First Boil Today

[frjeff]

Newb, tiny backyard op here but had great fun today boiling down 5 gallons raw sap into a bit less than a quart of "sweet sap". Somewhat darker tan than the clear sap and much sweeter. Not sure how dark the finished syrup will be.

Using a 12x18x6 restaurant pan on old turkey cooker.

Have the sweet sap in the freezer in SS covered pan to add to the next 4-5 gallon of run. Will perhaps finish on stove when that's evap. down enough to yield a couple of 12oz bottles or so (I hope).

Somehow, I'm hungry for pancakes! :)

Fr, Jeff+

[DonMcJr]

Very cool! Ive been boiling since 12:30 pm on my Leader Half Pint Evaporator and I have 75 gallons to boil down! This is only my 2nd year. ..watch out its addictive!

[frjeff]

Man, you have 75 gallons on 31 taps!

I've had only about 5 gallon on my 8 taps since Thursday.

Perhaps things are flowing more in SE MI compared to here in Oscoda, MI.

Jeff

[slammer3364]

just came in from sweeting pan had about 45 gal on 90 taps snow and cold here yet, first nice day we had was today Good Luck to all

[DonMcJr]

75 gallons was from the last 4 days. ..yesterday I got 38 of it...and I have 41 Taps...

[Run Forest Run!]

I'm trying to plow through 77 litres of sap (that's 20 gallons for my American friends) on my first boil today. The second turkey fryer that I got for Christmas wouldn't work! So, I'm down to using only one fryer. Hopefully I can get it replaced or fixed tomorrow.

I've been boiling since 1:30 this afternoon and have a while to go. Here's a pic of my set-up illuminated by one of my solar lights. Having a ball!

7305

[DonMcJr]

I started my 3rd boil 33 minutes ago and its already at 200 F. Got 72 gallons today so I figured I'd just do a back to back boil...

Just took this pic...

[Run Forest Run!]

Don, why don't you put on a pot of coffee for those of us who'll be joining you in a midnight boil?

[bowhunter]

Don,

How did the new wood splitter do? I assume the smaller wood helped on the boil rate?

[DonMcJr]

Wood splitter works like a charm à im almost out and need to split more and then probally buy a cord and split it smaller cause theres no time to get the chainsaw out and its not seasoned...

Karen. ..as hot as it gets in here its Mt. Dew and occasionally I fill my glass with fresh sap from the gravity tube line! Come on by if ya left now id probally still be boiling when ya get here lol! :lol:

[TreeTapper2]

We had no flow here today. Last night temps were in the 40's. But did take in 23 gal yesterday along with 33 the day before.
Will start our second boil bright and early tomorrow.

[Run Forest Run!]

Well I couldn't finish my first boil down to syrup. The clock has run me out and I'm exhausted. Still have sap that didn't get into the pan.

I've put the 'almost syrup' into the fridge but, of course, my evening wasn't complete until I dumped some of it down the kitchen cupboard doors and onto the floor. :rolleyes:

[DonMcJr]

Quitter! LoL! Im half way through my 72 gallons and had one draw off!

Mt. Dew instead of coffee! :cool: