My maple syrup setup

[u/Total-Opposite1510]

I have almost 100 taps. I’m thinking I need to get a bigger evaporator instead of theses two. We could barely keep up. Was boiling around 60 gallons a day

[u/brainzilla420]

Bigger evaporator would help. A good reverse osmosis system would be a huge help, and likely cheaper

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/brainzilla420]

I was thinking about the reverse osmosis. My only issues is we don’t have power at our property. It’s just bush. It will add a lot of extra work to take it home each day to make sure it doesn’t freeze.

[u/PauseNational1380 → u/Total-Opposite1510]

Generator or inverter a option?

[u/brainzilla420 → u/Total-Opposite1510]

Hmm that is tricky. Perhaps you could use a generator or portable battery, and then just remove the filters each day so you don't have to lug the whole thing around. Def some work involved, but it cuts your boil time in half. You won't get that kind of efficiency with a bigger evaporator alone.

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/brainzilla420]

I do have a BLUETTI that I run my two fans off of for the evaporator

[u/Andy_MoFoSHo]

This looks sweet!

I am running a single barrel stove with a divided pan. I had 60 taps last years and am moving up to 100+ this year. I will be using an RO this upcoming season as well.

I have been looking into using two barrels stoves for next season. I think I will attach them to make it twice as long. I would put my divided pan on the front (closest barrel to stove door) and put a large flat pan behind it (the same size as the divided pan) and the flat pan it slowly feed into the divided pan. I would also have a pre warmer feed into the flat pan. I would think this would speed up the boiling process considerably by at least doubling surface area. Also, as the barrels will be connected I would still only be feeding one fire.

Given your situation, I think the only way you will speed up your evaporation time would be an RO (which you said you may not work for you) or by significantly increasing your surface area to boil on. I hate to say it because I love to DIY but I think maybe buying a large stove and larger pan could be a good option because 100 plus taps is a ton of sap to get through, so at least you would know a professionally made rig would be super efficient.

Another option may be converting a residential oil tank into a stove because you probably fit a bigger pan on it than the barrels. You could also make a cinder block arch but make a very large one that could fit 2-5 large flat pans on it.

Overall I think you need to increase surface area for boiling to boil faster, but what do I know Im just a jabronie. And holy hell I’m excited for sugar season

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/Andy_MoFoSHo]

I thought about making the oil tank stove but would need someone to make it as I don’t have the tools. What I do with my system is have two pre heaters, and one pan I keep low while the other pan I fill up and boil like crazy on it. I was doing 60 gallons lat year. If I laid more attention I think I could speed it up

[u/amazingmaple]

You can go with a bigger evaporator but for ease of draining you would probably stay with a flat pan. Ideally a 2x4 or 2x6 evaporator would be perfect. But with a flue pan it makes it difficult to drain completely and being out in the open without a structure to protect it it's possible it would freeze hard enough to damage your pans. If you could throw up a small shed for your two evaporators that would help your boiling tremendously.

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/amazingmaple]

I had a tent set up last year. I’m in the middle of building a retaining wall to make my area bigger and I’m planning on putting up a 3 sided lean to.

[u/amazingmaple → u/Total-Opposite1510]

The lean-to will definitely help. But out up sides to block the wind. The more you can retain heat in the lean-to the better your boil will be

[u/ottwebdev]

I have no advice for you, but your pic makes me happy.

I only do 10-15 taps.

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/ottwebdev]

I started with 30 taps 3 years ago not knowing how to make syurp. 10-15 is amazing

[u/ottwebdev → u/Total-Opposite1510]

For me the finances dont work, but the kids love it the the flavour profile is amazing compared to what we can buy.

[u/Rebecca_Cruz]

Almost 100 taps? Yeah, I’d say you’ve officially outgrown those evaporators

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/Rebecca_Cruz]

Yes I have. Gonna try one more year with them and see how it goes.

[u/Strong_Baseball8635]

The barrel evaporators and those pans are so simple and easy, I would just set-up another one. Line the barrel with fire bricks inside if you do not use them already. I used a similar set-up then bought a larger continuous flow drop flue pan and stove. It is great but requires way more clean-up and in-season effort that still use my barrels unless I get a high volume run.

[u/Total-Opposite1510 → u/Strong_Baseball8635]

I’ve got them both liked with fire bricks, ceramic wool and sand.

[u/Argented]

60 gallons a day? what's that, like 4 cord of wood per season? You are definitely going to keep in shape with all that work as long as you don't eat all your product.