Another oil tank evaporator

[Danielb]

I started my own oil tank evaporator last week.

I picked up some plastic spiles with buckets and lids last year, about halfway through the season, and decided for ****s and giggles I would put a few taps in, which progressed to 11 taps in the yard. I hadn't planned any for making any syrup until that point, so I had to throw together what I could to make do.
After boiling on an old cast iron wood stove with 2 canning pots, I decided I wasn't going to wait until the last minute and fall short again.
I don't know if it is just the fact that Canadian oil tanks are narrower than our neighbours to the south, or if I just couldn't find the right tank, but after looking at about 30 different old tanks, I chose one that the father-in-law had, which was .100 wall, rather than the others I had seen, which were about .080 wall.
Fairly standard build for the most-part, cut the top back 4', welded in 2x2x1/8 angle around the sides. The only thing i had to really do that was special was section the tank in half, and weld in a 4" strip, to take it from 23" wide to 27" wide, so allow for a full 24" pan, and room for insulation and brick, or cement board.
I cut out a door opening that once finished is 13 1/2" x 13 1/2", so as to give me lots of room to load the fire.
Cut out the back section of the bottom, to lighten it up, and skinned a small ramp.
I cut the top for the flue pipe it, welded in 1/8" plate, cut a 7" hole, and made a ring out of .100 steel. My father-in-law has some 7" stainless pipe that I will.be using, and I have a 7" insulated roof section to go with that.

I have to pick up a little more steel, hopefully I will have that tomorrow or Friday, so next week I can finish up. I have to skin the back portion of the bottom, build an ash door opening and door, and the main door. After that, I will use stone wool insulation, either 1 1/4" or 1 1/2", whichever is easier to get for now, and then line the fire box with cement board, as a temporary covering, until next year, hopefully.
After that, I need to line up some stainless and start my pan(s).

[Sugarmaker]

I like it, keep moving! A good way to get this done is to go tap the trees. Then you HAVE to get it ready to boil. Not sure of your pan design, but that can suck up a bunch of time too.
Keep boiling!
Regards,
Chris

[Danielb]

I have been beating away at things when time allows, and have finally pretty well finished up the arch build. All that is left is some sort of draft adjustment for the ash door.
I used 1.5" rock wool insulation to insulate, and for this year I used 1/2" cement board in the fire box, high-temp
siliconed to the insulation.
Door is sealed with 3/8" stove door gasket. I Used 1/2" cold rod for the latch arm, and siliconed an old screwdriver handle on for comfort.
Tomorrow the hope is to head to the wife's grandfathers shop, and get cutting some steel. I picked up 2 sheets of 22ga 304 mill finish. My plan is for a 32" flue pan, I'm going to cheat if I can by making a zigzag bottom, so.my 24" wide pan should have 52" of width, which should give me around 11gph in the back pan, the front pan will be a divided 16x24.
20200210_194801.jpg20200210_200013.jpg20200210_195953.jpg

[Danielb]

I moved the "arch" into it's new home today. It isnt much, just a crooked old shed we have on the property, so I am really thankful for the adjustable feet I put on the legs.
Stainless 7" stack is installed too 20200211_154149.jpg

[tbear]

That's a neat looking rig! Good job! Ted

[Pdiamond]

That is a fancy looking oil tank arch. Are you planning on placing cement board or metal on the floor to catch embers that fall out of the arch when you are feeding the fire? This should be something to consider as a precaution. don't forget a bucket of sap and a fire extinguisher.

[Danielb]

That is a fancy looking oil tank arch. Are you planning on placing cement board or metal on the floor to catch embers that fall out of the arch when you are feeding the fire? This should be something to consider as a precaution. don't forget a bucket of sap and a fire extinguisher.

Yes, i have some .012" stainless that i plan to lay down around the front.

[Cjadamec]

Very nicely done. I wish my oil tank looked that nice.

Do you plan on adding any forced draft to the firebox? You may find you need a little more heat to your fire to get the back of your rig to solid boil.

What are your plans for pre-heating sap?

[Danielb]

20200212_133752.jpg
Pan progress

[buckeye gold]

Daniel, while your fabricating put a channel for a drain at one end of those flues. You'll be glad you did.