Buyer’s Guide – Metal Efficiency

Today we will demonstrate the dramatic impact your evaporator pan’s metal thickness can have on boiling efficiency by comparing a 22 gauge Smoky Lake Pan to a 16 gauge competitor pan.

Video Topics

• 0:27 – Understanding Metal Gauges
  
  
• 0:46 – Metal Thickness of Various Brands of Pans
  
• 0:59 – Why Don’t All Manufacturers Use 22 Gauge?
• 1:30 – Side by Side Boiling Comparison
  
• 2:50 – Test Results
  • 22 gauge boils 3x more efficiently than 16 gauge
  • 22 gauge will come to a full boil 2x faster than 16 gauge
  • 22 gauge yields a more vigorous boil
• 3:17 – Addressing Misinformation from Competitors
  • 3:23 – Competitors say: Thicker metal can boil just as fast.
    (NO. The truth is that 22 gauge is much more efficient!)
  • 3:30 – Competitors say: Thicker metal holds heat better.
    (The truth is that you need metal to transfer heat. Not hold heat.)
  • 3:42 – Competitors say: Thinner metal will melt while boiling.
    (Ridiculous. No. 22 gauge is NOT going to melt. Just keep liquid in it while boiling, just as you would with any other pan.)
  • 3:50 – Competitors say: Question durability.
    (Actually, Smoky Lake has best warranty in the industry.)
• 4:20 – Learn More at SmokyLakeMaple.com/buyersguide

The Nitty Gritty Math

Below, we will supply all the math that was used to calculate the results of the side-by-side comparison

Starting Weights (pan + starting water + lid)

Ending Weights (pan + remaining water + lid)

Amount of Weight Lost in 15 Minutes

• Vevor: 5.61 lbs
• Smoky Lake: 17.31 lbs

Multiply x4 to Extrapolate the Weight Lost in 1 Hour.

• Vevor: 22.47 lbs
• Smoky Lake: 69.25 lbs

Quantify the Evaporation Rates Based on Weight Lost in 1 Hour.

• 1 gallon of water = 8.34 lbs.
• Vevor: 22.47 lbs / 8.34 lbs = 2.69 GPH evaporated
• Smoky Lake: 69.25 lbs / 8.34 lbs = 8.3 GPH evaporated

How Much Faster is the Smoky Lake Evaporation Rate Compared to the Vevor Evaporation Rate?

• 8.3 (Smoky Lake GPH) / 2.6 (Vevor GPH) = Over 3x Faster

At This Rate, How Long Would it Take for Each Pan to Boil 50 Gallons of Sap?

• Vevor: 50 Gallons / 2.6 GPH = Approx. 19 hours
• Smoky Lake: 50 Gallons / 8.3 GPH = Approx. 6 hours
• Difference in Speeds (19 – 6) = Vevor takes 13 hours longer