4
the front.
11.
Starting one thread back from the exit, wrap your bit of pipe tape around the draw-off to the right and
wind around until completely used. Screw the ball valve on over the pipe tape. Does your unit look like
the one in our logo? Excellent! You’re done!
Preparing Your
Sapling
for Use
1.
Remove the pan.
2.
Using shims and a two- or four-foot level, level your
Sapling
front to back and side to side.
3.
Place a layer of sand and/or ashes in the bottom of your barrel.
CAUTION:
failure to place an
insulating layer in the bottom of your barrel can result in catastrophic failure – the fire may burn right
through your barrel! For added protection and to increase efficiency, you may also choose to line the
inside of your barrel with fire brick, available at your local hardware store. You may also aid air flow by
putting an old grill grate in the bottom of your barrel.
4.
Coat the exterior of the barrel with a thin layer of vegetable or olive oil (apply with a paper-towel or
rag).
5.
Replace the pan. Using your level, confirm that your pan is level front to back and side to side.
6.
Before you boil your first sap, you’ll want to remove any residual materials from the pan. Here’s how
you do that:
Prepare a solution of 10 gallons of water combined with 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Fill the pan to 2 or 3 inches with the solution.
Start by building a small fire in the barrel and gradually build to a larger fire.
NOTE:
We
DO
NOT
recommend heating your
Sapling
to over 600 degrees (as measured just above the elbow at
the exit pipe) at any time. You may want to use a magnetic stove thermometer to track your
Sapling’s
temperature throughout operation.
Boil the solution for approximately 30 minutes, making sure the solution in the pan remains at
approximately the 2-or 3-inch level by adding more solution, as needed.
7. Check your equipment:
Check to see that there are no leaks at the fittings in the pan.
Assuming you have an even fire underneath, check to see that the pan is boiling evenly.
Open the valve – ensure it works properly.
Check to see that your
Sapling
is drafting and venting correctly (that the fire has adequate air
intake and that smoke is generally only coming out through the stack).
