I just had a new Thor evaporator delivered today. My question is what do you recommend to do for the first time for cleaning it out to be ready to add sap. I know not to use dish soap. Is boing water enough ?
First time evaporator use cleaning
I just had a new Thor evaporator delivered today. My question is what do you recommend to do for the first time for cleaning it out to be ready to add sap. I know not to use dish soap. Is boing water enough ?
2019 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 44 taps 13 Liters syrup
2020 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 51 taps 21 Liters syrup
2021- New homemade 2x3 evaporator and flat pan 80 drop lines to buckets
2022- (•,•)1350L naturally ROd sap 44L syrup
2023- "\_(°•°)_/" 1100L sap 30L syrup not accurate due to natural RO
2024 { ';' }1862L sap 52L syrup 52 drop lines to buckets
I like to use vinegar for washing. If its the first time I would not hesitate to use vinegar. I don't know what size evaporator you have. When we had a 2x6 I would use 1-1 1/2 gallons in the back pan and .5-1 gallon in the front. It doesn't take a lot to work for light cleaning.
During the year cleaning I'd use 3 gallons in the rear and 2 in the front. If I were cleaning often (like when we ran it with 425 taps) I would re-use the back pan vinegar.
I'd start my end of season cleaning with mid season re-use in the back pan and 2 gallons in the front. Then I would rinse that and do another cleaning starting light and adding vinegar if needed. I would always bring it to a moderate boil.
After each cleaning I would fill with water and boil hard and hose it out. If you don't have running water take a look at a sprayer by Worx. It is a cordless power sprayer. It works great with a 5 gallon bucket of water. I use it every time I drain the sap tanks in the woods.
Mike
Tapping since 1985 (four generations back to early to mid 1900s). 200-250 taps on buckets and then tubing in the mid 90s. 2013- 275 taps w/sap puller 25 gal. 2014-295 taps w/sap puller 55 ga. (re-tapped to vacuum theory) 2015-330 taps full vac. 65 gal, 2016-400 taps 105 gal, 2017-400 taps 95 gal. 2018-additional 800' mainline and maybe 400 new taps for a total near 800 taps. 2x6 Leader WSE (last year on it) supported by a 250 gph RO.
Nice! I didn't know cordless power sprayers were a thing. Going to have to try it.
2024 - Starting with the 25 then more late Feb.
2023 - 25 taps on 11 trees to focus on the process. 9 Gallons and lots of sugar sand. 35 people over for breakfast in April
2022 - 8 x 14 sugarhouse and a steam bottler. 50 buckets! 9 Gallons syrup and 4 pounds of sugar
2021 - 20 x 30 divided pan on a Mason arch, 34 taps and 8 gallons for family and friends to judge. Dad hooked as well.
2020 - 2 taps, 1/2 pint on a turkey fryer, About 3/4 pint syrup in two weeks - Proof of concept!
Dewalt just came out with one also.
Smoky Lake 2x6 dropflu pans and hoods on homemade arch
Smoky Lake 6 gallon water jacked bottler
Concentric Exhaust
250 Deer Run RO
325 taps
Bruce Gillilan told me when we got our new pans,then the steam away,to add baking soda to the water,then flush it out
7th generation maple producer in sugarhouse built in 1892
2x World Champion Maple Syrup Producer
1250 taps on cv adapters
Leader Vortex 3x14 with Max Flue and Revolution Syrup Pan,Enhanced Steam Away
www.leggettmaplesyrup.com
When I got any new or used SS equipment I used first hot water, then baking soda, followed by lots of hot water rinse. On used with any niter on the bottom, I used white vinegar, then the baking soda.
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.
It is a small 18x24 dropped flue pan and a 18x12 flat syrup pan. So would I put water in and add baking soda or vinegar to it and then boil and then rinse ? Which is better or should I do both and then in what order. What ratio ?
You can't go wrong with a water and white vinegar mix. just make sure to rinse well with plain water.
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 ga.l syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
So would I use a 1to 1 ratio and then do I boil the mixture.
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