Getting ready

[antelope76]

I would check and make sure ashes aren't building up. keep them cleaned out often.

I’m not sure why but anytime that I run my evaporator for more than 5 hours I greatly loose efficiency. For the first 4 - 5 hours, it is evaporating about 32 to 34 gal per hour then over the next 2 hours it goes down to Around 22 gallon per hour then if I go longer it drops to handy 16 gallon per hour. This is usually happening as the temperature outside drops so the sap gets colder and I don’t have a pre-heater and I noticed that after around 5 hours my door frame is starting to turn red from heat and it doesn’t close as tight. Anyone have any suggestions

[asknupp]

I would look at suet build up on the bottom of the pans. If I want to keep up on efficiency I need to run the flu brush between flu before start up.

[Super Sapper]

If you have a buildup of coals it can choke your draft and lower your boil rate.

[amaranth farm]

Radio Silence.

[minehart gap]

I do think that the ash build up and coals are contributing to the problem. But I have been cleaning them up and allowing the wood to burn up good. The wood starts to build up at 5 hours. I thought about the suet on the flues and had cleaned them before the last boil so I don’t think that is the problem.

Amaranth Farms, possibly there is a new market there. The young people might scarf it up before we even boil it.

[buckeye gold]

You may need to drain and pull your pan off to clean the underside really well. I use a big putty knife to get the deep suit off. I don't have hardly any creosote with AOF. I put a larger set of grates in the back of my firebox and I push everything back every time I fire. The built up coals fall through, but the heat off them still draws up and out the flue.

[minehart gap]

Added a float box last weekend, definitely makes life easier and increased boil rate.

Next is a steam hood and preheater. Hood is a must, I can still see the steam when I close my eyes for hours after I get home for the day.

[minehart gap]

3/4 gallon away from getting my goal for the year and breaking even (once it sells). I may just take the evening off after the syrup comes out. Yahooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

[minehart gap]

It is possible that I shouldn’t “count my chickens before they hatch”.

Sap stayed 1/2 degree below syrup for 3 hours last evening and didn’t get to syrup for another 2 hours after starting up this morning. Torture! All for 0.9 gallon draw today.

Out of sap but it’s running. Hopefully I can get more syrup tomorrow.

[Paddymountain]

Sounds like you met your goal! There is more syrup to be made this year! Maybe you will surpass your
expectations! I'm looking to make at least another 20 gallons.