Making Large Quantities of Sugar

[GeneralStark]

Is anyone out there making large quantities of sugar in one 8-10 hour day? With my current set-up I can make over 100 lbs. in one day, but I am looking to upgrade some equipment to be able to increase productivity.

I do have access to a steam kettle so I can cook large quantities of syrup, but I am trying to determine the best tool for stirring large batches. I have looked at a CDL sugar machine and I'm not sure it will work given my needs so if anyone has any experience with these machines I am curious to hear about it. I am also considering a large Hobart mixer.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[wiam]

With my homemade turntable I can do close to 3 gallons per batch. Pan is the bottom of a 40 gallon stainless drum. My biggest hurdle is hand sifting. My wrists don't like it.

[Parker]

Wow, a 3 gallon bacth is huge..do you have building it described somwhere? I have a 20 quart hobart that handels a half gallon bacth at a time just fine, but, really strugels with a gallon bacth. I made 25 pounds of sugar the other day took like 4 hours,,,for me the mixing dosent take long it the heating it up.....

[wayeeses farms]

I use the single CDL sugar machine. Each batch (2.5 gal of syrup) takes me 1.5 hours to cook and 1.5 hours to stir and produces 15 pounds of sugar.

[GeneralStark]

I use the single CDL sugar machine. Each batch (2.5 gal of syrup) takes me 1.5 hours to cook and 1.5 hours to stir and produces 15 pounds of sugar.

How many batches do you think you could do in an 8-hour day? How much babysitting does the machine require once it is running? The instructions for the machine make it seem like there is some hands on work to do before the sugar is done. And, it seems like it is critical to not heat the syrup too high.

Also, do you sift the sugar after the machine is done stirring?