January Journal

[PATheron]

Delbert- Like the sap filter, nice touch. Theron

[Thiems sugarshack]

I have the wood shed all done just need to fill it with wood hopefully this weekend.I will be finishing my ash box with a drawer.This should keep all the ash away from my wood floor.It is all steel that will be bolted to the arch when it fills up with ash just pull it out and empty it.Got the arch rebuilt last weekend should be able to set it all up this weekend.Im running out of time so I need to get moving.Anyone out there tap yet?

[Monster Maples]

Got everything picked up in the sugarhouse and cleaned everything up today. All that is left is clean the head tank and plumb back up to the evaporator. It was too early when I finished up and seasonably warm (25 deg.), so I thought I would head to the woods and add the rest of my lats for this year. Got half way down the mainline and saw a bunch of lats down. Looks as if the tree rats were having a pretty good feast. :mad: Well, ran the lats that I wanted to, came home and made a bunch of new drops up. Tomorrow I will head out and start to fix the damaged lines and put drops in. Time is ticking.

[twobears1224]

thanks ron..tonight,i,ve been down in the wood shop building a sap filter basket for my storage tank...i,ll let the sap dump out of the releaser into that and then pump it up into my head tank thu the whole house filter.

delbert

[3rdgen.maple]

What a great day. It was a nice warm 36 and spent the day in the woods plowing out tractor paths and sugarhouse. Then spent the rest hanging more mainline and placing an order with Bascoms to finish up the vac setup. Replaced the idler sprockets and sepentine belt on my truck also. Bearings were making a whining noise and showed some slop. Got called into work at 8pm ran to the city and on the way home I hear some bad noise. Upper idler spun right off the bearing and basically blew up along with the new belt. I hate NAPA always have and yet I bought the crap there. Stupid. They better refund my money.

[red maples]

More snow today. got everything done just time for a bunch of wire to short out and melt together in the tractor. Isn't that awe-some!!! Well gonna call john deere see if they sell a completed wire set-up with plugs and stuff if not I'll be running wires later today. yippee!!! stupid safety switch on engaging lever pinched a wire. Stupid safety switches anyway.

[Maplewalnut]

Taking a couple days off from maple and jumping on a snowmobile. Hope to put on a couple hundred miles the next two days! Then the last minute push begins

[Dill]

Got the roof on the woodshed yesterday, now I just have to fill it. And probably cut a door between the shed and the evaporator. But I have a feeling I'm just going to get bored while boiling and attack the wall separating the 2 with a chainsaw.
The water pump on my bucket tractor is on the way out and fast. Good thing the warranty expired last month.

[Fishgill]

Today I snow blowed again :o. Yesterday I got the evaporator bricked. Now all that is left to do is install the chimney and do a test boil.

[802maple]

Sargeant Pierce,
I'm packing up for operation mushroom cloud. Loading the family huckster and headed out around 10 a.m. and will be arriving at target sight at about 3:30 p,m.

General Masterson

[Randy Brutkoski]

I take it you and Theron are going to test fire Pensylvania's new nuclear power plant. Hope all goes well. Arent you guys going to need Mike C's help and 2 cents down there.

[PATheron]

Mike is our tech support man. He can sure come if he wants. Sounds good Jerry. Thats about the time I get home from work. I like that, operation "operation mushroom cloud". Weve got it all plumbed up for you. Theron

[802maple]

Operatives told General Christian that he had to stay home to protect the home front.
Randy I heard you may have met my son the otherday. He works for Shelf Tech and Campbells soup company.


I take it you and Theron are going to test fire Pensylvania's new nuclear power plant. Hope all goes well. Arent you guys going to need Mike C's help and 2 cents down there.

[red maples]

Thats good you don't want all the department heads in 1 place "just in case"!!!!:)

[nymapleguy607]

Theron
When that thing fire up I probly will be able to hear the roar and see the smoke from horseheads. The thing will look like a pulling tractor at the fair :).......... Well that explains the oil barges moving up the river

[HAHA I 1]

Sitting here watching Pawn Stars with nothing to do and thought when was the date that I tapped in last year so I pulled out my logbook.

I tap my trees 1/22/10 they ran for 1 week before the big freeze up in Feb. The BIG FREEZE lasted for about 3 weeks and I noted that I started getting sap again 2/19/10. The trees ran about 2 weeks and I pulled them 3/12/10.

So I had 4 weeks of sap flowing last year. The sap averaged about 1.25%, man that was terriable! If I included the 1 gal that I lost to the stove I made just over 5 gals! compared to the 10 gals in 2009 and they were all on buckets!

So I am thinking about the weather that we are having and how this Jan is like a real normal Jan. We have not had a single warm spell yet. And I have not had a single day that I have sat and wondered if I shouldn't be out tapping trees. So come Feb we should get our 1st warm up and I am hoping that it will be a sign of a normal year weather wise. For use down here a normal year weather wise we start getting above temps in the beginning of Feb and it sure looks like that I may just get them!!!

That same thing happened last year. We had a run in mid January that we missed, then it was cold for too long. We only had about 3 weeks of sap. Normally we can get 5 weeks. We tapped early this year (only 29 taps, though) and have 2 gallons of syrup already off of 2 small runs. We are hitting the woods this afternoon to tap another 70.

[Randy Brutkoski]

Yeah, Jerry that was me that your son talked to. Small world. I see him in Hannafords in Rutland quite often. But my question is, why is he working,he should be living off of you. Mike told me you are worth millions.

[maple flats]

I worked in the bush today, setting a new branch line. Will finish it tomorrow and then add some new laterals. Still trying to add 150 in this bush, so far I only got 100, from 400-500, more tomorrow. I see at least 25-30, might be more. I also found a few more in another section near the top of my original main, less than 100' from the line. Not sure how I missed them before. Also going to start building my sap ladders. I have a question for those who have used the 2 pipe ladder. I see the star method loops above the top line and the sap falls into the higher line, do you also make a loop and enter from the top similar to the star method or do you just suck off the lower and enter the upper at the bottom of the upper line?

[collinsmapleman2012]

been workin on a new bush at school, should put us around 5000 this year. put up main wire and side tied it, its kinda interesting working 10 ft. in a tree with a rotten wooden ladder... oh, the excitement :rolleyes:

[ennismaple]

Also going to start building my sap ladders. I have a question for those who have used the 2 pipe ladder. I see the star method loops above the top line and the sap falls into the higher line, do you also make a loop and enter from the top similar to the star method or do you just suck off the lower and enter the upper at the bottom of the upper line?

We just enter the upper main at the bottom. It might make sense to come in form above and get a siphon effect but I haven't tried it.

[waysidemaple]

Got home from school tonight and decided it was time to bite the bullet. Filled the head tank with water and started the new evap. Spent 4 hours watching water boil and it was so much fun. New sap pump worked great as well to fill the head tank. Only problem I ran into was a leaking preheater, Ill just take that out for this year and mess with it this summer. To much left to do to tinker with that. It did just fine without it tonight. Im so excited to get tapping now and draw off my first syrup on it.

[PATheron]

Wayside- We should be in the sugarhouse most of the day tomarrow. Were thinking may be firing up the evaperator around lunch time maybe. Tomarrows the big day, Operation Mushroom Cloud. Then next week Im putting out releasers and its go time. Then its going to be "operation destroy Brians Averages". Theron

[Monster Maples]

Were thinking may be firing up the evaperator around lunch time maybe. Tomarrows the big day, Operation Mushroom Cloud. Theron
Good information to know. I will keep my eye to the sky in that direction. I will throw the wife in the bomb shelter around 11 or so to be safe, wait, the closest thing to a bomb shelter I have is the septic tank!:lol: Oh well. Maybe she will come out smellin like a rose:D

[waysidemaple]

Theron. Sounds good to me I'm going to work in the sugar house in the morning and shoot for stopping in over your way early afternoonish. Can't wait to see the reactor.

[maple flats]

Got home from school tonight and decided it was time to bite the bullet. Filled the head tank with water and started the new evap. Spent 4 hours watching water boil and it was so much fun. New sap pump worked great as well to fill the head tank. Only problem I ran into was a leaking preheater, Ill just take that out for this year and mess with it this summer. To much left to do to tinker with that. It did just fine without it tonight. Im so excited to get tapping now and draw off my first syrup on it.

Are you sure it was leaking? They sweat like crazy once you have steam. Was it a leak or just condensation?

[maple flats]

Heading into the bush again, about 8:00 am. The mad rush is on. Still trying to be ready to tap 3 weeks from today. Lots left to do, still adding laterals, need to build 2 sap ladders, make a motor mount for gas engine on vac pump, plumb tank, reclean tanks and evaporator, get truck checked at mechanics for any issues, etc., etc., etc. I better get going NOW!

[waysidemaple]

Yeah I'm sure it was leaking. Water was coming out of it as I filled the pans.

[twobears1224]

i,ve been in my little woods stringing wire for mains..i,am half done.i also started setting up my main storage tank at the sugarhouse.i hope to finish the wire tomorrow and start putting up tubing to the trees.

delbert

[Dennis H.]

I finally got the chance to scrub down the evap. I picked up some brushes at Lowes yesterday and turn them into a flue pan brush.
I found some long skinny brushes that you would use for cleaning the grills under your frig. They are about 18" long. So I bent them into a triangle shape and went to town on the evap. worked good for only $3.50

I also found a brush there that had a nice wood handle on it that I think will work good for getting the under side of the flue pan.

Besides that I started to work on my TAXES! Oh yeah!
Trying to get them finished because it looks like I may be tapping down here with in a week no more than 2 weeks.

So it is "Go Baby Go" time..

[maple flats]

I was setting level on a new branch line while adding side ties and then I added about 40 new taps on new laterals, that section is very steep, like 45-55% incline, wears on these old legs with all the snow, too steep for snowshoes but toomuch snow without. After that I was reworking a section where the new branch line was run to reduce the tap/line. I will finish that tomorrow and then hope to do my sap ladders.

[maple flats]

I'm trying to be ready to tap 3 weeks from today, far too much to get everything I want, but the season always happens somehow.

[red maples]

Finally got in some Ice fishing in today with the kids. I wanted to take them earlier but since they are still on the small side It was a bit cold for them and I want it to be enjoyable for them!!!

Will be in the sugarhouse tomorrow!!!!

[peacemaker]

well found a place to boil needs to be finished like no windows or doors no stack hole good cleaning out and a ton of snow removal but comes with a second 2x6 and tanks and buckets

[tuckermtn]

sounds do-able Peacemaker. glad you found a spot to make some steam this season.

[peacemaker]

me too ... was starting to twitch a little ... it should only take a few days to get it ready to boil i have a long list of friends that own me some time here or there lol
have 6 cord of wood to move lol

[Farmboy]

Stringing laterals with 3 feet of snow on the ground is a joy. I have one more lateral to put up tomorrow and my neibors woods is done. Then I need to put the evaporator back together. Mabey ill do that tomorrow. Took care of 4 squirrels with my pellet gun today. I still have my other neibors woods to put up tubing in and a farm down the street. But that farm will probably get buckets this year and I will put up tubing this summer.

[PATheron]

Operation Mushroom Cloud big success. Bunch of work but got it running good. Got a few minor leaks to tinker up but nothing serious at all. Seemed to work real good. All I can say about watching it run is "wow". Ive never really been around anything that powerfull before. We ran it for about 20 minutes and by that time I went outside and the steam was pretty incredable and I looked at the flue pan float box and the float was running basically wide open. I had a 55 gallon drum on its side and the condensate lines from the hood were running into it and the 3/4 inch copper had water just pouring out of it. I looked in the flue pan and everything was raging. I had Jerry shut it down and went over to the drum and in 20 minutes max it was probly 2/3rds full of just condensate water from a dead start. It was something to see. Im going to bed very happy thinking no matter what sap I got, piece of cake. Gonna be a lot more fun now with no more concentrating sap around the clock anymore. Cant wait for sap. Theron

[Dennis H.]

Good Hear the special OP was successful Theron.
The only thing is that I was figuring tapping in a week but with all that heat coming down from the north I think the trees are waking early!!

[Sugarmaker]

Nice and sunny here but still cold. Will start setting up tubing next weekend, with mike helping out. Heading out to get some new boots and maybe a steak. I did order some parts for my ginned up cream machine from McMaster Carr today. Just need to get a new gear and get that back together for the season.
Hope things are good out there!
I have at least 40-50 taps to add at new locations this year. Big large crown hard maples at two spots and younger hard maples at another spot.
All systems look to be go from North Western PA.
Regards,
Chris

[maple flats]

I finished hooking laterals to a new branch line, reducing the number of taps as needed to be in the 4-8 tap range. In the section near the upper end of the branch I have a few new taps to add on 2 or 3 new laterals (up to maybe 12-14 more taps. Then I need to have my machinist make a new motor mount for the vacuum pump. While he is making that I will be making 2 sap ladders, I'm doing the 2 pipe type. I hope to get the pump in place next weekend and start the plumbing on it, as well as a simple roof over it. Time is getting short. I would not have gotten as much done as I did without the help of Yeast Pimp, thanks Tim!!
Dave

[Dill]

Well I made a big enough woodshed 2 bundles of slabs made 2 1/3 rows.
Looks like serious snow for wens, I really have no idea how I'm going to pull off the planned expansion for feb. The bush I want to tap is in a serious hole, and the snow lasts forever, so the good news is it will really run late. I'm thinking buds and snowbanks at the same time.

[red maples]

Yes sir!!! little snow tues. big snow wed. 1-2 ft again!!! Geez man we aren't gonna see grass until june!!!

Got the wire harness for the tractor and rewired that this morning actually went very well. its so nice when that happens.

rePlumbed the Vacuum to the releaser. done.

rePlumbed the head tank to the evap with 1-1/4 pipe.

Started to cleanup and organize the sugarhouse.

All is left is to re plumb the pump from the storage tanks to the head tank and that should be it for the sugarhouse.

The usual pre season stuff cleaning everything flooding the evap with water to get all the dust out and stuff and and stocking with wood. cleaning tanks etc.

In the woods just have to finish about 10 drops, put in 2 more saddles, a 3/4 inch valve at the star sap ladder and put the tubing in that star ladder shouldn't be too bad I have just been putting it off a little because its not easy getting around in the woods. Probably take care of tomorrow before we get that next blast of snow!!!

[Farmboy]

Finished up one neibors woods today. Now all I need it a tank for there. I cleaned up some stuff in the sugar shack today too. Also I started putting my evaporator back together. I'll finish that up this week and then next week I'll borrow my buddies snow shoes and put up tubing in my other niebors woods and at the farm down the street. I need to get going so I'm ready for the season.

[Rhino]

Had our annual work weekend, Went to the sugar shack/hunting cabin on Friday and got the cabin heated up, plowed snow where we pile our wood, then put 425 bags on holders in the late evening. Saturday and sunday my 2 brothers joined in and we cut pallets and put the rest of the bags on the holders (575). Ended with a mountain of cut wood/pallets. (hope we run out, that would mean happy times). 3rd weekend in Feb. will be our next work weekend with washing equipment and putting evaporater together. Got our new middle pan this past week, our old stainless pan ( 5' x 5' ) only had small ripple like flues, maybe 7 feet of surface area. Our new pan has 7 inch cone shaped flues and 24' of surface area. Should up the gph big time. Good amount of snow in the woods, no frost.

[Amber Gold]

Dill, with the good crew we can git 'r dun in a few weekends. With it being in a hole you can get away with tapping it later?? so that gives us some more time. I guess as we get it done, tap in each mainline and we may just be working in the woods during the season addig more taps.

I spent Saturday at Bellows Falls and got a lot out of it. Great topics and looking forward to going again next year. Sunday was a bust for getting sugaring stuff done, but I pick up my hood w/ preheater from Bill Mason. Looks great and can't wait to get everything mounted.

[Maplewalnut]

802Maple stopped by on his way back north after operation mushroom cloud completed out at Therons. He gave the 'ALL CLEAR' that the RO is plumbed correctly and ready to concentrate some sap. Just about ready for sap. Have to set releaser and clean bulk tanks one last time. Couple more tweaks here and there and bring on the sap. I am not looking forward to tapping buckets with all the snow on the ground this year, luckily most are roadsides access is pretty good.

[red maples]

Last one for January!!

OK my legs are shot. Started by running 1.5 miles at the gym this morning. Snow shoed for an hour with the wife mid morning took her back off the trail and of course I had to lead and break in a new trail..never easy. Rested a bit had some lunch and saw a coopers hawk take out titmouse at the bird feeder that was exciting!! there is nothing left just an 18 inch cicle of feathers.

Headed back out on shoe shoes to get the rest of my little stuff done on the tubing!!!

Then accross the street to put up the tubing in my neighbor's woods. goona add in a few more taps over there maybe next week. Maybe another 10-15 on gravity or so see how much tubing I have left.

Alomost ready!!!!

[802maple]

Actually is working to support my foolish habits like sugaring. LOL
Yeah, Jerry that was me that your son talked to. Small world. I see him in Hannafords in Rutland quite often. But my question is, why is he working,he should be living off of you. Mike told me you are worth millions.

[802maple]

I had a great time down in PA seeing Jim's new evaporator, meeting Maplewalnut finally, (that is a great operation you have there) keep up the good work, and then great conversations with Sarah after the meals she served to us. Theron is one lucky guy to have a wife like her, to put up with him, she has Sainthood in her future. and oh yeah there was also Theron and 4 wheeling to the cull bush. I thought maybe we were going to die. After working with him my new saying might just be, "we probably won't die". RC and Dave were fun to work with and of course the glue to the operation, Therons dad, Gary. Thanks everyone it was fun.

[Yellzee]

worked hard Saturday and got the siding on the shack addition. Just need to throw up the ceiling to keep in some heat on the new side..decided to use the 1.5 inch foil foam underneath the ceiling, hoping the mice wont chew the foil side.... unlike Theron i don't think I'lll be able to sell any to the local utility.

out of the blue flue is hitting this evening... hope it's a mild bout.

[Dennis H.]

Watch out guys and ladies, I just read in the PA section that Theron is going for it, and a week before he predicted.

So anyone that is north of him sorry your luck you sap is now being sucked south into PA!!

[waysidemaple]

Spent the moring washing the tanks, thats all done. Going to was the drawoff pails after lunch and the few buckets I use around the house. Hopefully, ill get the evaporator cleaned today but that might not happen till tomorrow. All the lines are tight and ready to go. Still need to run temporary lights in the sugar house and put in the sounter along the side wall. I guess ill be as ready as I can be when the weather breaks. It's sleeting pretty good out right now.