+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 17 of 17

Thread: Evaporator cleaning for the year

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Barrie, Ontario
    Posts
    29

    Default

    Thanks for the input. I used Vinegar and water today 70% water 30% vinegar (5%) and brought it it a boil for about 10 minutes and let it cool down. Tomorrow I will drain and wash the inside of the pans. I have 2 items recomended by Smoky Lake 1. Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish 2. Bar Keepers Friend. Supposed to be for the tougher areas. I plan on taking the advice of most, which is to use Easy Off on the outside and pressure wash. During the boil today I saw the sediment flake off in many of the spots. Most suggest 160F, but I brought to a brief boil, hope this doesn't harm the SS.
    2024 - 20 Taps Buckets - 97 taps - 3/16" - Drops 5/16" - Vacuum - TBD
    2023 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 136 liters of syrup
    2022 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 100 liters of syrup
    2021 - 20 Taps Buckets - 40 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" tubing - Gravity - 25 liters of syrup
    2020 - 15 Taps Buckets - 5 liters syrup - Propane Turkey Frying Pan
    Thor 18" x 54" - 2021
    Nano RO-2022
    Shurflo 4008 Vacuum
    Barrie, Ontario CANADA

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    Bar keepers friend does work wonders with a regular dish rag, don't use a scrubby or you will scratch the pan, not deeply just on the surface.
    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

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    149

    Default

    I decided to clean my evaporator pan this past weekend. It is a 20" X 30" flat pan on a barrel stove. It has been used for two seasons making around 8 gallons of syrup between the two seasons. It had a layer of niter on the bottom that could not be scrubbed off.
    I used a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. I brought it to a boil, (not intentionally) but even before it started to boil the niter on the bottom began dissolving. By the time the mixture cooled down enough to scrub it, all the niter was gone and the pan looks brand new.
    Thank you for posting this method.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Canaan NH
    Posts
    373

    Default

    I usually use the Leader Pan acid (mix 1 qt to 40 gallons). This year I tried 3 gallons of vinegar and then filled my pans to about 1 inch from the top - about 25 gallons of water. Boiled gently for about 1 hour, then let sit for 1 day. It worked awesome, the pans only required minor scrubbing after that.
    Boulder Trail Sugaring
    150 Taps on Vacuum
    Homemade 20"x40" Hybrid Pan - 15 gph
    Homemade Steamaway - 10 gph
    Waterguys single-post RO

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Catskill Mts, Ulster County NY
    Posts
    603

    Default

    I've got the sour sap method going, but as noted, it is pretty smelly. I filled the pan to about 1" from the top, which takes about 75 gals of old sap. It's already working and bubbling away, but doesn't stink yet. In my old shack, I would let it go until July 1. Generally, I could just wipe, or power wash, everything clean then after draining the pan. But my new setup is now in a multi-use space, so this may not be optimal any longer, unless I start to like the smell of rotten sap.
    Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014

    175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
    12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
    2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
    7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Murrysville, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    476

    Default

    I use the white vinegar and permeate approach and bring it to a boil. Soak a bit, brush where necessary, drain, and rinse with permeate. It works great.
    D. Roseum
    www.roseummaple.com
    ~100 taps on 3/16 custom temp controlled vacuum; shurflo vacuum #2; custom nat gas evap with auto-drawoff and tank level gas shut-off controller; homemade RO #1; homemade RO #2; SL SS filter press
    2021: 27.1 gallons
    2022: 35 gallons

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Oakville, ON
    Posts
    144

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DRoseum View Post
    I use the white vinegar and permeate approach and bring it to a boil. Soak a bit, brush where necessary, drain, and rinse with permeate. It works great.
    I too use white vinegar and water at about 50%. Bring to boil and let it sit for 3-4 days. For the bottom Easy-Off and a pressure cleaner - a messy job! I also use a scraper made by flattening a 1/2" copper pipe, being softer than ss it does not scratch the polished surface.
    Previously our most difficult thing to clean was our 250gal poly holding tank as only access was through thec8" hole on top. Last year I found a swivel head for the pressure washer. Had to grind off the safety stops that kept the swivel angle to about 90. Now I can swivel so it's at 75 and easily cleans top of the tank.
    2023 - 130 taps, 90L from 4,000L as of mid March
    2021 - 84 taps, 50L from 2100L
    2020 - 100 taps on buckets, 21L syrup from 2700L so far (FEB 26-Mar 13) and then the pandemic hit! End of our season!
    2019 - 62 taps on buckets, 95L syrop from 3215L sap
    2018 - 62 taps, collecting by hand, 90L syrop from 3200L sap
    2017 - Lapierre Waterloo Small mini pro with 40 taps
    2014 - 2016 40 taps making one or two batches on a 2x6 flat pan over an open arch as it would have been done in 1900

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts