Has anybody boiled yet.

[Germanmaples]

Hi I live in German Newyork and have a 30"x 10' evaporator that I just purchased this winter. I built a shack and am running my lines. I cut a half dead maple down and it bled sap like crazy. The local maple store said somebody tested the sugar content and it was 1. I have a tester but dont know how to use it. Does it work just like a hydrometer? If anybody knows I would appreciate the help.

[Ausable]

Germanmaples - When You say tester - Do You mean a hydrometer scaled to check the sugar in solution of maple sap or something else? The Weather in my area has been just about perfect for tapping - freeze at night and thaw during the day - But - the normal tapping date in my area is normally about the 1st of March. I would like to tap ----but - I know better - Winter will suddenly arrive and the temperatures will plummet -------lol---maybe. Ahhhhhhhhh! What to do - what to do? Guess I better wait-----------------Hey if you do have a hydrometer scaled to sap testing (sugar in solution) use it like a syrup hydrometer and check the scale on it - it should give the sugar in percent ---like 1% etc s sugar or black maple will test as high as 3%+ at times. There are many types of hydrometers for checking various solutions ---have used them in checking batteries - sugar in solution in wine making etc ---they are just weighted and scaled different depending of what You are testing ----Mike----