Does your fan a speed control on it? I've been reading on another thread about controlling the fan speed to suit the best between fire heat and not wasting heat.
Does your fan a speed control on it? I've been reading on another thread about controlling the fan speed to suit the best between fire heat and not wasting heat.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
2025. 62 taps.
It has three speed levels and I can move it closer or away from the opening below the door, to do any little adjustments.Originally Posted by aamyotte
Last year I tried a leaf blower, but it was wayyyyy too powerful. We will see how this works. I will check the boil with and without it and will also check my stack temperature. Hopefully it will increase the gph and not just race through wood.
I got it at Canadian Tire. I have been waiting for awhile for it to go on sale, but it never did. I am sure it will go on sale now.
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.
Today I took the two pieces of grate to the Welder, and explained what I wanted done. He asked when I needed it done by. Not knowing his schedule, I said two weeks and he replied he would have it done in a couple of days. I asked how much to do it, he paused and said $10. I replied how about $10 and a jar syrup once it is made. He said deal! It is always good to know a friendly welder. ( I used to know how to weld 47 years ago, but that is when I had company equipment and a little bit of practice. That skill has likely faded quite a bit.
I also walked the three steep lines. We have had about 50 cms / 20” of fresh snow the last week, which was on top of more than a foot of snow. I have to say it was a work out. It was good if I stayed on my now invisible previous path, but when I stepped off of it, I went down and it was deep. I went up and down all three lines and had some friends that were snow shoeing, go down the lines as they finished their hike. Lots more snow in the forecast.
Now for ice fishing.
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.
That's how Canadian Tire seems to work. Murphy's law, it never goes on sale while waiting for something. At least they honour the sale price for 14 days from your purchase dare.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
2025. 62 taps.
I picked up my welded grate today. It is heavy and heavy duty. It is 1/3/4” tall. I am still deciding how I will support it 4” above the firebricks. Last season I used bricks to suspend it up. I have left over pieces of grate. I might use them.
The weather forecast for next Saturday morning is -30° C / -22° F. There are no immediate thoughts of tapping here.
I am hoping I get my pan and base stack this coming week.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/047F...fSD8ENxdHt2s9A
0067B80F-8295-49C6-A9FE-015B0B25B57E.jpg
Last edited by Swingpure; 01-29-2023 at 07:16 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.
bricks might be the way to go again this year if it's that heavy.
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 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Today I ordered the silicone high temp roof Jack flashing. It came on sale for a reasonable price. I wanted a round one, but the square one will work just fine.
580AFA0A-1E76-4FE7-A35E-3375CF3061AF.jpg
We received more snow and I walked the lines. With all of the snow, I am now using snow shoes to help make a better path. We are going to get about 36 hours of polar vortex type temperatures starting Thursday night. The snow is deeper than what the path shows in the picture. The snow under the path has been walked on and compressed throughout the winter.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/050V...TlvrwF7-eQOUfQ
No word on my pan or base stack yet.
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.
You are going to like the roof jack. Make sure to use the double wall pipe with it. it fits real tight. If memory serves me I think when I put mine up I used some bar soap on the pipe to make it slide better. But it was also in the summer time.
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 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Thanks for the tip.
It is not the ideal time of year to install it, or to be up on the metal roof, which at the moment has a foot and half of snow on it. I had originally hoped I would have the base stack in October. I just hope now that I get it in the next couple of weeks.
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.
Seeing how the pallets with bricks on them are all snow covered at my rural hardware stores, and they are not too keen on digging them out for 6 bricks, I will be going with making a metal support for the grate, made out of steel I already have. I will drop it off at the welder later today. The flat bars on top not only join the two pieces of grate, but it makes the height of the support exactly 4”.
I do have a 4” high concrete ridge at the back of the firebox for the rear of the grate to sit on, and this “stand” will support the rest of it.
One advantage of it, is it certainly will allow for airflow.
I now know it will be at least Monday before I get my pan and base stack.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0abt...U0oj9ewkZnEV9Q
https://share.icloud.com/photos/090v...CN_ipXaZXMj4sA
750AC219-D9A6-492A-94E4-30944348BFEF.jpg
1D8A46D0-2FDB-45ED-A495-163DB4FBC897.jpg
Last edited by Swingpure; 01-31-2023 at 10:54 AM.
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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