Rework AOF system on old King Evaporator

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Visited Stateline Stainless today and assisted in bending the two halves of my new smoke stack! I will do the assembly work to make sure it matches the arch base and the 12 inch smoke stack. I was very pleased! Weather is getting colder and forecast is for 6 inches of snow by morning! I will get some pictures as I get the stack together. Have to get or order the rope gasket too.
Regards
Chris

[Pdiamond]

Chris,
You really have done a fabulous job with this evaporator. I cannot wait to see the pictures of it in action. Just an off the wall question, the hangers you have on the pan, then connected by a hook and cable, look like something you would use to hang a deer with in the barn or garage, just asking. thanks pat

[Sugarmaker]

PDiamond, Folks,
Yea the stainless hangers are similar to that for hanging deer. Just a way to get a hold of the units! The hoist system allows me to lift the hood, the steamaway, and the pan off the arch by my self. Handy!
Off to work on the stack! Going to have to rig some fixtures to allow the fastening of the halves together! Will try to get some pictures as I assembly of the stack too. We have a couple inches of fresh snow this morning.
Thanks for checking on me. I think everyone must be on Facebook now days?
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Spent some time setting up the tooling to work on this stainless smoke stack assembly. Three pieces: Front, Back and upper transition pipe. This is rectangular at the base 7 inch x 35 inch, tapering to 12 inch round for the transition. 80 and 1/2 inches is the assembly height. Will just fit under my 12 inch stack, I will figure a way to let the stack down to join them.

I took the pans back off tho use the arch as the support structure to build the base stack:


Set up some black walnut boards, cement block spacers and another board and we have a support!






Off to do some pop riveting on the lap seams.
Malen at Stateline Stainless did a great job getting these halves ready for me to assemble!
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Getting closer on the old King arch rebuild.
Spent the day in the sugarhouse working on this new smoke stack base.



Riveted up the seams and bolted the transition piece to the top.


We have a stack! Took me all day putzing around with it.


Will try to get the pipe lowered into it tomorrow.
Regards,
Chris

[BAP]

Looks great. Good craftsmanship.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
BAP,
Thanks! Ever have one of those days where things just don't seem to go as planned? Well I lowered my 12 inch smoke stack gently down to the new base stack and it did not engage. Come to find out the upper portion was stuck on a seam right at the roof jack. Just wasn't going to come down any farther. So I raised it back up about 3 inches and am in the process of adding a stainless collar around the two. Will complete fastening it together tomorrow. Turns out this is ok because now my three guy wires will be nice and tight. I am not climbing up on the roof in this weather! Debating whether I should put my extra double and triple wall liners around my base stack? With the insulated arch I may have a colder sugarhouse??
Picked up 26 feet of 7/8 rope gasket for my rail to pan interface. Were getting there, just slowly!
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Getting the stack assembly completed. Used zip screws for the fasteners. I was not impressed with them. Just dont seem to hold very well!




Decided to add the safety shield around the bottom of the base stack. We have a lot of visitors and need to be safe!

This is the second layer of the very back panel. it has holes to draw in air to cool the stack.


The holes are covered with a offset panel. At full boil you can put your bare hand on this outside panel.


more in next post.......

[Sugarmaker]

The rest of the story:
Got the second layer for the base stack fit and in position:



A coat of stove black ties it all together:


Should be able to set the pans this afternoon or tomorrow.
Thanks for checking in on me!

Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Neighbor Kieth, another sugarmaker, came over and helped me set the front pan. Rope gasket in the channel looks real good! I taped the rope in the corners and at the back of the rear pan, it did not move and no glue required. I think this may work real well. We will see how it looks after the first season! Added a 4 inch strip of white blanket between the pans.


Regards,
Chris