Perfect Temperatures for 2015

[RiverSap]

This week’s weather is exactly what we need for the start of the 2015 tapping season. Nice hard freeze in the single digits and teens for much of the week. I am planning on tapping 25 trees and using gravity tubing, basically the same as last year. I do have one improvement over last year’s concrete block arch. I have 100 fire bricks that I am going to line the arch with. I will post pictures when I build it. That is a task for this coming weekend. I am also making a DIY tool for attaching the tubing to the fittings. I will post pictures of that as well when I finish it. I am patterning it after one I saw somewhere on this forum that used a hand slide clamp.

[NhShaun]

Waiting to see your tubing tool and fire brick upgrade. Good luck.

[Goggleeye]

This cold weather has been nice. I was planning on tapping this weekend, but am worried that the taps will stay dry to long if the cold continues. Looks like we won't get any sap flow weather through next Thursday.

[RiverSap]

Thursday 1/15/2015 looks like the day to tap here in Missouri. I have everything ready, taps, tubing, buckets and so forth for 25 trees. I am off work Friday so I am planning in tapping then. I will keep everyone posted on how it goes.

RiverSap

[RiverSap]

Goggleeyes, I thought you had a vacuum system on at least some of your trees. Your signature does not mention anything about a vacuum.

RiverSap

[treeguy]

Well i hope the weather works in your favor..we are at the mercy of the mercury.

I will put out more taps tomorrow in hopes of the right weather starting up this week over here in KY

I checked about 50 taps today and only had 25 gallons of sap..

[Goggleeye]

Riversap - no vacuum on my trees other than that which gravity offers. Our runs are so scattered across 200 acres I don't think it would be feasible. The most taps I have in any woodlot is about 120 in one and 90 in another. If I'd ever get some TSI done, it may become feasible at some point.

Have in about 370 taps right now, hope to finish the remaining 90 or so tonight and catch what looks to be a really big run this weekend. Lots of work to do yet between now and then!

[RiverSap]

I tapped 35 trees this weekend. All but four are on tubing 5/16th lines. My biggest line has 12 taps. I need to get some additional information on the best way to run tuning. I am afraid mine lines are hap hazard. I kind of learned as I went along. I should have run the lateral lines from tree to tree to tree first tensioning everything and then adding in the drop lines last. Most of my drop lines have tension on them, not the ideal situation as I learned after everything was done. But for this year I am leaving everything as it is unless something comes apart. Now let the sap running commence. I hope to collect 100 or so gallons this weekend and be ready for the first cooking next weekend. I still need to build my block stove and split some firewood.

[RiverSap]

Treeguy do you have a picture of the Home made pallet sugar shack? A simple sugar shack is on my list of things to do for next year. At this time I am thinking a lean to type shack. I am still looking for ideas, and would like to see what you made.

[RiverSap]

I collected a little over 10 gallons last night. I now have about 20 gallons in one the 65 gallon bulk tanks. My plan is not to cook until both 65 gallon tanks are full. I have a ways to go. The weather is looking good for the next few days and through the weekend. I am anxious to get some finished product like all of you have.

[skinny78]

Treeguy, I use sap sacks also and I would like to see a picture of your holders.

[Ray_Nagle]

I collected a little over 10 gallons last night. I now have about 20 gallons in one the 65 gallon bulk tanks. My plan is not to cook until both 65 gallon tanks are full. I have a ways to go. The weather is looking good for the next few days and through the weekend. I am anxious to get some finished product like all of you have.

With the temps getting up to around 50 degrees during the days lately, do you have to worry about spoilage? Or are your tanks refrigerated?

[RiverSap]

In general the sooner you can get collected sap cooked up the better. Unfortunately I do not yet have my minimum of 100 gallons I like to have to begin a cooking session. I have around 40 gallons collected now. I did not go out and collect last night. With the temperatures dipping down to around 10 deg F tonight what sap is in the buckets and tanks will freeze. It is not easy to pour frozen sap.