sugar tank
Posted by Mi Paul at 2015-02-25 19:34:39
Those of you out there that have done sugar bush. What all has been used for cooking it down?
Response by Bill Smith at 2015-02-26 06:50:07
Most people I know that gather more than 50 gallons of sap (not very much at all, might make a quart on a good day) use a commercially made evaporator. Grimm and Leader are 2 of the big names. I know some folks boil down in stock pots on the stove but that takes a long, long time. I've seen other folks use a home made flat pan, something like 4 foot long, 2 foot wide and 6" deep. Usually supported on a frame work of some sort with the fire under all 4 foot of the pan. Down side is drawing off the syrup in a rig like that. For a couple trees in the backyard the house stove and a stock pot work. For more than 50 trees I'd be looking for a used evaporator and building an arch (the framework to support it and the firebox). Check your local Craigslist.
Response by Allan at 2015-02-26 08:34:18
Depends on how much you want to do. I started over an open fire in a 2ft.sq. by 6" hi pan then to a large pot over a gas cooker in the barn and then onto an arch and evaporator. Do not try to boil it down in the house. It is a lot of work but gets in your blood. Just me and the misses now and it is cheaper and easier to buy a couple of gallons a year.
Response by Jeremy SW PA at 2015-02-26 16:10:36
I have a 30" X 18" wide X 8" deep SS pan that I just cut into the top side of a steel barrel (laid on its side) I cut in a 6" square hole for a flue- attached some 8"X8" ductwork and for our ten trees- it gets the job done. Cut the lid off the barrel, build a fire under and in front of the pan and let it roll
Response by Billy Foster at 2015-02-27 05:54:48
I used to do it a lot like how Jeremy is. Was good for few gallons of syrup a year.
Response by M. Burley at 2015-02-27 21:57:14
Started out just like Jeremy. A friend had a couple older pans laying around after I built a bigger arch for him. Found an old barbecue grill at our church that fit those pans almost perfect. Mounted an oil burner on one end and built a flue on the other. We had access to a lot of cheap fuel oil for a few years. Just sold all our equipment.
Response by T Payne at 2015-03-01 09:15:43
Oh no, Mark!
I guess I'd better find my taps and buckets and get cutting wood.
Response by Ralph in N.E.Oh at 2015-03-03 05:02:05
You might want to look at www.mapletrader.com They have a forum, lots of homemade stuff to think about.
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