Over the years in the past I made 3 hoods, all out of Aluminum. 1 on a 2x3 and 1 on a 2x6 both using aluminum flashing and alum. pop rivets. Then for my first set of pans on my 3x8 I made the hood out of sheet aluminum, I forget the gauge but it was the thinnest gauge the aluminum supplier carried and it was much heavier than flashing.
In all cases I used my aluminum trim break to make the bends. That worked well on the flashing but I had to make up extra braces before the heavier aluminum would bend well For that I made an extra clamp to help support each of the large C braces of the break and I fabbed up a handle to pull the bending piece every foot rather than in just 2 places like the original handle with the break did. Then it was pop riveted together. In all cases I made the drain channel out of 1 x1 x1 aluminum channel, mitered the corners and welded it. Then at 1 corner I made a spout for the condensations to run out.
In any case, when you build it, just attach a steam stack and either run it thru the roof or at least into the cupola. The stem will rise all by itself. One thing, be sure to make a pan or some sort of catch and drain to the gutter for what drains from the stack. It will make lots of water and you do not want to boil it again and again. I made shallow funnels that hung a few inches under the stack, were 3-4" larger outside on the big end than the stack.
Then when I bought my current pans I was going to make a new hood, but when I picked it up at the factory they offered me a demo hood that had a minor dent and it was SS, at far less than they had quoted me for a new one ($800 instead of $1950) so I bought that and it came with 2 steam stacks 15" diameter each, the one for the flue pan hood had a lockable damper.
Dave Klish, I recently bought 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.
That is a great size pan set for a home build hood. Now if you look at a lot of store bought units they will have a big square hood that can be confusing at first glance. Will you be enclosing a pre heater? are you in for looks or functionality.
Originally Posted by billschi
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