transfer pumps

[steve J]

i don't have the room to set up a barrel above the evaporator

[red maples]

I do have the room but it would be difficult to get to clean it out all the time so mine is outside and I just pipe it in works for me!!!! I put pipe heater wire around the tubing to keep it from freezing on cold nights.

[Jeff E]

Pumps I have in the woods are stainless. In the sugar house to move sap from one tank to another I have a small 1/3 HP submersible pump. All plastic parts, cheap, easy to flush out when cleaning up. Think it is a Flotec.

[lobstafari]

If it were me, I wouldnt be concerned about Rubbermaids...they arent food grade, but feed grade..intended for animals. You will be using it on the cold side of your system, so wont be exposing toxins into your sap (think about how hot that got when they molded it) then get a sump pump from a big box store, or a bilge pump from a boating store if youd prefer 12v. Bilge pumps are nice if you are concerned about corrosion..they are made of plastic and stainless. Plenty of people use sump pumps.

[DrTimPerkins]

The regulations in Vermont (where the original poster is from) state that sap contact/storage materials should be "suitable for the intended purpose", that is, they should be food grade or water potable. There are solutions for sap storage that are only somewhat more expensive than non-approved materials.

Materials will leech from plastics even when used for cold sap. The rate is slower, and you don't notice the smell as much, but they are definitely there.

Always good to keep in mind how the lead problem first crept up.

[lobstafari]

Good point Tim, used stainless can usually be had gal. for gal. the same price as a new Rubbermaid.

[steve J]

Does anyone know a good source for an open troth type 50 gallon tank. Other then stainless stell which is to pricey for me at this time. I really do not have room for anything bigger inside the sugar house and I want this to be the feed tank to the preheater.

[Ausable]

Originally Posted by steve J

Does anyone know a good source for an open troth type 50 gallon tank. Other then stainless stell which is to pricey for me at this time. I really do not have room for anything bigger inside the sugar house and I want this to be the feed tank to the preheater.

Steve -- No I don't -- But - I'm using a plastic water tank from a travel or camper trailer. It holds approx 35 gals. Built an outside platform to hold it and it was already set us with a couple of bottom drains. The only real change to the tank was cutting a couple of openings on top for filling with sap and cleaning and a cover for the openings - so far seems to work ok - it could always be bigger of course. ----

[lobstafari]

Could you go with a closed bung food grade barrel (used)and cut the top out for an access hatch for cleaning, filling, etc? Or a 250 gal. caged tank, and cut it down to fit? Just some ideas.