Building DIY - Cheap/Free - Maple Syrup Evaporator (Start-to-Finish)

[@jimgriffiths9071]

Kevin, I've always thought this is your best project. Reusing a old tank, and transforming it into something quite useful for the thousands of homesteaders out there. I would love to see you produce half a dozen, and put them into your merch shop. This is a tremendous asset to any small farm.

[@c.a.g.1977]

This never gets old! Can't believe it's mapple syrup season again! Hope Don's well enough to come out and help you with the boiling. Seems he's really a part of the channel, and I kinda miss seeing him, but of course I understand that he's not been himself lately.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

I'm about 80 years old and this story goes back to before my time to say, the 1920s in Western Upstate New York. Our family and near neighbors had a 'sugar shack' in some woodlands. They would gather for 'sugaring off' parties. In the early to late evenings, they would eat, dance, and play cards. Someone would stay later to continue the evaporation. In my adulthood, I have always purchased our maple syrup and maple sugar from a family farm in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Your syrup test slurp looks to be lighter than 'light amber.' I prefer 'medium amber for the balance of the 'lighter' aromas/taste and the caramelized flavors. Your video is a welcome harbinger of spring!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Love it!

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

​@@ModernSelfReliancewhat happened to your friend the old guy

[@arresthillary9502]

he is on injured reserve(mild heart attack)@@TashaOneal-l8h

[@mcbnj]

Next week can we revisit digging one of the holes

[@mcbnj]

could always use a refresher

[@VanForest73]

I'm looking at how you turned an old oil tank for home heating into a wooden boiler. Will it last a long time? I'm just asking to know about it. Anyway, you've shown everyone the difference. How creative and flexible are you, hopefully waiting for your next action

[@mriguy3202]

if you use fire brick and hit the outside with some high temp paint it should last decades

[@ib4359]

Thumbs up!

[@mybuddyme8694]

Love the video's.

[@mikekrisan6044]

you worked your A$$ off!! everything you build is 10 outta 10

[@cindyfinn4845]

Kevin its my fave time building and maple syrup time..

[@tedbryer2512]

What a great idea!! I took one of those oil tanks and made a test tank for outboard motors. Cut it exactly the same, put a hinge on it to close it up when not in use, mount a 2x8 to hold the outboard motor and fill it up with water. I also installed a exhaust fan to get rid of the smoke. and there you have it. the back end keeps the water from spraying up and over the sides. Last motor I repaired and tested was a 40 hp. OMC and it worked perfect! Greetings from Perth Ontario Canada.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

That does sound like a really good idea.

[@tedbryer2512]

@@ModernSelfReliance Im still using it. I did pull it inside so I had to get an exhaust fan. This thing really works!!

[@elsie9649]

Wow, love your use of the resources you have.

[@staceyvegamarkum4071]

Hey neighbor! We are doing a maple sugar social on Monday February 19th down here in New York. I do a lot of stuff at this equine center and we've started making syrup! Maybe I'll be able to get some pictures to share with you. Until then, stay safe and warm, say hi to Don, and hug those beautiful girls of yours!

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Sure sign of spring! Enjoy it!

[@rohanevergreen]

awesome

[@sueyates3555]

Wow Kevin, you really outdid yourself this time that is really cool how you can make stuff like that and be able to use it on your maple syrup which is so good.

[@outdoorsforachange]

Very cool build!

[@glenn9989]

That’s all I use for small projects,bed frames keep you eye out tell friends and pretty soon you have all you need.

[@paulsavage33]

the new evaporator looks great Kevin looks like a fun welding project

[@cebasmb8250]

I love maple 🍁 SYRUP season I made it every other year 😋

[@patrickheavirland3599]

Good morning from Minnesota USA! Fun episode!

[@davidsgreatadventures]

I can't wait to see some new maple syrup vids!

[@hillbillywisdom777]

Here in Missouri this year has been the longest maple sapping season I can ever remember. Above freezing daytime below freezing nights

[@keithng128]

Frankie casually walk in.... And he noticed that it's a camera on,.. then he said.... “ Sorry, excuse me. ” and Walk away. Sooo well mannered, simply just adorable. 🥰

[@nanvaughn2258]

Kevin, thanks for making the video! It’s so amazing to see the bounty nature provides. How long will it take once you start boiling the sap to have finished maple syrup?

[@cmosphoto1]

Depending on the amount of sap.. I can usually evaporate an inch an hour... It's a 2x5 pan.

[@Serendipity-Divine]

Duuude reading my mind much. Interior B.C here 👋 and tapping for syrup from wood spigots I whittled from cannabis stems...highly recommend. So this video is peeerrrffeecct! Thank you!!

[@taurota1554]

awesome as always.thanks for sharing and taking us along.

[@geoffoutdoors]

Great build! Been boiling sap here in Ohio past couple weeks... temps up and down... now waiting on another warmup so it runs again. Cheers!

[@timmylozza4611]

Nice syrup man well be happy

[@knightmn3223]

I live in St. Pete FL, and ever since I watched your video on the cabin/evaporator build, I have my Canadian regulars that come into town bring me some of that YUMMY Canadian maple syrup... this year I have 3 bottles from Canada and one from Michigan. Just wish it got cold enough to make some maple candy the way the great white north does it, with a popsicle stick and snow, HAHA. Love the channel and projects, Keep up the Great Content!! - Kris

[@MsSilkeen]

Gotta say , I watch you mostly bcuz you make me laugh, if I were doing all the stuff you do, I'd be doing the OOPSIES explanations too! I'm told sometimes I have 2 left feet. Keep up the natural you stuff, never stop!

[@edsomers7814]

Great build Kevin.really enjoyed it.😊☮️

[@kathleenmead9259]

Fond childhood memories from Vermont harvesting and boiling maple syrup....Thank you! Awesome tutorial on how to build your own.

[@SuperPenguin5495]

can you please make more shelters for - single, poor, young, men. Your car tree house and recent homeless structure are fantastic ideas that don't get enough attention

[@ryanpinkus1338]

This is the most Canadian video on youtube. But seriously, that looks good.

[@lukec22]

he treats that maple syrup like a most people treats a fine wine or bourbon. and thanks for another great video

[@brianpeschke]

I really like how you make everything by recycling stuff, also how's Don?

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Don's doing great.

[@mriguy3202]

You can make your own fire brick pretty cheaply; there are youtube videos on that topic also, and bonus you can cast them to conform to the shape of the oil tank. The materials are available at home depot or similar stores and online as well. I think you may be happier with a gasket on the top of the tank beneath the pan to hold down the smoke. You may prefer the smoky note in the syrup but not every one does, and it's very hard to control the amount of smoke flavor that gets in the finished product. You can mount the chimney at the 'back' of the tank at the top on the flat surface too and that will work. Good ideas here!

[@SJC49]

That was a cool project. Loved seeing you use all the reclaimed material. I know you promote Princess Auto - me too! A few months ago someone used my credit card # to try to order about $2300 worth of merch. Princess Auto was suspicious and was responsible for catching the thief. I call that great customer service!

[@Drew______]

Hi Kevin, have you ever considered adding a drip feeder to your evaporator? Basically you get a rolling boil and then have a hopper that you top up with cold sap. That hopper warms naturally and drips into the evaporator so you don't kill your boil when adding a bucket of cold sap.

[@RollingwiththeRoss]

This sweet video really takes the cake, pancake that is!

[@Sage-Preston]

I'll bring the waffles!

[@russellwatters5891]

I really enjoy watching the maple syrup videos. It brings back memories of my childhood in Wisconsin, before moving to Florida..lol 😂 Great job with the evaporator, you have a skilled welder for a friend! Love what you're doing 😊

[@kingrafa3938]

Well done guys!

[@lindsayalisonstevens3592]

This is such a cool build, Kevin! Excellent craftsmanship as always 😎👏🏽 I hope Don’s recovering nicely from his heart attack months ago ❤

[@66bigbuds]

We always had someone do night shift. We ran the boil 24hrs a day. Ours had a smoky flavor from the home made boiler. Everyone loved the smoky flavor.

[@jasonswearingin1009]

This reminds me of wild plum season where I live in south central US. Used to go out around mid summer and fill 2 5 gallon buckets and barely touch the plum thickets. We'd take them home and make the best wild plumb jam. Sadly these days all the plum thickets I found are all gone and I knew a lot of locations. At least the blackberries are still growing wild and strong. Still regularly find blackberries as big as golf balls just gotta be careful picking them because they can burst easy also one has to watch out for copperheads cottonmouths and western diamondback rattlers.

[@oldinuselesshancox5194]

Nice post, thanks 👍🏼🤟🏼🖖🏼

[@feckjr]

Good video Kevin! This build really improved on your last evaporator that you did with the Sugar Shack! Really good job! Always enjoy you builds man!

[@TheWeekendMedic]

Be very careful setting up your pan on a slope - that causes shallow spots, which will burn if your sap level gets too low. A pan should always be dead level.

[@outdoorsforachange]

What happened to your old evaporator?

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Dennis wanted one... So I figure we'd do a start to finish build on this one.

[@outdoorsforachange]

@ModernSelfReliance even better!

[@equiptheangels7093]

Thanks for share my 🙏

[@jefffunkhouser2773]

When I do my. Sap. I put it all the sap in one big container over night and hopefully it will get cold enough to get frozen a few inches of ice. And I take the ice out and then I start cooking it down. , It goes a faster that way and use a lot less wood

[@802louis]

Wow great job 👏

[@941Earl]

Tell me you're a Canadian, without telling me you're a Canadian. Kevin: "Let's make Maple Syrup in the bush." 😂

[@killmimes]

Is that a used fuel tank???? Do you not see a chemical issue with this?

[@cmosphoto1]

The pan is stainless steel. Just the evaporator is an old tank.

[@outdoorsforachange]

Seems like it will all burn off.

[@DENNISREED-m7u]

@@outdoorsforachangethe stainless steel pan is made from 316L which is a slightly higher nickel content than regular frying pans and pots. The same materials used in pharmaceuticals manufacture.

[@radagast6682]

Two years ago we tapped my Brother's 8 black walnut trees. It was good, but I like maple better.

[@Nancym1601]

Is the old one still under the overhang? Will you use both?

[@rbartlett6606]

Need to remind people that the oil is flammable and the tank should be cleaned before starting to cut on it.

[@michaelsmith9545]

How are you and your family doing Kevin ? How is Mr. Don holding up ?

[@groove790]

what happened to the original burner you built?

[@fred-san]

Alambic, asking free fruits to producer-market (🍎 with damages) ?

[@blueclothes1]

Hey Kevin how’s don doing?

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Doing well.

[@frankensteinracing3520]

Curiosity if you trapped The steam and ran it through tubing would it be pure Water or would it be ethanol

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Would be pure water.

[@frankensteinracing3520]

@@ModernSelfRelianceassumed so was just curious cheers

[@douglasgatian1401]

Kevin builds or modern self reliance? Why change the channel name?

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Why not both. I did a video on it.

[@desert-walker]

Third😊

[@bradh74]

Buddy did a nice job on the door for that. He must work with steel everyday. That's so close to a killer smoker that it's not funny. You could make a restaurant sized/style smoker with trays and racks that turn. You'd have to experiment with a fire box. Not sure I would want to eat food from an oil tank but I guess if you burned it all off it would be good to go. If a spark from a ferro rod will light fuel oil why would you cut it with a blade that throws sparks? You're still here since you posted a video but..................?

[@KINGOFTHEWOODS847]

Can I have some

[@jonitheboi605]

i love this process but unfortunately my taste buds say no.

[@radagast6682]

My Dad used a large cast iron cauldron to make maple syrup, and it got a smoke taste. I like my maple syrup to taste like maple syrup. Sap flowed for almost 3 weeks, then it got cold. It should start running again monday or tuesday. Do you sell your syrup? FULL STOP!

[@arresthillary9502]

i have nothing but pine trees. can I make some gin in that thing?😛

[@ModernSelfReliance]

You could make turpentine. ;-)

[@BH-rx3ue]

you should stop the boil early and turn it into booze. I'd imagine it would come out like a very sweet wine.

[@ModernSelfReliance]

Sounds like diabetes

[@BH-rx3ue]

@@ModernSelfReliance less diabetic than syrup because the sugar is converted in to booze where as syrup is just concentrated sugary goodness. Just when thinking about it, all youd pretty much have to do is chuck in some yeast when the sugar content is at the right percentage and BOOM! maple syrup wine

[@owenhalverson9119]

Just don't sound food grade sound like a good way to catch cancer

[@michaeleachus]

Hey Joe, your the best.thanks .would you go camping with a Subscriver ? ❤

[@evanhansen2354]

Ive never tapped a tree or anything but i thought sap was a thick and amber in color. I didnt think it was clear and water like

[@ChirpyMike]

Sap is clear.

[@robmarshall5100]

30 to 60 gallon to 1 fancy grad a amber