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Post by sd51555 on Mar 27, 2018 20:36:33 GMT -6
I've got to try boiling some of mine down. I wonder how it would work on the stove top? Or better yet in the smoker? If you did it in the house all the steam might cause issues. Any setup that could boil water for hours would work for sap though, so it is really simple. I've read those deep stainless steel buffet trays work for a low cost evaporator and I've been thinking about buying one to decrease my boil time. Ya know. You got me thinkin... Barrel stove. But instead of using a 55 gallon drum, how about a 300 gallon fuel tank? Every old farmstead has 1-5 laying around and people would likely give them away. ***Be damn careful cutting on a gasoline barrel though. When not properly cleaned out, they turn into a bomb when the grinder hits it. A guy blew himself up down here a couple years ago doing this very thing. When is Foggy getting back? Seems like a good shop project for him.
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Post by sd51555 on Mar 27, 2018 20:46:21 GMT -6
80" long tank would could host 5 to 6 pans. Wouldn't take long when you can cook 30+ gallons at a crack.
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Post by benmnwi on Mar 27, 2018 20:47:07 GMT -6
I was looking at a nearly identical barrel design yesterday. It seems to be popular to use a layer of fire bricks on the inside of the barrels, but I don't know if that is really necessary or if the bricks just act as an insulator that make if more efficient.
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Post by wklman on Mar 27, 2018 21:40:55 GMT -6
If you did it in the house all the steam might cause issues. Any setup that could boil water for hours would work for sap though, so it is really simple. I've read those deep stainless steel buffet trays work for a low cost evaporator and I've been thinking about buying one to decrease my boil time. Ya know. You got me thinkin... Barrel stove. But instead of using a 55 gallon drum, how about a 300 gallon fuel tank? Every old farmstead has 1-5 laying around and people would likely give them away. ***Be damn careful cutting on a gasoline barrel though. When not properly cleaned out, they turn into a bomb when the grinder hits it. A guy blew himself up down here a couple years ago doing this very thing. When is Foggy getting back? Seems like a good shop project for him.
One of the other drivers at work did exactly that. He was cutting open a 55 gallon drum in his garage when it blew up and sent him into the ceiling. Took him about 2 years before he was back at work. Really messed him up.
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Post by sd51555 on Mar 27, 2018 21:45:58 GMT -6
I was looking at a nearly identical barrel design yesterday. It seems to be popular to use a layer of fire bricks on the inside of the barrels, but I don't know if that is really necessary or if the bricks just act as an insulator that make if more efficient. I think it's to keep the coals from melting the bottom out of your barrel.
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Post by Tooln on Mar 27, 2018 21:52:52 GMT -6
Those barrel stove kits were real popular back in the late 70's, early 80's. Many a garage and shops had them.
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Post by Tooln on Mar 28, 2018 16:02:03 GMT -6
125 gallons today. 2.2 test, 974 gallons ytd.
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Post by badbrad on Mar 29, 2018 13:35:12 GMT -6
Taps are still running pretty slow here. And when they do run the bags freeze solid and screw everything up
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Post by Tooln on Mar 29, 2018 17:55:06 GMT -6
Taps are still running pretty slow here. And when they do run the bags freeze solid and screw everything up If the bags are freezing solid then the sugar content is low. I had some ice in my buckets when I first started but not a lot. Weather wise it's not been the best year.
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Post by badbrad on Mar 29, 2018 18:00:43 GMT -6
Taps are still running pretty slow here. And when they do run the bags freeze solid and screw everything up If the bags are freezing solid then the sugar content is low. I had some ice in my buckets when I first started but not a lot. Weather wise it's not been the best year. No clue but people arw bitchinglike crazy
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Post by badbrad on Mar 30, 2018 9:23:36 GMT -6
Next 10 days looks horrible for sap. Hardly getting above freezing during the day and single digits at night.
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Post by Tooln on Mar 30, 2018 12:42:16 GMT -6
This is my 3rd year tapping the first year I stopped collecting on 4-4. Last year it was 4-1. Season could be coming close to a close. Going out tomorrow to collect.
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Post by badbrad on Mar 30, 2018 13:11:21 GMT -6
This is my 3rd year tapping the first year I stopped collecting on 4-4. Last year it was 4-1. Season could be coming close to a close. Going out tomorrow to collect. I don't think it really even started yet by us. Some people have got a little but its been very slow.
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Post by badbrad on Mar 31, 2018 14:29:12 GMT -6
Beer 5
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Post by Tooln on Mar 31, 2018 16:58:43 GMT -6
Past few days it ran good. 250 gallons today with a 2.4 test. Put me over 1200 for the season.
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