Homemade arch blower recommendations
I'm looking at making a 2x4 arch this summer to use next season and was looking to do AOF. What does everyone recommend for an arch this size. I'd like to make the arch similar to a Smoky Lake Corsair and put the blower in the rear of the firebox similar to that. I would like a blower that bolts in place. Thanks for the help!
Many, myself included, have had success with a bouncy house blower for AOF. Cheap, readily available and effective.
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
I kept my blower outside, the high pressure blowers needed for AOF are noisy. Keeping it outside and directing the noise away from the sugarhouse, then run a hose in to duct the air where it is needed. I used a 4" PVC pipe to duct with long sweep ells, my blower is under my head tank platform on a shelf and I have a plywood cover with the end away from the sugarhouse open to send the noise away.
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.
Just my 2 cents, but if you are going to make an arch, make it longer. Everyone seems to always expand, possibly build a 2x8 arch and plate off the back, then once you have the madness (maple fever, very hard to get rid of) you can just add pan. I myself also went to a bouncy castle blower, for the love of god make sure you have a way of controlling air before you turn it on or
, just saying. Lifted pans with flames coming out the sides might seems cool to some but could burn a shack down quick. Shack was saved, had to stop boiling for a bit and have a soda to calm nerves
Blower outside is a great idea, piping is cheap and noise is annoying.
Last edited by Robert K; 04-17-2020 at 07:27 PM.
I boil on a barrel arch with a 18" x 24" flat pan so it's quite a bit smaller than what you are building.
I use a blower from a water heater and control it with a light dimmer, it works great and it connects right up to 2" pipe. If you know a plumber you could probably get it for free.
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