Tips for 275 oil drum arch

[ADK_XJ]

Hey all, I was lucky enough to score someone's entire setup for cheap as they are moving out of the area...in addition to tons of taps, tubing, bottles, filters, and a really nice set of 2x4 and warming pans I brought home a 275g oil tank arch that is in need of some TLC.

What're the tinkerer's tips for making an effective arch out of one of these things? The one I got has the top cut off already, a door on the front and a flue pipe welded to the back but otherwise it's basically just a bare half drum.

I have a simple welder and some sheets of steel that came with the rest of this stuff, should I be planning to weld in a ramp in the back or can I just use block?

[Merklin Maples]

Yes weld in a ramp. Install ceramic blanket and fire brick over that.

[racinee]

I would put in a grate to get air under fire and a cleanout door for the ashes

[82cabby]

Can you post a couple pictures?

[therealtreehugger]

I have a similar set up, but have just lined it with fire bricks, no ceramic blanket. Is the blanket just for heat retention? How much better will it work with the blanket as opposed to without?
Thanks

[ir3333]

a 1 inch thick fireblanket is perfect.Then firebrick over the blanket as far as your wood will be fed to protect it.
i don't think you need brick anywhere else.Make sure your door is insulated and air tight.Design your grate
with angle iron "V" up and air coming in underneath.No insulation required under the grate.

[Bellehollow]

Here are some pictures of ours. This has a SL hybrid pan on it here, previously we used a divided cont. flow pan.

Attachment 21802Attachment 21803Attachment 21804

[Mead Maple]

ADK, I was able to get 15gph evaporation rate out of mine. I had an old furnace blower I piped in from the rear with a 3" steel pipe with some slots that ran to the front of the arch. Essentially creating air under fire. It boiled really well, I was using a neighbors continuous flow 2'x4' pan with a pre-heater. That was my first go with sugaring and I was hooked.

[ADK_XJ]

Here are some pictures of ours. This has a SL hybrid pan on it here, previously we used a divided cont. flow pan.

Attachment 21802Attachment 21803Attachment 21804

Wow, beautiful setup...thanks for sharing and sorry for my late reply.

[ADK_XJ]

ADK, I was able to get 15gph evaporation rate out of mine. I had an old furnace blower I piped in from the rear with a 3" steel pipe with some slots that ran to the front of the arch. Essentially creating air under fire. It boiled really well, I was using a neighbors continuous flow 2'x4' pan with a pre-heater. That was my first go with sugaring and I was hooked.

Awesome, thanks - do you have any pictures of the setup?