You are right Someclown, judging by the turned in lip - it hardly cut at all. Thin metal should'nt be a problem either - when I was installing furnace ducting it cut like butter. I cut a hole in my finishing pan to make it reversible and it cut easily. I suspect the blade is dull or cut too fast. But now getting a good seal will be difficult. Test 1st with water for sure.
I am going to try and grind it smooth and test it. I have little hope that it will seal properly. I may see if I can patch it on the outside to seal it and drill a new hole with a sharper bit on the other side. I have no idea of how I will do it, but may use JB weld.Originally Posted by Rodmeister
It is funny, the first few “steps” occurred as I thought they should. I did pause about three times between each of the steps and did add oil, but there is no doubt the metal was still quite hot. My only experience in drilling stainless steel was making the holes in the top pot for the filtered sap to flow through and that went pretty normal.
Edit: The bulkhead arrived today, too bad I messed up the hole, because I could be testing it now. Having said that, trying the fitting on the pot, and seeing how if fit, I think there is a 50/50 chance that it will seal. Just need to bring the interior lip smooth and will give it a try.
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-02-2022 at 04:21 PM.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Sorry , I didn't read what the pot is going to be used for but they do make food grade silicone. I don't believe jb weld is food grade.
If it's being heated and cooled the silicone will expand and contract better as well.
I am making a bottling pot with a stainless valve soon, I have the bulkhead and stainless valve already just need the pot to go on sale then I will be doing the same thing you just did, I have the step bits so I'll let you know how it turns out when I'm done I'll post a picture
+9*c and rain here on Sunday, should take care of so.e of the snow.
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 just have to keep air from getting in. I should just have to have a good seal on the outside of the pot, which has a good edge, and I will just add some caulking if need be to the outside of the pot, if needed.
I am headed over this morning to get the inside, grinded smooth and will get the fittings to fit onto the bulkhead and may give it a try with water this afternoon.
The long range forecast is still not encouraging. I never imagined that I would not start tapping until the 20th or later.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
One of the best tools for the sugarhouse we ever bought was a Greenlee hole-punch set. Punching holes in tanks used to be a worrisome task. Not it's simple (and kind of fun).
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Thanks, if I do it again, that may be the way to go.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Well I met with my step son and he had a real good, small, air powered grinder and he did the best he could with the ragged hole. They look a lot better, and we’re smoother and flatter. Not perfect, but were they good enough?
https://share.icloud.com/photos/048h...0Rybi3QiWuccSw
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d8a...r0wYuzg6wRmN3Q
We tightened up the bulkhead and it looked like it would work, but I had to test it to make sure. I poured the water into the top pot, being water it was going through the filters pretty good on it’s own, but when I turned the shop vac on, it really sucked the water down and through. I used the bulk of the water on the first test without filming. I videoed the second test and there was not as much water, but if you initially watch the water line on the sides and then at the filter, you can see it really sucking down the water. Whew, I got lucky with the poor drill hole.
I am using bungee cords to hold the pot down, clamps would be far superior, but the bungee cords work well. If I wanted to use clamps, I would have to find a drill bit that can go through the stainless steel on this kettle.
https://youtu.be/WFALIA6PL28
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-03-2022 at 12:36 PM.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
I just wanted to thank 4walls for his design and video, without it, I never would have built the vacuum filter. Also thank you to everyone else who offered tips.
Sunday will be +8° C (46° F), a one day warm spell followed by five days just under freezing. If it were to warm up a little, those days also would be above freezing. So tempting to tap, but those five days are followed by colder weather.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Feel the same way Swing-
We were boiling by now in years past.
Still haven't tapped a tree this year.
It could be a mad dash if it finally gets warm and stays warm.......2012 all over again
2010 40 buckets- 4 gals finished
2011 80 buckets- 14 gals finished
2012 105 buckets- 8 gals finished
2013 maxed at 130 buckets- 24 gals finished
2014 new max at 240 buckets- 18 gals finished
2015 newest max 240 buckets-+48 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22.5 gals finished
2016 150 taps on 3/16 gravity- 23 gals finished
2020 250 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22 gals finished
2021 385 taps on 3/16 gravity 25 gals finished
2022 385 taps on 3/16 gravity- 26 gals finished
My hope is if they are correct about a colder than average April, that it just means the season will start and finish later. Time will tell.
This is my first season so I am really excited to start, but I also realize that all sugar makers are excited to start, especially those who count on it for income.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
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