W.F. Mason Welding -- 2x4 Hobby Evaporator
http://www.wfmasonwelding.com/evaporators.html
Hello! Considering the 2x4 Hobby evaporator. Probably with the optional blower.
I found some older comments about Mason Welding and Bill, the proprietor. All glowing, excellent comments and reviews. Anyone with more recent experience?
I'd like to comfortably boil 8-10 gallons an hour -- good choice?
Feedback is appreciated!
JQ
Get the blower, for sure.
I purchased his Hobby 2X3 XL before this season and herewith include my raves. Get the blower.
2024 - New Maine resident, 12X12 sugar shack under construction
2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO
Agree on the blower. Necessary for hotter fire and you can get away with less than ideal splits of wood with a blower. I had the 2x4XL for 3 seasons. It's designed and built very well, simple, easy to use, and makes great syrup. Works great with an auto-draw off too. The new design has an actual pre-heater so you should get at least 12 GPH. I was getting anywhere from 10-12 without pre-heat.
Smoky Lake 2x6 fuel-oil fired, raised flue, hoods, SSR, concentric exhaust
Home-built auto draw off
Home-built RO - double XLE 4040, PLC controlled
8x10 Sugar Shed
200 taps on tubing with Shurflo vacuum with solar
https://www.facebook.com/flowercitymaplesyrup/
I had Bill build an air tight AUF/AOF arch for my 2x6 pans. I'm really impressed with the quality and performance of my new arch.
Like the others have said, "get the blower".
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!
Bill does excellent work and sells at a fair price. Well designed for sure.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered 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.
Originally Posted by eustis22
I ordered a 2x3 XL at the end of Marchn '18, upgrading from a turkey fryer and 5 gallon pot. How many gallons of syrup did you make?
I picked up a 2x3 from Bill Mason this year.. huge upgrade from the barrel stove. Well built with a fair price. Also well worth the trip to pick it up from him as he takes the time to walk through the entire operation of the unit with you.
2016 - 30 buckets and a barrel evaporator (outside)
2017 - 45 buckets and a barrel evaporator (outside)
2018 - 3/6 tubing, Mason 2x3, and a small shack
I had Bill build me a 2x6 Hobby unit with a continuous flow pan and a blower.
Great unit - easy to run, it averaged about 15-16 gallons per hour.
I definitely recommend adding the blower, helps give the fire a little more boost when you need it.
Bill was a pleasure to do business with, he builds a quality unit.
Scott Bingham
Smoky Lake 2x5 Corsair Arch and Hybrid Pro Pan
Smoky Lake 3 Bank Filter Press
Smoky Lake Steam Bottler
100+ Taps
Pug 4x4 Sap & Wood Hauler
I have the 2x4 with blower. I average 12 per hour but at times when I had plenty of soft wood to mix with hard I hit 14 per hour. I just up graded my pan to Leader supreme and I am getting 16 but I think if I tweet it some I an get 18!
110 taps W.F Mason 2x3 and two turkey friers for finishing
2011 expanding to a Mason 2x4 with a blower increasing taps to about 200
2011 Hurricane Irene rips thru my small sugar bush cost me to lose 20% of taps
2014 I have reworked my lines for 2014
32 taps on 5/16 line with check valves
57 taps on 3/16 line with check valves
55 buckets with total tapped trees of 144
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