Building a Backyard Maple Sap Dehydrator

Clear any debris from the spot you want to place the dehydrator in your backyard. It is important to remove anything flammable that's nearby. You probably should have at least a 5-foot square of cleared ground to avoid any accidental fires.

Build a 3-foot-long wall of fire bricks. The wall should be two bricks high. You can change the length of the wall to make a larger or smaller dehydrator. The 3-foot length is a reasonable size for most home maple sap dehydration.

Build a 2-foot wall of fire bricks perpendicular to one end of the first wall you made. This wall should be two bricks high as well. You can adjust the width of the dehydrator, as well. The walls should meet at one corner, forming an "L" shape.

Build a second wall parallel to the first wall; they should be the exact same length. The dehydrator enclosure should now appear as a "U" shape with a flat bottom.

Place the metal grate on top of the fire brick wall.

Use the tin shears to cut a hole in the metal grate next to the back wall of the dehydrator. The hole should be large enough to fit the stove pipe.

Cut a hole in the bottom of the stove pipe. It should be a little larger then fist-sized. The exact size and shape do not matter much. You just need to create an opening for the smoke to enter the pipe.

Insert the stove pipe into the hole in the grate. Press down on the pipe to drive the bottom into the dirt. The dirt should hold the stove pipe upright. If you have trouble getting the pipe into the dirt, you can dig up the ground under the stove pipe with a shovel.

Place the stainless steel pans on top of the grate. These trays are where you pour the maple sap to dehydrate it.

Place the firewood in the hole under the grate. You light the wood here when you want to use the dehydrator. You can add more wood through the open side of the dehydrator when it is in use.