Steam Hood - does anyone custom make them?

[EastridgeMaple]

Hello All!

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but I wanted to pick everyones brain to see if they are aware of any places that make steam hoods for evaporators. I have a 2x3 smoky lake hybrid and am going to migrate to a sugar house from boiling outside. I wanted to get a 2x3 suspended hood made for a decent price. All the companies that make them for evaporators want $800-1300. Just curious to see if anyone knows where to get one for about half that?


Thanks!

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

I don't think you'll find anyone that will make them half price. Stainless is expensive but I will agree that $1300 sounds high for what you want. You should be able to find someone near you that does industrial stainless work and may do some of this on the side. I have a guy not far from me that does but his price was spot on with everyone else for a hood/preheater combo. The bigger companies can get stainless for cheaper but you might save some on labor with a local guy. Either way, probably a wash but it's nice to support local businesses

[mol1jb]

Hello All!

I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but I wanted to pick everyones brain to see if they are aware of any places that make steam hoods for evaporators. I have a 2x3 smoky lake hybrid and am going to migrate to a sugar house from boiling outside. I wanted to get a 2x3 suspended hood made for a decent price. All the companies that make them for evaporators want $800-1300. Just curious to see if anyone knows where to get one for about half that?


Thanks!

Are you handy enough to make your own? I made one for my 2x6 out of aluminum flashing for around $150. It was assembled with food grade caulk and pop rivets.

[maple flats]

Over the years I've made 3 hoods, for 3 different evaporators. All made using aluminum. 1 &2 were made using flashing, the third was made using sheets from a metals supplier. That was far heavier gauge aluminum and it really taxed my aluminum trim brake, but it finished well.
On my current pans which I ordered custom made by Thor in Quebec gave me a good price on my pans, but when I then asked about a SS hood they priced it a $1950 US. I said I'd make my own, but when I drove there to pick up the new pans they asked if I had made the hood yet, which I hadn't. I was waiting for the pans. Anyways, they asked if I was still interested in one, they had a demo unit the right size that had some minor damage. I looked at it, and the dent was very minor, so I asked how much, they sold it to me for $800, $1150 under the quote. I bought it. At this point I can't find the dent that saved me the money, and it has no new dents.
Maybe check around, somebody may have a 2x3 that has a dent. Being 2x3 means you can put almost any manufacturer's hood on.
If you get a local tin smith to make one using SS be sure it has gutters around the inside to catch condensation and a drain to send it to a bucket. A hood and it's stack catch lots of condensate. Under the stack you want a shallow funnel suspended from in the stack and a drain to the gutter.

[motowbrowne]

A&A metal shop in PA shows a 2x3 hood for $170 I'm the most recent price list I've seen. Even it's it's double that, it's cheap. They sell stainless steam stack also. They have a facebook page now too, so they shouldn't be too hard to get ahold of.

[fred]

give me a call ill see what i can do.

[minehart gap]

A local to me Amish tinsmith supplied and bent a stainless hood for my 2 1/2' X 8' for $260.00. Are there any Amish tin shops near you? Might want to ask around.

[Father & Son]

Creekside Welding and Machine in Girard, Pa does nice work.
I think you can order from A & A metal through Ray Gingerich (Deer Run Maple) in Orwell, OH.
You are sitting in the middle of Amish Country. Check local.

[SeanD]

motowbrowne,

Thanks for the tip on the FB page. Where did you get that price? I can't find a price list for them.

[SeanD]

Found the answer to my own question here on the MT. Next question - does anyone know if their stainless storage tanks are round bottomed? Or what it means that they "do not include crating"?

AAPriceList1.jpg

AAPriceList2.jpg