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Gear guide · 16 products

Evaporators and pans for hobbyists for maple sugaring

Sap-contact metal: stainless (304 is the modern norm) with welded or lead-free soldered seams; no galvanized pans, no pre-1995 solder; ask for a lead-free certification on used gear. (The firebox/arch can be galvanized or mild steel - sap never touches it.)

Our pick

Top pick
Serious backyard (10-50 taps): Smoky Lake StarCat w/ flat pan (from $1,320.47) - stated tap range, maker rate, 22 ga stainless, lifetime weld warranty, US-made; or Vermont Evaporator Sapling ($1,527) if you want a barrel-style unit with a 6 in deep 18 ga baffled pan
Budget pick
First season: VEVOR 24x18x6 304-stainless pan ($72.89) or Bascom 11x19x6 pan ($106) over a block fire or burner; step up: Seedling pan ($299) + barrel stove kit ($165) on a new drum
Ranked on verifiable items only: stainless grade/gauge, lead-free welds, valve and thermometer port, stated tap range and warranty, and price per stated gph. Evaporation-rate claims are the makers' and have not been tested by this project.
What would change it: 50-200 taps: the CDL 18x48 ($2,430) or 2x6 class is the right size by the gph rule; an independent evaporation-rate test would reorder the hobby arches.

Disclosure

Gear pages contain affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody on this site has tested these products; recommendations rest on manufacturer specifications, extension-service guidance, price and availability on the dates shown.

What matters

How to judge evaporators and pans for hobbyists

Each criterion names the extension or manual source it comes from; 'synthesis' marks our own reasoning.
  1. 1

    Sap-contact metal: stainless (304 is the modern norm) with welded or lead-free soldered seams; no galvanized pans, no pre-1995 solder; ask for a lead-free certification on used gear. (The firebox/arch can be galvanized or mild steel - sap never touches it.)

    NAMSPM2 p.124; UNH; UMAINE-7039 ('The sap should never come into contact with the barrel or tank') · verified

  2. 2

    Size by evaporation: gph needed = taps x 1 gal / hours available. Maker-stated rates are PRACTITIONER figures; extension tables (2x4 flue = 15 gph) are for conventional flue-pan rigs and overstate hobby flat pans (UMaine: catering pans 1-2 gph each; Half Pint 24x36 = 4-6 gph).

    UNH; NAMSPM2 p.125; UMAINE-7039 · verified

  3. 3

    Flat pan = batch boiling; divided (baffled) pan = continuous flow with a syrup end; flue pans add heating surface and rate.

    CORNELL-NB p.97-98; USU 044 · verified

  4. 4

    Depth: keep 1.5-2 in of sap; high sides (6-8 in) reduce boil-overs; a valve lets you draw off without lifting hot pans.

    UMAINE-7036; UNH · verified

  5. 5

    Thinner stainless (20-22 ga) is normal for welded pans; weld warranty and pan gauge are the verifiable quality signals.

    NAMSPM2 p.124 ('most welded pans use 20 or 22 gauge') · verified

  6. 6

    Propane works but 'can get costly quickly'; wood needs ~1/2 cord per 50 taps.

    UMAINE-7039; UNH · verified

Products

16 evaporators and pans for hobbyists we looked at

Specs are from the maker's or dealer's page; 'unknown' means it wasn't stated. Prices are the dealer's on the date shown; Amazon prices aren't shown here because Amazon's rules require live data.

VEVOR

VEVOR Maple Syrup Evaporator Pan, 11.2 Gal, 24 x 18 x 6 in, 304 stainless, 1 valve

size:
24 x 18 x 6 in
material:
'0.06"/1.5mm thickened 304 stainless steel', 'TIG full-welding'
weight:
16.1 lb
valve:
1
  • ⚠ Food-grade is the seller's claim; no NSF statement; no evaporation rate
  • ⚠ Amazon dept 'Industrial & Scientific'

Price on Amazon

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at amazon.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, material, weight

unbranded (Bascom)

11"x19"x6" Stainless Syrup Pan with Handles (no fittings)

size:
11 x 19 x 6 in
material:
stainless
fittings:
none - tip to empty

$106at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size

Vermont Evaporator Company

Seedling Evaporator Barrel Stove Kit (door, legs, stack collar for a 55-gal barrel)

material:
heavy-duty cast iron
includes:
door with ceramic braid insulation, leg and stack-collar assemblies, hardware
  • ⚠ Barrel not included (new 55-gal steel drum $371 on same site)

$165at vermontevaporator.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at vermontevaporator.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, material

Vermont Evaporator Company

Seedling Evaporator Pan (17 x 23 in, baffled, continuous flow)

size:
17 x 23 in
material:
stainless, baffled, lead-free welds and lead-free pour-off valve
thermometer port:
for 6 in maple thermometer
  • ⚠ Evaporation rate not stated on page
  • ⚠ Gauge not stated

$299at vermontevaporator.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at vermontevaporator.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, material

Smoky Lake Maple Products

Flat Pan w/ Valve, Nipple, Plug & Level Assist (standard sizes incl. 2 x 4 ft)

gauge:
22 ga mirror-finish stainless
valve:
stainless ball valve
warranty:
lifetime limited on TIG welds
  • ⚠ Size-dependent price

$390at smokylakemaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard

View at smokylakemaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, gauge, warranty

Vermont Evaporator Company

Sapling Evaporator Pan only (30 x 20 x 6 in)

gauge:
18 ga stainless
welds:
lead-free
valve:
pour-off
thermometer port:
6 in

$399at vermontevaporator.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard

View at vermontevaporator.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, gauge, welds

Smoky Lake Maple Products

Continuous Flow (Divided) Flat Pan

gauge:
22 ga mirror-finish stainless
warranty:
lifetime limited on TIG welds
  • ⚠ Maker claim that 22 ga heats faster than thicker steel is PRACTITIONER

$620at smokylakemaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard, Small sugarhouse

View at smokylakemaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, gauge

Smoky Lake Maple Products

StarCat Evaporator w/ Flat Pan (16 x 30 x 7.5 in pan)

taps:
3-30 (maker)
evaporation rate:
5-8+ gph (maker; '6.5 gph' in maker's cold-day test)
pan:
16 x 30 x 7.5 in, mirror-finish stainless, 2 in deep fill = 4.1 gal
warranty:
'Lifetime Limited Warranty on TIG Welds'
made in:
Hilbert, Wisconsin (maker)
  • ⚠ Configured price varies
  • ⚠ Rate = PRACTITIONER

$1,320.47at smokylakemaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at smokylakemaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, pan, warranty

Vermont Evaporator Company

Sapling Evaporator (barrel-style wood-fired, with 30 x 20 in baffled pan)

taps:
'Designed for 5-50 taps'
evaporation rate:
'4-8 gallons per hour' (maker)
pan:
30 x 20 x 6 in, 18 ga stainless, lead-free welds, pour-off valve
  • ⚠ Rate is a maker claim (PRACTITIONER)

$1,527at vermontevaporator.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard

View at vermontevaporator.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, pan

Tom's Welding (via Bascom)

2'x3' Tom's Welding Hobby Evaporator with Welded Pans (3-section pan + preheater)

taps:
15-50 (dealer)
pan:
3-section stainless, 1/2 in draw-off fitting, 1/4 in thermometer fitting
needs:
60 half firebrick, cement, 6 in stack/elbow, valves, thermometer sold separately
  • ⚠ Evaporation rate not stated
  • ⚠ Significant extra cost: brick, stack, valve

$1,875at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, pan

CDL

2'x3' CDL Evap-O-Grill (hobby evaporator w/ flat pan and grill rack)

taps:
'Ideal for up to 50 taps'
evaporation rate:
'up to 7 GPH' (maker/dealer)
pan:
2 x 3 ft stainless with 3/4 in stainless ball valve
arch:
cast-iron arch and fire grates; 'No bricking needed'
  • ⚠ Rate = PRACTITIONER

$2,125at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, pan

Leader / H2O Innovation

Leader 1/2 Pint Evaporator Complete (24 x 33 in arch, 3-section welded stainless syrup pan + preheater)

arch:
18 ga galvanized (firebox only), cast iron door, steel legs, grates
pan:
3-section stainless welded + preheater pan
needs:
32 full + 63 half brick + cement, 6 in stack, 1/2 in valve, thermometer
evaporation rate:
not on dealer page; UMaine 7039 says a 24x36 '1/2 pint' class evaporator 'Boils 4 to 6 gallons of sap per hour'
  • ⚠ Rate from extension (UMaine) for the class, not this model

$2,150at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, arch, pan

Smoky Lake Maple Products

Dauntless Evaporator with Divided Pan (20 x 48 in pan)

taps:
10-55 (maker)
evaporation rate:
9-11+ gph (maker)
pan:
20 x 48 in, 2 in deep fill = 8.3 gal, mirror-finish stainless
warranty:
Lifetime limited on TIG welds
made in:
Hilbert, WI
  • ⚠ Rate = PRACTITIONER

$2,175.70at smokylakemaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard, Small sugarhouse

View at smokylakemaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, pan

CDL

18"x48" CDL Evaporator w/ Stainless Arch and Stack (2-section TIG-welded flat pan)

taps:
25-75 (dealer)
pan:
2-section TIG welded flat pan with draw-off valve
arch:
stainless, grates, cast iron door, base stack
needs:
55 half brick, 5 insulation boards, cement
  • ⚠ Out of stock when read; rate not stated

$2,430at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard, Small sugarhouse

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, pan

Lapierre

16"x48" Lapierre Propane Evaporator w/ Welded raised-flue pans and three 65,000 BTU burners

fuel:
propane, 3 x 65,000 BTU
pans:
welded raised flue
  • ⚠ No rate or tap range on page

$3,865at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Small sugarhouse

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, fuel

Leader / H2O Innovation

2'x6' Leader WSE Evaporator w/ Raised Flue Pan

taps:
75-250 (dealer)
material:
TIG welded 20 ga bright annealed stainless
pans:
4 ft raised flue + 2 ft 3-compartment syrup pan
needs:
14 insulation boards, 109 half + 16 full brick, vermiculite
  • ⚠ Upper edge of scope

$9,310at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Small sugarhouse

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, taps, material

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