DIY Maple Syrup Evaporator ||Budget 55 Gallon Drum Sugaring Evaporator||

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DIY Maple Syrup Evaporator ||Budget 55 Gallon Drum Sugaring Evaporator||
You guys! We're going to get our hand in some sugaring this year, i'm sure you are thinking about doing the same thing also as you are here watching our video. We just wanted to share with you how easy this maple syrup evaporator was to build. We got our 55 gallon drum for free off of the Facebook marketplace which was a plus and got the stove kit and supplies off Amazon.
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[@coltong7595]

What are the dimensions of your openings for the pans?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

11.25 width and 14.75 length but for the length of you measure around the barrel to cut it would be 15.5

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks for supporting our channel!!!🤙

[@coreyk5536]

Built it last year. Boiled 500L of sap down no issues. held up great, two suggestions. Add some metal grating in the bottom to get the wood up off the floor of the drum, and two throw some play sand in the bottom to protect the barrel from wearing away and holes forming. We're boiling again just started this morning in Central Ontario.

[@joedirt9600]

Hello from Ontario, are you boiling this spring 2023 ? My brother and I are getting geared up to boil next spring, 2024 in Northern Ontario. Making one of these boilers and putting up a tarp shed to boil in. Still have to scout out trees and cut trails, and we have 0 wood put up at the cabin. Lol..

[@coreyk5536]

@@joedirt9600 Yep boiling again, won't be long now.

[@esper2142]

My man, you just saved me a TON of time and research. Thank you!

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Glad I could help!

[@Michigan_North_Woods]

Good job! I have built a couple myself. I ended up buying different bolts for the feet because yes, they are cheap and will strip out easily. Also I put my door in the middle (up some) so that the ashes do not block the vent so easily. Good stuff though! 👍

[@patmeyer3818]

Awesome video, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for adding the links.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks Pat! Ofcourse, hopefully you get some dank syrup! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@patmeyer3818]

What size pans did you use?

[@halfasshuntingclub5330]

Building one next week. Planning on the pans going further into the stove to get more heat onto the full bottom surface of the pans. Thanks for the video!

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks! Yes, that should help. If you can add a vent that you can have fan blow in would be ideal too.

[@richardseguin2559]

I built one the same but I installed a warming removable warming shelf at the end by throwing cheminy to warm up the water.

[@cantfixasandwich4672]

i been looking into building one of these. i seen some other ones that are incorporating a fan to blow air on the fire to get it hotter. when i make one i am going to put the bung of the drum on the bottom so i can use this as a port to blow air in and move the wood stove door higher up. also i would install a grate on the bottom to keep the wood off the floor of the barrel to get some better airflow around the fire. having a hotter fire inside the barrel will make the evaporation process faster.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Man that sounds like it will be roaring! We've thought about doing the grate but the hole in the side to use a lead blower would take it to a whole new level! Thanks for supporting our channel Erik! 🤙🤙

[@rebeccahickey8610]

Making ours today!

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Get it! 💪💪💪

[@justinbart37]

Can you cut the holes for the pans a little bigger so that the fit right inside and are held by the lips?

[@jimcox6687]

I would exit my exhaust pipe out the back not the top and also make the holes for the pans closer to the back.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

That could work, you might need a different kit as the pipe flange in the kit is rounded for the barrel side.

[@The_HERRON_boys]

Thank you

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

You're welcome

[@jaredroberts8345]

Are those pans 15" L X 6" deep?

[@foy1der]

Weld yourself up a fire grate. I used #4 rebar, increased the heat output considerably

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

We're hopefully going to run her today and see how she does. I saw the grates they sell on amazon but that's a good idea also.

[@randallrouse]

If you throw a bucket of sand in the stove before you start burning wood, the bottom won't burn out as quickly. You might get 3 seasons out of it.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Hmm, It hasn't rotted out, not sure how long it will last as i never cleaned it out before leaving it outside all year 😂😂😂😂 Having any wet material sitting on the bottom doesnt help.

[@russjordan3996]

the higher the stack the more draft you get

[@bryanbarker9467]

Hello from Manitoulin Island. Very much enjoy your videos and just want to say thanks for your commitment. I do have a question regarding your barrel evaporator. I am doing some research on making an evaporator and am leaning towards the barrel style. However, I have had some conflicting information. Do you find after using your barrel evaporator for a few seasons, that the time and effort justifies the payoff? Thanks in advance.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I had to look up where that was but looks like an awesome spot and welcome to our channel, were glad to have you! Its absolutely worth making your own syrup. The barrel is no the fastest and i didnt want to use it again but didn't have the money to drop on a nice 2x3 evaporator. Granted you could get the gaps tighter than mine for less heat loss and maybe put some of the gap filler material in but its just slow. It would take 1 hours to bold 30-40 gallons.

[@thelandcanadventures]

Hey there! Looks great- just wondering about the angle grinder specs as well as the thickness of the steel lid?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks! We just used a cheap 5 amp grinder from harbor freight. It took about 2.5 cutting discs. Thanks for supporting our channel!🤙🤙🤙 www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-sanders/angle-grinders/corded-4-12-in-5-amp-angle-grinder-60372.html

[@dwightherrington7793]

He uses a square metal cuttn wheel.

[@dwightherrington7793]

If u want to cut squares in metal u have to use a disc that only cuts squares now if u want to cut circles u have to get urself circle cuttn disc but as a reminder u cant cut a square with it only round things with it. I hipe this helped u.

[@ericwiese7479]

I’m doing this and sapping black walnuts. Thanks

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thats awesome! Thanks for supporting the channel!💪💪

[@CelticRootsFarm]

I was looking to make something similar to this, but we were thinking to use a 275 gallon tank. I welded up 4 -12 gallon stainless steel containers a few years ago for our sap to boil over an open fire, but we are looking to change it up, since it really isn’t that efficient. We may wait another season and just suck it up and buy an actual evaporator though. Anyway... Good job on this. 👍

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Yeah those big tank ones look pretty slick, since were only getting our feet wet in this we went with the cheap route. I hear ya though those fancy ones are mighty tempting. 😂 Thanks for supporting us! 🤙🤙

[@CelticRootsFarm]

@@BreakFreeHomestead Tempting... but definitely not cheap! LOL Wishing you an amazing 2021 season! 👍

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

That's for sure! You also!

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

You guys are pretty darn close to us!

[@CelticRootsFarm]

@@BreakFreeHomestead Oh... I didn’t see that. You guys are in Warner. We actually both work in Concord, so we are in your neck of the wood pretty often. Nice! 👍

[@brunobrulabru]

Very cool project I will do the same👍 Do you still have a link for buy the door from Amazon ?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks! Yes it is in the description, it should have everything you need! 🤙

[@bosola7168]

Bet those high heat spray paint fumes you were breathing in smelled great.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

It’s good for the soul 😵‍💫

[@ganjaman3912]

How has the high heat paint held up?

[@nickclark2501]

👍

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks! It's almost time!

[@wilfredkirby]

Have a local Line-X dealer that said they'd sort me out with a barrel, but were worried about how nasty the chemical residue was inside. Did you have any problems with that?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Our syrup came out great! We just made sure everything was good and burnt out before hand

[@gwebocelestron9194]

Do you actually get draft up the chimney, or does the smoke come out around the pans?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

It went through the chimney pretty will, heres a video of us using it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXrWc6mKpLGUrsk

[@RedRockMaintenance]

Do you need to put any fire bricks or sand8n the bottom ?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I didnt the first year, last year i added the fire bricks. Works both ways. The tighter you can get your pan cutouts the more efficient it will be.

[@nicklausmisiti5204]

Doesnt smoke pour out around pans sinc they are just sitting on top of holes?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

No, the chimney drew enough air.

[@joypolk3093]

Have you thought about putting spigots into your sap pans?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I have thought about upgrading. Hopefully this year!

[@joypolk3093]

Good luck to you🤗😊

[@alexgauthier2901]

Can you use this inside a small sugar shack?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I wouldn't see an issue with it, just pipe it out

[@anthonyledesma1267]

I would want my smoke stack coming off the back of the barrel to free up space on top.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I hear ya, this grommet was curved.

[@mcdls5]

What would this thing be worth when completed? Asking for a friend. :)

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Someone in New England sells them on Craigslist complete foe $400, nh.craigslist.org/grd/d/diy-maple-syrup-evaporator-kit/7377840220.html

[@zacharygross460]

How deep in the drum do your pans sit

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

They're not in there very deep, only a few inches.

[@adamsoutdoors]

Pans need to be tighter fit in the barrel. Fire can come out and scorch the sap in the pans. Gives funny taste in sap. Looks good though. Good job

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thanks Roy! We just used it for the first time yesterday and noticed the gaps lost some heat and a little fire at some points. We are going to be looking into an insulator for the gaps. I think were hooked, i think the syrup tastes better when you make it yourself! Thanks for supporting our channel! 🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@adamsoutdoors]

@@BreakFreeHomestead for sure is better when it is made by your hard work.

[@davejustice5579]

@@BreakFreeHomestead Did you ever figure out an insulator for the gaps? Love this simple build

[@gwebocelestron9194]

I've cooked sap in an extra large canning pot on an open firepit with flames licking up the pot. Syrup turned out great. A little smokey flavor makes an old time, homemade taste. You're not trying to recreate maple flavored hight fructose corn syrup you but at the store after all.

[@MaryLukasiewicz]

Do you insulate it at all? Seems most do but fire bricks are crazy expensive

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I did not, for that exact reason but I might nect time to retain that heat.

[@ganjaman3912]

I've read that red clay bricks work fine for a fraction of the cost.

[@junkcarz4720]

Did the barrel have bad chemical inside

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I tried washing it out but there wasn't much. What was left burned off.

[@gallmanconstruction728]

Maybe burn the barrel out before cutting out the slot for the pans next time?

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Thats probably a good idea.

[@The_HERRON_boys]

Where did you buy your Stack

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

I believe it was Lowes. 24-in L x 6-in Dia Black Steel Stove Pipe www.lowes.com/pd/IMPERIAL-24-in-L-x-6-in-Dia-Black-Single-wall-Steel-Stove-Pipe/3462750

[@The_HERRON_boys]

What size are the pans

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Here they are; amzn.to/3FPQHgz

[@dwightherrington7793]

Nothn i did the exact same thing except i paint mine different colors.

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Nice! Solid work 💪

[@dwightherrington7793]

U need to put the pipe so it can draw.

[@champshire]

In the video he burned it out before he installed the pipe. It would have burned hotter with the pipe. He installed the pipe after he burned and painted. Not that big of a deal.

[@brandonshepherd5687]

Fire bricks

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Probably a good idea if you can squeeze it.