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Thread: Draw off container.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    428

    Default Draw off container.

    I've been taking near syrup out of the pan at 216-217 degrees and put into a food grade plastic jug. Its always in the back of my mind that someday the hot syrup will melt a hole in my 7 gallon jug, should I be worried? What does the small time guy use that's safe? Thanks

    I just found this, maybe I'm safe.

    :Melting Points of Plastics

    Different types of plastic have different melting points because they are different chemical compounds. For example, PVC melts at approximately 175 degrees Celsius (347 degrees Fahrenheit). Different types of HDPE, recycle symbol "2," have a melting point range between 130 and 146 degrees Celsius (266 and 295 degrees Fahrenheit). Different types of polypropylene, recycle symbol "5," melt between 160 and 208 degrees Celsius (320 and 406 degrees Fahrenheit). If other compounds are included in the plastic, making it impure, the melting point will be reduced
    1960 - 1970s 70 taps on galvanized buckets with Dad and Grandpa.
    1970s - 1985 Acted crazy!
    1986 - 2005 20-30 buckets.
    2006- 2017 70 buckets and bags
    2017-2019 100 bags and buckets
    2020 Finally retired!!! 75 buckets, 50-75 on tubing. RO Bucket, New 12 X 16 Shack and a 42X42 flat pan.
    2021-Adding another 125 taps along with a second RO bucket.
    2022- Shooting for 350 taps, with 100 on lines.
    Lots of Family and Friends and dogs named Skyy and Nessy!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Wakefield,New Hampshire
    Posts
    505

    Default

    I've seen a lot of people using stainless buckets, around 3 gallons or so. They are pricey thru the maple suppliers though, as anything stainless is pricey to begin with. I have seen a 9qt stainless bucket at tractor supply in the pet area. There are no markings on the stainless and I have heard all stainless is not technically food grade. But I suppose it could be better than a plastic bucket. I've always used a 7.75 gal stainless keg with the top cut off with cone filters inside. Even for nearup it helps the filtering process down the road if I filter right off the evaporator. The keg cost me 25 bucks and it's practically new.
    6th season solo sugar maker in a young sugar bush of mostly red maples
    320 taps
    2x6 self built arch, Flat pans w/ dividers
    New 12x16 sugar house
    CDL hobby 250 RO

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,688

    Default

    Before I had my draw tank, I used a few 20 qt. SS pots from Walmart. They came with a glass domed top with a SS handle. I only paid $29.88 for them. They were a nice sturdy pot. I just looked on Walmart's site but I No longer see the ones I bought. They worked good. They were sold as a stock pot for making big dishes like a large pot of soup. I do see that they have a few others, some quite pricey, some rather low priced. Check them out. Just realize that if you find something similar to mine, the pot likely weighs close to 10# empty, then if you put about 18-19 qts of HOT syrup in it, you will have a heavy load to carry. One idea might be to just get 1, fill it about half way, then dump it into the buckets you have.
    Dave Klish, I recently bought a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    428

    Default

    I should have clarified. I need something with a lockable cover/ lid that won’t move when going over a mile of logging road with bumps and potholes in it.
    1960 - 1970s 70 taps on galvanized buckets with Dad and Grandpa.
    1970s - 1985 Acted crazy!
    1986 - 2005 20-30 buckets.
    2006- 2017 70 buckets and bags
    2017-2019 100 bags and buckets
    2020 Finally retired!!! 75 buckets, 50-75 on tubing. RO Bucket, New 12 X 16 Shack and a 42X42 flat pan.
    2021-Adding another 125 taps along with a second RO bucket.
    2022- Shooting for 350 taps, with 100 on lines.
    Lots of Family and Friends and dogs named Skyy and Nessy!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Winter, Wisconsin
    Posts
    138

    Default

    Look for stainless cream cans / milk buckets at antique stores, Craigslist, ebay, etc. Many are 5 gallon and have cost me less than $50 ea.

    s-l500.jpg.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Rock Creek, NC
    Posts
    5,807

    Default

    The plastic 5 gallon jugs that you can get at maple suppliers for storing syrup would work for you. They aren't very expensive and can be reused.
    Russ

    "Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!

    1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
    A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
    Four chainsaws and no chickens!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
    Posts
    1,074

    Default

    What Russ said. I think they are like $8 each.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Oakville, ON
    Posts
    144

    Default

    We use plastic containers, think they're 3 gallon. We filter by gravity through cone filter right into these screw top containers. By the time the syrup gets to the container it has cooled quite a bit so no worries about them melting.
    2023 - 130 taps, 90L from 4,000L as of mid March
    2021 - 84 taps, 50L from 2100L
    2020 - 100 taps on buckets, 21L syrup from 2700L so far (FEB 26-Mar 13) and then the pandemic hit! End of our season!
    2019 - 62 taps on buckets, 95L syrop from 3215L sap
    2018 - 62 taps, collecting by hand, 90L syrop from 3200L sap
    2017 - Lapierre Waterloo Small mini pro with 40 taps
    2014 - 2016 40 taps making one or two batches on a 2x6 flat pan over an open arch as it would have been done in 1900

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Esko,MN
    Posts
    290

    Default

    You can get a set of 4 stainless steel nested containers with handles that hold from approximately 6, 8, 12, and 16 qt from harbor freight for approximately $20 for the set. They come with lids. They are cheap but I've been using them to draw off syrup into and put the lid on it. The lids just sit on top and do not snap tight. I've also used them to create the pig for my maple candy machine. Handy, cheap, and works for me


    https://www.harborfreight.com/4-pc-s...set-60624.html
    Chad

    2014: 12 taps, 5 gal buckets
    2015: 15 taps on bags
    2016: 150 taps: 100 on bags, 50 on 3/16" natural vac, 2x8 AUF/AOF Homebuilt Arch, 2x8 SL Drop Flu & Auto Draw, SL Propane Canner/Bottler
    2017: 225 taps: Built Lean to, Added SL hood, preheater, concentric exhaust, SL SS 7" SB Filter Press
    2018: 180 taps: Added Shurflo to 50 - 3/16", Auto fill sensor to head tank
    2019: No tapping
    2020: 175 taps
    2021: 300 taps, homemade RO and releaser
    2022: 600+ taps

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    440

    Default

    I do like Chad with the HF pots. If you keep the bottom clean (I sit mine on 5G paint bucket for draw-off), then you can nest them without cleaning out until season is over.
    Jamie Jones
    2017 - 120 taps, 68G syrup - automated pumping from collection to head tank
    2016 - 118 taps (about half on 3/16"), 60G syrup
    2015 - 115 taps, 58G syrup - new wireless blower switch and remote pump switch from tank to shack
    2014 - 120 taps, 53G syrup - hobby vac
    2013 - 120 taps, 40G syrup - Sunrise Metal 2x6, 12x14 sugarhouse
    2012 - 44 taps, 6G syrup -gravity tube, 4 steam pans on block arch, plastic greenhouse shack - (I'm hooked!)

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