ready...set....

[lafite]

Boy..what a day!

Evaporator is up on its blocks in its permanent spot in the new sugar house. Drilling holes in fire door to attach a ceramic blanket. took all the bricks out and put a layer of ceramic blanket in.

Custom ash pan is being made early next week.

First line of taps go in tomorrow morning. I don't expect much this week but I'm hoping to be boiling by next weekend!!

65386538

[lafite]

ready...set...wait!!!

[325abn]

Whats a hybrid pan look like?

[adk1]

what are you using to attach the blanket to the doors. I have been contemplating this with my older Leader 2x6. everything else has 2" thick ceramic blanket throughout but my doors are still uninsulated. they get cherry red

[Wallopt]

Did you make the evaporator yourself? I put in 27 taps last week had a few nice days then the freeze!
Jim

[lafite]

I'm using stainless screws with large stainless washers to withstand the heat for the door. The evaporator is a 2x4 purchased from Andersons but the new pan is from Smokey Lake maple. 6609

looks like a huge storm for Friday. 2 gravity lines up and 2 to go today. I'll be happy not to have to drag the ladder through the snow like 2 years ago!

[killingworthmaple]

Looks like we have to wait a few more days, I was ready to tap tomorrow but they changed the forcast and looks like it's gonna be this weekend.

Nathan

[lafite]

i'm trying to finish tapping today and tomorrow...much easier than walking through a foot+ of snow

[lafite]

all gravity lines are up and dripping! I don't plan to start collecting until next week. a minor storm to deal with first...

finishing touches in the shack and we should be set for boiling next week! let's hope that we don't get the full 2-4 feet of snow some are forecasting!

just received my new refractometer today...sap is at 2.5% :)

[lafite]

the shack with the heat stack installed this morning. gravity lines are tight and I hope the snow doesn't bring them down!66406641

[LukeDawg11]

Looking good Steve!

[lafite]

35 inches here. Holy snow!!! Getting out to the taps next week will be interesting...at least I bought snow shoes 2 years ago!

hope everyone survived the snow. It's not really bad if you have all you need. My kids and dog even went out to dig tunnels in the 5 foot drifts.

steve

[cpmaple]

glad to see u make it through the storm didnt get much here in northeastern ny about 8" but still enough to walk in put some mains back up today till one broke and got my arm that was a sign to quit for the day.

[lafite]

collected 90 gallons over the last two days. I boiled it down yesterday and sweetened the pan. looking to draw off hopefully tomorrow. What a difference going from batch to continuous...I thought for sure I was going to draw off last night!

Who needs cross-fit when you are a sugar maker??

steve

[killingworthmaple]

The storm slowed me down only got in 110 taps in the last couple of days collected 135 yesterday tapping some more today.

Nathan

[lafite]

120 gallons collected over the last two days. 85 gallons already sweetened in the pan. I haven't even tapped all that I can yet! had to travel yesterday and today and thanks to my good friend for collecting while I was away.

fire starts at 8 am tomorrow....

[lafite]

4 gallons finished waiting to go through the filter press. half of last year's production in the first 3 days of the season!

[lafite]

good run yesterday and a great run today! I'll be starting the fire early tomorrow....

I'm so glad I have the new shack. no more boiling in the rain!

[Burnt sap]

Same type of arch I made a few years ago. It must get pretty foggy in that lil building when she starts rolling:lol:

[lafite]

the fog goes above the head level. we are working on solutions on the fly but I can tell you one thing though...tomorrow I'll be boiling down 85 gallons in a comfortable, dry (damp) setting!!

Looking at the radar, I am ecstatic to be indoors!

We will be redoing the cupola in the off season.