How to Assemble a Dauntless Arch

This video covers how to paint, assemble and insulate the Dauntless Evaporator from start to finish. The video also contains many additional helpful tips along the way including topics of safety, firewood and efficiency. Alternatively, you may download a PDF of the assembly instructions.

Dauntless Guide

For further information about getting started with your Dauntless evaporator, check out our Backyard Set Up Series.

Video Content Guide

0:30 — PARTS AND PAINTING

    • 0:31 — Why paint the Dauntless?
    • 0:40 — Which parts are NOT painted?
    • 1:55 — Base Halves (Paint all over)
    • 2:16 — Floor Panel (Paint front and back lip)
    • 2:40 — Side Panels (Paint outside)
    • 2:49 — Rear Panel (Paint outside)
    • 2:55 — Front Panel (Paint outside)
    • 3:16 — Door (Paint outside)
    • 3:23 — Draft Slide (Paint the end)
    • 4:12 — Grates (NO paint)
    • 4:25 — Ramp/Bed Parts (NO paint)
    • 5:07 — Stack Pipe (Prepainted) — Qty 4
    • 5:13 — Handle (Paint all over)
    • 5:17 — Elbow (Prepainted)
    • 5:33 — Insulation Precuts
    • 5:44 — Hardware Kit (NO paint)
      • 5:52 — Bolts and Fender Washers (For Door) — Qty 4
      • 6:00 — Stainless Steel Washers (Thinner than other Flat Washers) — Qty 2
      • 6:32 — 3/4″ Carriage Bolts — Qty 26
      • 6:35 — 1/2″ Carriage Bolts — Qty 44
      • 6:38 — 1/4″ Flat Washers — Qty 78
      • 6:42 — 1/4″ Lock Washers — Qty 70
      • 6:45 — Quarter Twenty Nuts — Qty 74
      • 6:47 — Lock Nuts — Qty 3
      • 6:50 — Emblem Kit
      • 6:58 — Guy Support
    • 7:18 — TIPS for spray painting

7:40 — TOOLS

    • Small Impact Driver
    • Combination Screw Driver
    • Adjustable Wrench
    • 1/2″ Box End Wrench
    • 7/16″ Box End Wrench
    • Rubber Mallet
    • Nickels (for spacers) — Qty 2
    • Dimes (for spacers) — Qty 2

8:32 — ASSEMBLY

FIREBOX ASSEMBLY

    • 8:53 — Attach Front Panel to Side Panel
    • 18:30 — Attach Back Panel to Side Panels

BASE ASSEMBLY

    • 27:19 — Base Halves

CONNECTING FIREBOX ASSEMBLY TO BASE ASSEMBLY

    • 29:23 — Place Floor Panel on Base Halves
    • 29:58 — Insert Damper Slide
    • 30:14 — Using Spacers
    • 31:06 — Place Firebox Assembly on top of Base
    • 44:45 — Bolts in all 4 corners. Tip for centering holes.
    • 53:30 — Remove the Nickels and Dimes

BED ASSEMBLY

    • 54:40 — Connect the two Bed Panels together
    • 55:55 — Insert Bed Assembly into the Arch

DOOR ASSEMBLY

    • 58:25 — Connect Handle to the Door
    • 1:01:00 — Door hinge
    • 1:01:26 — Emblem
    • 1:02:15 — Door insulation

ARCH INSULATION

    • 1:04:30 — Back Insulation
    • 1:05:30 — Front Insulation
    • 1:05:40 — Side Insulation (in firebox area)
    • 1:05:55 — Side Insulation (in bed area)

GRATES AND FIREBRICK

    • 1:08:15 — Inserting Grates
    • 1:08:40 — Firebrick

ELBOW, STACK PIPE, GUY SUPPORT

    • 1:11:55 — Elbow and Stack Pipe
    • 1:14:34 — Guy Support
    • 1:15:30 — Avoiding down draft

Miscellaneous Tips / Discussion Points

7:18 — Tips for Spray Painting

32:25 — Firewood

TIPS FOR SAFE OPERATION

    • 40:15 — Fire extinguisher
    • 42:00 — Always have a spare bucket of sap
    • 43:20 — Keep 2″ sap depth throughout the pans
    • 44:00 — Base is NOT meant for storage
    • 1:07:10 — Don’t touch stack pipe during/after operation. It will be HOT. Also, don’t wrap insulation around the outside of stack pipe. That could cause the stack pipe to melt/fail.

46:20 — When Does Maple Season Start?

47:50 — Thank you to our parents

49:30 — Why is the arch made of 12 gauge steel?

52:20 — Smoky Lake, Where we got started with maple syrup.

1:15:30 — Avoid down draft

For further information about getting started with your Dauntless evaporator, check out our Backyard Set Up Series. We also offer a Quick Start Guide for every pan style.