Flat divided pan vs flue pan/Syrup Pan
I am debating upgrading from a flat divided pan to a flue/syrup pan for our wood burning Mason 2x4 XL.
With a blower we evaporate at 17.5 gph, without the blower around 8 gph.
We draw off light, then finish in a big pot over a gas lobster burner. The limiting factor in the divided pan is foam. When the foam is higher than the dividers, it is time to draw off.
So will we gain much going to a "proper" flue pan / syrup pan setup?
No RO. Seems to me that the RO syrup does not taste quite as good.
Are you controlling foam with defoamer and regular pan cleaning? On big advantage of a two pan system is it’s much easier to clean a small front pan than the entire flat pan.
In terms of gph evaporation rate, a flue pan will certainly give you a big boost. How much depends on the number of flues and their depth. The cost benefit ratio is entirely subjective.
In terms of RO and taste, this has been addressed by research at UVM. No significant differences were found. ROed syrup still has plenty of time in the pan to develop flavor. There is near universal agreement that an RO is the most cost effective way to make syrup faster and with less fuel.
60ish taps on buckets
D&G Sportsman 18x63
Turbo RB15 RO Bucket
I went from a flat divided pan, no blower, to a flue pan/syrup pan and airtight arch with blower. I have yet to look back and say, I wish I had the old pan back. Like you I went from 8 gph to around 50 gph on the new arch. WOW what a difference.
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
Wow 50 gph, you don’t need to use an RO at that boil rate.Originally Posted by Pdiamond
Sometimes in hindsight, after blowing past my original budget by many, many times, I sort of with I had spent the money and purchased a real evaporator, but the initial cost, especially just starting out was prohibitive.
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.
50 gph on the SML 2x4 ? !
Seems the SML 2x4 hybrid should be close to a drop in for my current flat pan.
Watch the video online on their youtube channel. I have that exact evaporator, with head tank. I am not making up any stories either. I don't have an R.O. because I haven't had the funds available for one. I like the fun of just boiling the sap, wood is free.
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
That's wicked!
On line at least it looks like SML is sold out for this year. Thinking I'll look for a used pan and if I don't find one place an order in the spring for next winter ?!!?
Ecolbeck: I don't currently use defoamer, sees that may be an easy addition to this season for a small boost, and clean the pan more than every weekend.
I found the video, amazing.
https://youtu.be/HQPYXBiGheM
I wonder how that pan set up would work on a cinderblock evaporator, or if it would be a waste?
Of interest to me were two things. How much wood he put into the evaporator. From floor to ceiling, (bottom of the pan), also that he draws off heavy all of the time and the reasons for it.
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.
Wow, over $4,000 US for the pan set and over $6000 for the whole set up.
https://www.smokylakemaple.com/produ...-customize-it/
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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