I have a Leader HalfPint - first year was last season and I thought the same as you. Then I realized that the pan had over 4 gal. of sap to start and in order to get syrup that 4 gal was going to have to get (average) to about to 2-3 gal of syrup before the first draw. That is about 100 gal of boiling with my 3.4 sap. That's in a 24X32 continuous flow pan. Once I started drawing, and it was finished syrup, I would get the expected syrup based on the sap I ran through. The draws seem to be 1/2 to 3/4 gal syrup with a long boiling periods in between. Seems that the whole last channel in the pan gets to near syrup before the draw. Anyways, I like the system and get along very well with it. I drain into a 5 gal pail every 3 or 4 boils (that's about 200 gal. of sap) and clean the pan. Put that draining back in the pan to start the next boil. My syrup is mostly light. When done for the season, I drain the pan and finish on propane. I do take my drawn syrup to the house and bring to a boil on propane, check density, filter it and bottle it.
Thinking of going with a Smokey Lake Full Pint Flue Pan to shorten my time in the sugar house.
Last edited by phil-t; 03-18-2019 at 05:10 PM.
2016 - helped at afriend with a small operation, 300+ taps. = hooked
2017 - 20 taps @ home, 1 gal @ home on propane, then hauled to friends operation
Bought a whole shack locally, with a Leader 1/2 Pint, moved it home
2018 - 50 taps, 9 on 3/16 gravity and 41 pails -14 gallons of good sweet stuff
2019 - 27 taps, 17 on 3/16 gravity and 10 on pails - 12-3/4 gallons of good sweet stuff (most fun I've had with this hobby)