On the Ledge,
I built my first wood fired evaporator out of concrete block. Using 8x8x16" block, it was 3 blocks wide, 41/2 long , 4 high and housed 2 24X32" flat bottom pans. The base was lined with concrete patio blocks and the firebox lined with fire brick. I didn't have a problem with the concrete blocks and heat, although the occasional one cracked. The patio blocks on the other hand...
The first day I fired up, the fire was building, the boil was coming on nicely, my poor man's preheater (see other thread from last week)was warming the sap and I was feeling quite proud of my handy work. Then BOOM, and once the surprise settled and the concrete pieces came back to earth - I'm sure they exited from more places than just the draft - I discovered that the patio blocks objected to the heat. (see thoughts on maple below!!!)
The new base was gravel and the collected pieces of concrete. Once that was out of her system, that rig worked great for 3 years.
Darren
Darren
Tapped 100 % Red maple for 14 years.
Grew from 22 trees to 325.
New woodlot and sugarwoods will have 3-4000 taps.
3x8 LaPierre raised flue already bought and waiting patiently in storage.
Looking forward to using 3/16" tubing.
Can't wait for 2019!!!