. Blanket would go a lot quicker. Don't . Want to ruin evaporator though. Thanks
Insulation will make your unit more efficient and keep the heat under the pan. Some people don't insulate because they like the heat the arch puts into the room, your choice. You can stand right beside an insulated arch, but cant stand beside an Uninsulated arch, bricks or no bricks.
Just using insulation only is tricky because as you load wood, you will probably catch and damage the insulation. Bricks are used to keep the fire off the walls of the arch as to not damage the steel, same as in a wood stove in houses.
I would get a few bricks in there as a minimum.
Hope that helps.
Terry
2011- 35 taps, ,,,milk juggs and buckets-propane turkey fryer !!
2012 -75 taps,,,,, 40 on tubing into buckets, and 35 buckets - 3nd hand Homemade arch, brutal.
2013- Just over 115 taps and still adding more.
2014, new SS flat pan and new arch built, guessing 75-100 taps this year.
2015, 50 taps on Shurflo pump.
2016- Getting a line across my creek this year.
2017-took a year off, Jamaica was fun !
2018- 45 trees tapped, keeping it fun !
More info. on the type of rig would be helpful but if it is a wood arch you will want brick to protect the insulation (blanket or board) from the wood. You can still use blanket higher up in the firebox and in places where the wood won't damage it.
If it is an oil rig then blanket will be fine.
About 750 taps on High Vac.
2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
Springtech Elite 500 RO
14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
www.littlehogbackfarm.com
Thanks for the replies! It is a wood fired 2x6 with a raised flue back pan and flat front pan. I have brick for it and was going to use brick for the firebox or at least where the wood would be thrown in. I was told I could use vermeculite (probably butchered the spelling) on the top of the arch under the back pan.
I insulated my entire evap with blanket. I put bricks only where the wood would be loaded and they were installed over the blanket
FIRST GENERATION SUGARMAKER
First boil 2/22/2012! Went Pefect!
3,500' of laterals
1,000' of mainline
2012 - 105 taps on gravity, 12 sap sacks.
2013 - 175 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks = 200 taps for 2013! Second year.
2014 - 250 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks
Tapped on February 16, 2014
2015 - adding vac sap puller no more gravity for me!
275 gallon holding tank for 2014
20'x30' Sugarhouse
I ordered some. I will put bricks in firebox and blanket the rest. Hopefully it holds up. Thats really my only concern is the longevity
Mine been going for 4 years no indies
FIRST GENERATION SUGARMAKER
First boil 2/22/2012! Went Pefect!
3,500' of laterals
1,000' of mainline
2012 - 105 taps on gravity, 12 sap sacks.
2013 - 175 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks = 200 taps for 2013! Second year.
2014 - 250 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks
Tapped on February 16, 2014
2015 - adding vac sap puller no more gravity for me!
275 gallon holding tank for 2014
20'x30' Sugarhouse
Blanket insulation has a long life as long as doesn't get damaged from something hitting it.
Sugaring for 45+ years
New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around
This is what I just did. Blanket then cover the areas that the wood will hit with bricks. Brick on top is for brushing the flues and not damaging the blanket.
Scott
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2014 125 taps 16 gallons
2015 210 taps 49 gallons
2016 164 taps 75 gallons new 2X6 leader max flue and homemade AOF/AUF arch
2017 1500 taps 196 gallons RO added additions to building new tap lease
2018 1588 taps 276 gallons
upgrades for 2019 season 3 phase vacuum pump, stainless tank in woods, tubing replacement
I guess a good follow up question would be how far should I be away from top of arch/bottom of raised flue?
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