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OneLegJohn
03-02-2011, 04:19 PM
I forgot to turn my vac pump on today. I ended up with 300 gallons of sap on a cold 32F sunny day. How much sap would I have if my vacuum was running at my normal 25"?
Sugarmaker
03-02-2011, 09:00 PM
Nate,
Maybe double? Wow !
I think you are just a little farther south and got just a little warmer than us. We got no run today.
Hey thanks for calling me yesterday. I was really down and your call really perked me up on the repair of the pan. Always nice to talk with you. BTW got the pan fixed and finished boiling last night about 9.
Regards,
Chris
KenWP
03-02-2011, 09:31 PM
The pump could have packed it in and you would have had to fix it also.One can not look in the past too much.
OneLegJohn
03-02-2011, 10:08 PM
Hey Chris, it is good guys like you that make this fun! We need to continue the filter press conversation. You are on to something.
OneLegJohn
03-02-2011, 10:13 PM
The pump could have packed it in and you would have had to fix it also.One can not look in the past too much.

Agreed on the looking back part. However, I wasn't all that truthful about forgetting. My Dad didn't think it would run. I'm trying to settle future arguments as to when to run the vacuum pump. I say, when there is even a CHANCE it gets to 33 we turn it on. Trying to settle a debate more than anything. I figure we lost out on 300 gallons of sap...
sapman
03-02-2011, 10:23 PM
I did the same thing. Turned it off last night at 6, temp was soon 25. Back up to 30 at bedtime, 35 when I got up! Didn't turn it on til about 10 cause of a job, and sap was coming in good. Froze back up at noon. Too bad.
Haynes Forest Products
03-02-2011, 10:46 PM
On some of the worst days I have gone out to breakfast and Lolly Gagged and when I got out to the bush things were running in on gravity:mad: I have others that wait till the ice in the road is melted before they run their pumps. I now get up early and let it go regardless of the weather.
sapman
03-03-2011, 07:29 PM
One issue I've been having is sap getting sucked into the vacuum line, because of the slush. Then the coolant tank foams up bad. One problem I can see with starting it up before the ice is all thawed, unless monitored.
Thad Blaisdell
03-03-2011, 07:38 PM
One issue I've been having is sap getting sucked into the vacuum line, because of the slush. Then the coolant tank foams up bad. One problem I can see with starting it up before the ice is all thawed, unless monitored.

You need a different releaser.



300 gallons.... you may have gotten most of your sap from thawing in the lines. Probably ran some but not as much as you might think.
PATheron
03-03-2011, 08:01 PM
If its an electric pump you should have it on if there is any chance its over 32 degrees tomarrow. My stuff cranked for about 4 hours the other day and it never even got over freezing I dont believe. It was just the sun. It will run when you never think it would and that one surprise run may pay for running the pump for the season or a real long time. Theron
Russell Lampron
03-04-2011, 12:38 PM
If the sun is shining I turn my pump on when it is 27 or 28 degrees. The trees are much warmer and the lines will usually thaw enough to get a little sap.
SSFLLC
03-04-2011, 12:56 PM
Hey Russ you running it today. No work or is Richard turning it on.
maple flats
03-05-2011, 06:13 AM
If the sun is shining I turn my pump on when it is 27 or 28 degrees. The trees are much warmer and the lines will usually thaw enough to get a little sap.

I do the same. Run it anytime there is a possibility of sap. I have gotten sap flow on brighter cloudy days even at 27-28 degrees and if it gets brighter out it can flow good.