First Year was a Success - What to upgrade for 2020

[bryankloos]

Hello All,

First year lurker here, now enjoying the 2.5 gallons I made this season.
I installed 10 taps late (3/10/19) in 7 trees, collected in 5 gallon buckets and boiled on a block arch with 3 chaffing dishes.
All said and done, I have 2.5 gallons of delicious (though slightly caremel flavored - scorched pans) syrup.
The kids helped tap, and boil and of course are eating up lots of pancakes.
It was a wonderful experience that I want to continue while increasing yield, efficiency, and production.

My head is buzzing with all the possibilities (shureflow, 3/16th line, RO, oil tank evap, flat pan, etc).

I will identify all maples on the property and hope to get the tap count up to about 25-30.

What should I focus on to better the opperation?

I'm a tinkerer, and like to build. Boiling was painfully slow, so I'm thinking that an oil tank evap would be a fun project this summer. I can weld and cut steel.

I'd also like to consolidate sap into one big tank, so tubing would be a benefit.

RO weems easy enough to build and implement.

If it were you, what would you prioritize and what makes most sense for me?

Thanks!

Bryan

[VTnewguy]

Start cutting firewood.

[wlatrout]

I like you started on a Turkey Fryer with a few tapes . Then I decided to go all out. I found a used 3x4 evaporator, then built a ro. [plans on line] under RO Systems. Then upgraded to 3 3/16 lines with 75 taps on small Soft Maples. Shurflo's for vacuum and 55 gal. food grade barrels. 23 taps on Sugar Maples with buckets. 25 bags on small soft maples. Yes this was a bit of a cash outlay but, done over a 2 yr. period.
The first thing would a bigger arch and a RO System. I built a 6 membrane RO unit, but you could start with less membranes and add to it later. You'll be amazed the time you will save with an RO.
I cooked 25 gal. this season.

[wobbletop]

Small RO to decrease boiling time.
Air under fire to increase boil rate if you haven't already. 3 chaffing dishes is already a good amount of surface area.

[maple flats]

An oil tank evaporator arch would be a big improvement. Just make it to hold a 2' wide pan. The length can be any multiple of 6" starting at 24" long up to whatever length you are making. Then get a used flat pan, they become available this time of year as producers decide to expand. To design it to fit a 24" wide pan, weld the top so the opening is at a maximum of 23" wide or as little as 22.5" wide. That will give you between 1/2" and 3/4" overlap. The greater the overlap the less the heat transfer. If you look at some other options like a combo pan, with flat pan in the front part and some drop flues at the back, you could advance at some point to one and see a big improvement in you gph evaporation. The greater the surface area in direct contact with the fire the greater the evaporation. If you insulate the arch you get more heat to the pans too.
The main part is to be sure to keep it fun for everyone in your family.
With a regular evaporator pan, as long as it is setting on the arch with no flames dancing up the sides and you keep at least 3/4" of sap in the pan, you will not get that "scorched flavor", that is so common with boiling in the SS restaurant pans.

[Mead Maple]

Start cutting firewood.

Bahahahaha!

With all the upgrades I am thinking of for next year this is literally the first I settled for and ultimately started making this UPGRADE as of last week. Too funny VTNEWGUY!

OP, the barrel evaporators are fantastic. I built one and loved it. Made it to accommodate a 2x4. If you can weld and cut just consider it time and fun. Brick and insulation go a long way and a squirrel cage blower will help even more. Plenty of builds on here and happy to send you info if you like


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bryankloos]

Thanks for the replies.

Fortunately I work up wood each year for heat, and I'm a couple years ahead so that not an issue, though cutting and splitting is a good point!!

Seems I'll focus on a better pan, RO and building the arch. Even if I cant get to the arch I can improve upon the block arch and with the flat pan and RO I should be way ahead of this past year.

I'll stick with buckets and probably buy a poly tank to store before RO and boils.

I'm a busy guy with a couple jobs, a wife and little kids, so time can get tight.

I appreciate the feedback and look forward to improving the system next year!

[Clinkis]

Start cutting firewood.

Build an RO and save the firewood and time! By far the best investment you will ever make.

[Bgreisch]

I have been boiling on a block arch with 3 SS restaurant pans for 3 years. I would upgrade to a flat pan to get rid of the scorching. I added a bathroom fan blowing in on my block arch this year and I went from 5 to 6 gph to 8 to 9 gph, that really helped getting thru the sap this year.

[DRoseum]

Couldn't agree more: flat pan and RO.
https://youtu.be/s106bSrcfno
https://www.sugartree.run/2019/03/cu...vaporator.html