Sap depth.

[tonka]

How much of a difference in GPH can there be if you had 1 1/2" of sap compared to 4 inches of sap in a flat bottom pan?

[jake22si]

quite a bit and depends on a lot

[shane hickey]

I would say 30% or more depends on conditions

[Michael Greer]

From what I understand, the length of time spent cooking down has some effect on color...the longer, the darker. There are other considerations though; We experimented with sap depth over the last two years, and found that a very shallow pan (3/4") would indeed make syrup faster, but would go from syrup to scorched faster than you could react. This year we're running at about 2-1/4" and everything runs so smooth. We get these long draw-offs that yield a two gallon bucket, and then another in one long continuous slow draw. Mmmmmmm

[tonka]

Thanks! I guess curiosity got the best of me on what kind of difference there is. Before I would just add sap to the pan when it boiled down so far, I figure 10-12 GPH on a 2' x 5' pan, this year I will be boiling on that same pan with 2 - 2' x 6' pans with floats on the two new pans and was not quite sure on how deep I want the sap, I think I will be around that 2 inches or so and give it a try. Thanks again!!