Drum evaporator build

[DeerMeadowFarm]

I didn't want to hijack any of the current maple syrup threads so I decided to post this here. If it's in the wrong place I'm sure someone will move it to a more appropriate location.

I got an empty drum from work and I bought a drum stove kit from US Stove. I know a ton of people use the Vogelzang kit but I had seen a close up of one and it said "Made in China". I paid a little more but bought mine form U.S. Stove. Guess what? It's made in China too!  >:(

First I rough placed the door where I wanted it and traced the opening with a sharpie:


 

Next I used a HF step drill to make holes in the corners:


 

I planned to use this to cut the rest out but was not feeling too good about how that would work:


 

Suprisingly, it worked really well! I cleaned up the edges with a flap wheel on my grinder:


 

Bolted the door on (don't forget the two holes hidden under the door catch) and that part was done:


 

Next I attached the legs to the drum and placed my two pans on just to check it out:


 

The kit came with this curved flue pipe adapter, but positioning it on the top leaves little room for the two pans....


 

I plan to get a flue adapter to go straight out the back of the drum. So that's as far as I've gotten so far working at night in between snow storms or cleaining up from snow storms!

If I had to do it over I don't think I'd even get a kit. The door is nice and stiffens up the front of the drum nicely after removing so much material, but the legs are too short and I'm not even going to use the pipe adapter. The legs will be OK now since I already have them but I will either block them up (most likely for this year anyway) or make a welded frame to pick the whole works up to a more comfortable working area. I am hoping to cut the holes for the pans soon and then I need to line the inside with insulation and brick.

[thecfarm]

Throw some sand in the bottom and have a fire in it too burn all the paint off and start boiling sap.

[Whitman]

What size pans are those and where did you find the new?

[DeerMeadowFarm]

They are 6" deep steam pans. I picked them up from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VZ6XP4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Did some more work on my evaporator this weekend. Got the pans cut into the top and stovepipe mounted. I just need to get some fire brick and build a grate. I also have an ide for a sap pre-heater....

  

  

 

[thecfarm]

Lets see some sap in those pans!!!

[cbla]

DeerMeadowFarm, great job that looks amazing!

[bhall]

That is a very nice set up, you did a fine job, now get some sap in those pans.
Check the General Board, some maple syrup folks there.
Bob

[DeerMeadowFarm]

Tried to walk into the wood lot yesterday and was post holing past my knees...  :'(
I'm not sure if I'll be able to gather any sap at all this year unless this snow melts pretty quick!  :-\

[Ron Wenrich]

I assume you'll put something under the barrel so it doesn't roll. 

[John Mc]

Tried to walk into the wood lot yesterday and was post holing past my knees...  :'(
I'm not sure if I'll be able to gather any sap at all this year unless this snow melts pretty quick!  :-\

By the time that happens, most of the sugaring season will be past. (With the snow you guys got in Central MA this year, the kids will be out of school before the snow melts.)

[DeerMeadowFarm]

I assume you'll put something under the barrel so it doesn't roll.

It has cast iron legs that came with the kit Ron.

Well, we have decided not to do syrup this year.  :embarassed: We are just too rushed and we are running out of time. My wife has a torn miniscus and some other medical issues going on. The snow is still too deep to get to where we need to be and I talked to the local guy who we buy syrup from every year and he told me that the sap is running poorly and what he is getting is running at 60/1 gallons.

Plus I came home yesterday to see that the wind ripped off a bunch of shingles.  >:(

  

 

[thecfarm]

That is too bad. Things will be better next year.

[mometal77]

I am sure you are smart enough but when i re do my shop roof over a 3 foot maple split and landed on the thing i will go out and buy some fall protection. a guy here a few years ago fell off his roof and no insurance so just to say. I wish that was my roof. my roof on one side became pretty much destroyed along with some 2x12s and a few 2x6 ers inside.  I will take the tree down this summer along with a few others.  Even thinking about putting a bucket a cage on the front of my forklift or rent a genie lift 4x4.  Better to be safe then sorry.  What one costs to buy is even a drop in the bucket vs a life of pain and misery or a wheel chair.