New 2x6 arch for "new" pans

[darkmachine]

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.

[darkmachine]

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?

[maple flats]

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.

[darkmachine]

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.

[mol1jb]

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.

[darkmachine]

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.

[Robert K]

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.

[darkmachine]

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?

[darkmachine]

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.

[Pdiamond]

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?