New 2x6 arch for "new" pans
Purchased a used sunrise 2x2, and a used smokey lake hybrid to replace the old 6x6 Grimm syrup pan that we have been boiling on(attached picture). planning to replace the threaded fittings with sanitary fittings on the smokey lake pan. also building our first metal arch. Previously we had an arch built out of cinder block. Any suggestions or observations welcome on our progress.
2024 - 57 Gallons - Short season, many and varied problems remedied in short order! - No buckets!
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons
Today's progress, not sure why the pictures are uploading on their sides, but you get the idea. I saw some plans that this is roughly based upon, no ramp. does anyone see a drawback there?
Last edited by darkmachine; 09-19-2020 at 10:24 PM.
2024 - 57 Gallons - Short season, many and varied problems remedied in short order! - No buckets!
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons
What is the width of the new arch? It has rather wide angle iron, I hope you are not planning that much overlap (pan on the angle iron). The more overlap you have, the less heat transfer to the pans. Also, is that a brace across from side to side, factory built arches don't have a cross brace, at least my old 2x6 and my currant 3x8 don't.
As far as the lack of a ramp, you still want some ramp for better heat flow to the pans. That being said, when I added air over fire (AOF) I built my back wall up so I have an air tube around the fire box with nozzles every 6" , aimed down at an angle. My back wall now only has a 4" tall ramp and it works fine. I don't know if it would be good without the AOF under high pressure.
Last edited by maple flats; 09-25-2020 at 04:39 PM.
Dave Klish, I recently bought 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.
The top rail is 1.5" angle, the ”legs" are 3". The dimensions are 24 wide(couldn't make it much wider without extending the fittings on the pan. I have some angle left so I can add a short ramp. I'll be working on it this afternoon, I'll post som more pics.
2024 - 57 Gallons - Short season, many and varied problems remedied in short order! - No buckets!
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons
If you are just doing air under the grates it doesn't need to be a high pressure blower like a bouncy house blower. Any squirrel cage blower would work. If you did go with the bouncy house blower, definitely have a way to adjust the air flow like a pvc ball valve.
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
It may seem odd but the biggest concern for me is noise, the operation has always been pretty peaceful with lots of conversation. I considered pluming the air in and putting the blower out of the shack. I think I've seen that done before.
2024 - 57 Gallons - Short season, many and varied problems remedied in short order! - No buckets!
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons
Nice work, I agree with Dave, try to reduce the amount of pan covered by the rail, you can weld stops on outside if worried about movement. If I might add , please put some sort of a valve or way of controlling flow of air. A pressure blower is like hitting the nitrous on a big block , you better either control it or hold on.
I am still up in the air about the type blower to use. I have read that some use the blower for a "bouncy house". I can hook that up with a big gate valve or maybe a large brass ball valve. has anyone used a blower from a houshold air handler or something simliar?
2024 - 57 Gallons - Short season, many and varied problems remedied in short order! - No buckets!
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons
Flipped the arch over today to check the fit of the pans. Just need to go through the barn and dig out the rest of the plate for the back. I had 1/4" on hand so it's getting heavy to move and shift around, by the time i get the doors on, and the rest of the firebox closed in it will be the job of the tractor.
Last edited by darkmachine; 09-20-2020 at 09:24 PM.
2024 - 57 Gallons - Short season, many and varied problems remedied in short order! - No buckets!
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons
Looks to me like its coming along nicely. You should be set for next season well ahead of schedule. Are you going to line it with ceramic blanket and fire brick?
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote