2015 Tapping and Flow Reports!

[DonMcJr]

Hello all! I've been busy busy but decided to check in finally! I haven't tapped yet and watching the weather for when to tap...been busy cutting firewood still have to split it smaller for the Evaporator. SE Michigan here.

[DonMcJr]

Oh and I'm ramping up this year! 50 taps at my place and 50 at my Buddy's Place. He's gonna bring the sap from his place and boil when I'm at work so we can boil almost 24-7 if we need to!

[steel tap syrup]

I have slowly started to take stock of what we have/ need to buy. I must say I'm starting to get sugar fever!!!!!! I think the weekend of the 1st is when I might pull the trigger and start putting some taps in, but that is still up in the air. I know it won't be before then.

[bowhunter]

Don,

You guys are going to be busy, busy, busy. I have a half pint and I don't think I could keep up with 100 taps without RO, especially if you have to finish on the stove. You may want to try and get it finished right of the evaporator. I think you could probably draw syrup after 6-7 hours of boiling. I have an RO and I can start with an empty pan and start drawing syrup after boiling about 40 gallons of sap. My sap runs about 2.4% sugar so that helps.

[TerryEspo]

Hi Don:

Welcome back for another season. I don't see much snow in your wood splitter pic,,,want some ? LOL. Been seeing some of your You-Tube videos as I was looking up Maple Syrup videos.

Big jump this year to go to 100 taps, great for you two. Keep us posted with what your doing through the season.

Good luck.

Terry

[DonMcJr]

High of -4 F tomorrow! Doesnt Look like I'll be tapping anytime soon!

[SeanD]

Hey Don,

Welcome back! How did your bees do last year?

Sean

[sirsapsalot]

Lots of wood there. Is that ash? I see some logs in the background did you have your place logged?

[DonMcJr]

We cut down about 50 dead ash trees and have alot more to go!

I lost 2 out of 4 hives but got 2 packages and a nuc and caught a swarm. Going into this winter I had 6 full hives and 8 nucs i made and they are overwintering in 4 double nucs.

[Bruce L]

Hi Don,wish we could get that warm here! We ran all new mainlines in one bush of about 400 taps, now can't get back in for snow and cold to hook the tubing up.It was all set up with star fittings, long runs and tubing going every direction.Mainline started breaking down last couple of seasons, so I figured it was time to change it to the way it should be, but can't hook up the runs at these temperatures!!!! It was -24 fahrenheit yesterday morning, high of -23 tomorrow!!!!!

[ronintank]

I think we are still a few weeks away from tapping.10639

[sugar daddy 1]

10641

A few weeks ago I thought we might be tapping next week. So we'll just keep working on the wood supply.

[Moser's Maple]

Hello all! I've been busy busy but decided to check in finally! I haven't tapped yet and watching the weather for when to tap...been busy cutting firewood still have to split it smaller for the Evaporator. SE Michigan here.

you don't have to season your fire wood, or is dead ash seasoned enough??

[steel tap syrup]

As cold as it is here, I still think March 1st. is the date to start tapping. ( I hope.)

[TreeTapper2]

Still cold here in northern Illinois. Looks to be near March for tapping. Currently waiting on my new Smoky Lake 2x4 flat pan. Like a kid in a candy store. Daughter helped out last night by hitting and destroying the block arch (still learning to drive) It needed revamping for the new pan. So she saved a little demo time. Lol

[maple flats]

My extended as of today, only shows 6 days in March above 40, and only 2 of those follow a day above 40. I sure hope things warm here sooner than that, or it will end up being a real short season. However, on the plus side (if it is a plus) the ground froze hard before we had snow and it is now under 3-5' of snow. That could extend the season later into April. Today, it is now -6 and going colder tonight and then very little warm up for tomorrow.
I still find it hard to understand that this is a result of "Global Warming".

[DonMcJr]

Dead ash that has been dead for a few years burns great...thanks to the Ash BoRer Bug...my woods looks like an open fields...

[TreeTapper2]

Time for some planting Don. Maybe you can plant some maples for the grandkids to tap.:-)

[mapledavefarm]

Still cold here in northern Illinois. Looks to be near March for tapping. Currently waiting on my new Smoky Lake 2x4 flat pan. Like a kid in a candy store. Daughter helped out last night by hitting and destroying the block arch (still learning to drive) It needed revamping for the new pan. So she saved a little demo time. Lol How long ago did you order your new pan? I sure hope you get it in time.

[mapledavefarm]

Dead ash that has been dead for a few years burns great...thanks to the Ash BoRer Bug...my woods looks like an open fields...

Hey Don love your videos ! Do you have any new ones to past time before season starts!

[wnybassman]

Good to see you, Don. Was starting to get worried about you. lol

[TreeTapper2]

How long ago did you order your new pan? I sure hope you get it in time.
I ordered it February 13. Jim said they are in stock and would be shipped out right away. Get it next day. Will be looking for it next week.

[Tweegs]

Almost ready here.

Built a pump house to get that noisy beast of a vacuum pump out of the shack.

Ran 500’ of mainline to put 50 taps that were on gravity to vacuum and, as a bonus, get to pick up another dozen along the way that were on bucket.

Purchased a stock tank from Behlen, 300 gallon and food grade, too (Amazon). Puts that hard to clean, always full of ice, unwieldy, leaky, round poly tank on the back burner and solves a few other associated headaches.

Wood pile is fat and healthy, most of the critter damage is under control, routine maintenance on the tractor is complete, so too the Gator.
Still need to grade out that 500’, add a few laterals and give the pans a good cleaning.
Looks like a couple of weeks yet to get that done.

Plan on sinking bits March 1st.
Wouldn't mind a warm day between now and then to run water through the lines. Always seems to be some tube snot lurking somewhere in the system. Don’t know about you, but that stuff just creeps me out.:lol:

[Leadft]

It sure is another cold week. I've heard a couple large producers slowly getting some tapping in....
Friday We'll start on the raccoon damaged area and hopefully get things closed back up again....

[maple flats]

Too cold here in Central NY. Likely to start tapping this Sat. or Sunday, hopefully!

[ronintank]

Ok so this should be the low before spring starts.

[Greenthumb]

Ok so this should be the low before spring starts.

Agree -16 in livingston county right now. Still not ready for the season so happy it looks to be a few weeks away

[bryce]

I'm in Livingston County Michigan and should be setting the taps on March 1st! First year tapping in Michigan...moved from MN. Going for 250 taps, we'll see if I have time to set them all. Still need to finish the RO build...2400GPD max...3'x'3' pan with firebox underneath...want to add a steam hood with heat exchanger, but that might be next year...we'll see if I have time...anybody tap silver maples around here?

[Greenthumb]

I tap all reds and silvers and six undersized sugars north of howell welcome to michisippie

[DonMcJr]

Man if it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all! My so called "friend" of 20 years that was cutting and splitting the dead ash on my property stole around 50 Faces cords before I figured out he never planned to pay me! Had to call the cops and order him to never step foot on my property. So I helped him fell and split 50 face cords to steal $4000 from me!

Now i have to cut and split my own syrup wood...and this is all he left...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10993086_10152586327590936_8515676061069588240_n.j pg?oh=003aa46a983d4252b69506c0cdf1a789&oe=5594770F&__gda__=1435669610_b049a0d085521e29f2052ad04a2a62b 5

[Greenthumb]

Go repo what he hasn't burns yet. And for 4000 that's expensive wood

[DonMcJr]

He was selling it on craigslist for $75 a Face Cord. Split and piled it and loaded for deliveries right from my property. He was dumb enough to text me 75% of the time he took loads out and that came to 38 Face cords...I figured at least 12 he didn't text me about... So it's all sold and delivered already...

On a good note I just set up the sugarhouse and when I split the logs there I can stack it right next to the Evaporator. Then hopefully I have a few weeks to drag more out of my woods and split it and get enough stored up for my 50 Taps...

[Greenthumb]

Darn. Well at least syrup season is almost here in about 2 weeks here in southern michigan

[shane hickey]

Started drilling holes last week only running 1 drill rite now just slowly taking our time with it. It's still early with at least another 10 day of cold weather. I have never tapped this late in a season. Hopefully it will run fast and hard and be over in a couple of weeks. Good luck to the fellow traders on here I report the yields after the season has come to an end.

[DonMcJr]

Well I got a start on Wood for Syrup...woulda had twice this much if it didn't take me 2 hours to start my wood splitter...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10530712_10152590429290936_7331481405487735253_n.j pg?oh=ad99c93adc6b46f5d55b3c4ed52fba65&oe=554CA726&__gda__=1435738416_9c1e2ccc4d062637c06ea059b9fe1ba e

[TerryEspo]

Hey Don:

That pic could go to " Show me your woodpile",,,, LOL.

Sorry to read about that bum that took advantage of you.

Call me crazy but I sold my Honda powered 32 Ton wood splitter last year. Only reason was I wanted to go back to a splitting axe, wont go back to a splitter till I cant swing and axe anymore.
One less machine that owns me, and good exercise.

Best of luck this season.

Terry

[DonMcJr]

Terry you're crazy! Lol!

[sugar daddy 1]

We have a good pile of wood, worked in the sugar house all weekend. With reports I am hearing from down south it should be a good season.:lol:1071610716

[JBIV]

There is going to be a syrup season this year, Right????

[DonMcJr]

There is going to be a syrup season this year, Right????

I sure hope so!

[JBIV]

Looking a week and a half out the temps still don't look right. Its going to be a short run I think. You may already have all the wood you need this year Don.

[austin357]

I think im goina tap the few trees i have on monday or tues

[Yooper Kevin]

I don't see anything happening in the U.P. until the end of March at the earliest. We've been stuck in this weather pattern since November & every time I look at the 8 to 14 day outlook on NOAA, it shows below average temps for the eastern half of the country.

[mapleguy]

I'm about 50 miles east of cleveland in the snowbelt. I think it would be wise to be tapped in by early next week just so if the temps do go up you won't miss any runs. I think we all pay to much attention to long range reports that don't mean a thing or they wouldn't change them so often. Maybe accu. weather is an online troll. They don't know either, or once again why would they change their minds so much.

[sugar daddy 1]

I'm about 50 miles east of cleveland in the snowbelt. I think it would be wise to be tapped in by early next week just so if the temps do go up you won't miss any runs. I think we all pay to much attention to long range reports that don't mean a thing or they wouldn't change them so often. Maybe accu. weather is an online troll. They don't know either, or once again why would they change their minds so much.

With the extreme cold it will take a few warm days to thaw the trees so the sap will run.

[Greenthumb]

Flowing today in mid michigan...................





several bottles of red wine and beer. Tasted good after one of those days at work.

[DonMcJr]

They are calling for almost 40 F and rain here in SE Michigan...I think I might Tap Sunday so I dont miss a run if it does flow...

[wnybassman]

They are calling for almost 40 F and rain here in SE Michigan...I think I might Tap Sunday so I dont miss a run if it does flow...

Ditto for over here in WNY also.

[ronintank]

Wow 40 degrees in SE mi. lucky people.
I got home from work yesterday and I had +4 degrees in Gaylord, this morning we have 27 below zero. I may run my new 3/16 tubing and drops this weekend but still will not tap the trees until we have warmer temps to thaw the trees.

[vinkandy]

West Michigan (Grand Haven), we were at -8 degrees this morning. 10 day forecast shows next Tuesday at 34 and everything else not getting above freezing. Thinking I may hold out one more week. The lake effect snow has my woods about waste deep right now. Hauling buckets thru my ravine and across the creek would be difficult right now.

[Lethalbowman]

-22 here in the Traverse City, MI area. Long range forecast does not look good for at least 2 more weeks.

[Greenthumb]

They are calling for almost 40 F and rain here in SE Michigan...I think I might Tap Sunday so I dont miss a run if it does flow...

The 10 day on the weather channels has the highest temp at 34. AccuWeather has the 2nd week of March looking like a run. May tap next week here in ivingston county

[DonMcJr]

Im thinking just tuesday at 34 f isnt gonna thaw trees enough to flow...so im tapping Saturday March 7th...

[mnewbegin11]

Going to start tapping Monday the weather does not look great but its time to start and get everything else ready.

[Sam Caruth]

With how bright the sun was shining today, i thought what the heck. I threw a few of many taps in, and to my surprise, i got a light run! Even with the 20 degree tempetures, i guess the sun was enough to warm it up. Will tap 50% tomorrow for the warm up on tuesday, and the rest next saturday.

[DonMcJr]

With how bright the sun was shining today, i thought what the heck. I threw a few of many taps in, and to my surprise, i got a light run! Even with the 20 degree tempetures, i guess the sun was enough to warm it up. Will tap 50% tomorrow for the warm up on tuesday, and the rest next saturday.

I thought the same thing...while i was splitting wood this morning I looked at the logs that used to be covered in snow that were bare and thought hmm...the sun is already thawing the trees a bit so maybe it will flow Tuesday and now when i get home in the morning im tapping my trees and runing my 16 tap tube line. What the heck ive tapped on Feb 20th before and waited 2 weeks for a flow so it cant hurt...just wish i had a night off work to make it easier but Ill get it done! So...Im Tapping March 1st this year! Stay tuned for flow reports when it flows!

[DonMcJr]

Well i got 15 of my 17 tube line taps in. Waiting on a fitting order to put the last 2 in. Monday morning Have to take inventory of my 5 gallon buckets and wash them then tap the bucket trees. I should have about 25 bucket taps so my 2015 taps should be around 40 taps...after tomorrow I will know for sure! Bring on the flow!

[DonMcJr]

Ok 2015 Tap totals...
Tube line taps- 17
Bucket taps- 26
2015 tap total - 43

[Michmaple]

Well the Red maple in the front yard has buds and I'm almost certain I saw some small green leaves... Hope to get out and tap this weekend!

[austin357]

Tapped a few of my trees today goina finish up tomorrow i think

[Greenthumb]

Tapped a few of my trees today goina finish up tomorrow i think
Same here. About 35 today. Another 45 or so to go. Looks like this weekend it begins

[Too Tall]

Ran 3 lines to my 36 trees yesterday. Going to tap them on Friday. New sugar shack has been built. Only thing left to do is clean my pan and storage barrels. Let the season begin.

[BoarsNest]

Planning on tapping Saturday. Ran the snowblower around the Shack on Saturday. Too many things to do. Rebuilding the door for the arch and rebricking, finish cleaning the pans and a few storage barrels, finish splitting some wood. Half of my help is gone this weekend, so it will be busy. I have to get that one day a week job, because this hobby looks like 4 days a week.

[DonMcJr]

Just checked my tube line...no flow today...Saturday Maybe then Starting Monday and all week it looks like it will be ON! Finally!

[ronintank]

Yes it's going to be a busy weekend. I have 4 more runs of 3/16 line to run and 40 buckets to set up and then tap them all.
Weather looks like we may get a run about Thursday, I think it will take that long for the trees to thaw.

[DonMcJr]

Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.

Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

[homelite770g]

I got the last of my taps out today. No drips yet but my drill bit was starting to get moistvon some trees. Pretty much every thing is ready to go

[steel tap syrup]

Got 60 taps in last weekend. Nothing flowing yet. Should get the rest in this weekend ( I hope). Spent yesterday washing the rest of the buckets, man I hate that job. But like all jobs there are thing you love to do, and think you hate. Everyone have a great day, and a wonderful season. May the flow be with you.

[Lethalbowman]

I will be putting my 50 bag holders out this weekend so I am ready for next weeks warm up. Let the fun begin.

[Cedar Eater]

you don't have to season your fire wood, or is dead ash seasoned enough??

All three of the ash trees common in MI are burnable when green, but if the bark is sluffing off these trees killed by the ash borer, they are great firewood as soon as you cut them down. Sometimes it doesn't smell very pleasant, but they heat my outdoor wood boiler better than maple and just about as good as seasoned red oak.

[Cedar Eater]

My wife and I just tapped our first trees today. We're starting small. We tapped four red maples and one birch. We'll probably have lots of newbie questions. I know a bit about trees, but not much about sugaring.

[Jonnyp390]

Got 20 taps out between tonight and last night with the help of my 5 year old assistants. Waking up early tomorrow to get our last 30 out. Setting up our screen tent sugar shack tomorrow and getting the evaporator out of the garage and set up. Hopefully things will run enough to boil on Sunday evening. Here we go!

[DonMcJr]

My wife and I just tapped our first trees today. We're starting small. We tapped four red maples and one birch. We'll probably have lots of newbie questions. I know a bit about trees, but not much about sugaring.

Welcome to Sugaring! Maple and Birch Syrup is different..keep the sap separate. Also Birch sap usually doesnt flow til its warmer...after Maple is done...

[steel tap syrup]

Keep calm, and tap on my friends!!!!

[Cedar Eater]

Welcome to Sugaring! Maple and Birch Syrup is different..keep the sap separate. Also Birch sap usually doesnt flow til its warmer...after Maple is done...

Thanks! I knew to keep the birch separate, but I didn't know that it ran later. I remember having to cut down a live 8" birch in April once and my chainsaw bar got bathed in sap.

[Tweegs]

Setting tanks, plumbing the releaser and running electricity to the vacuum pump today. Tapping tomorrow.

[JBIV]

30 taps in yesterday, 40 or so to go today.

[Joe Meyer]

I'm new here. I just tapped my first 10 of the year. Sap is flowing slowly, but it is flowing!

[BoarsNest]

Put in 160 taps on 5 gal buckets today. Still need to run the laterals for my test run with tubing. Arch is in place and ready to have the insulation and brick put back in. A few things to clean and set up this week. Hopefully we get a good run this week.

[splendid]

My wife and I put in 12 taps today— 3 Sugar Maple, 1 Silver Maple, 6 Black Walnut, 1 Box Elder, and 1 Catalpa. (I know, I know, just an experiment.) Then I helped my neighbor tap 8 of his sugar bush trees.

His all started flowing as we tapped them. Only one of mine did. But his were between 1.4% and 1.9% and my one that flowed (Sugar Maple) was at 3.3% :)

[David in MI]

Almost done tapping, here. Just under 500; hardly anything was flowing today maybe 3-5 were slightly weeping. Still lots of cleaning to do before the sap starts flowing!

[David in MI]

All three of the ash trees common in MI are burnable when green, but if the bark is sluffing off these trees killed by the ash borer, they are great firewood as soon as you cut them down. Sometimes it doesn't smell very pleasant, but they heat my outdoor wood boiler better than maple and just about as good as seasoned red oak.

Welcome to the forum, mister! :)

[bryce]

89 taps in today. Tubing and bucket setup. About 10 taps to a bucket. Silver maples with some sugars. I'll try for another 89 tomorrow. Some of the trees were dripping good today. Some weren't dripping at all. Is this normal?? Thanks for any responses.

1st year in the hobby!

[Run Forest Run!]

Bryce, that's totally normal. Regarding your comment about having 10 taps to a bucket.....you might want to reconsider that. Unless those buckets are really big, or you plan to do a lot of emptying, you'll overflow those buckets pretty quickly once the sap starts to kick in. Get a few more buckets pronto!

[bryce]

Thanks for the reply Karen! Good thoughts on getting bigger buckets. The buckets I am currently using are 5 gal. Even with the light flows today one of the buckets was 1/4 full. I might try and get a bunch of the food safe 55 gal barrels and use those as my "buckets" lol. My plan is to drive the truck with a 330 gal tote around the trails and suck up the sap into that. I'm all ears for better ideas!

[Michmaple]

10896 almost finished the arch today. Tapping tomorrow!

[Cedar Eater]

Welcome to the forum, mister! :)

Thank you, sir. Seems like a lot of good people here.

[Greenthumb]

77 taps out in livingston county waiting................

[Run Forest Run!]

Thanks for the reply Karen! Good thoughts on getting bigger buckets. The buckets I am currently using are 5 gal. Even with the light flows today one of the buckets was 1/4 full. I might try and get a bunch of the food safe 55 gal barrels and use those as my "buckets" lol. My plan is to drive the truck with a 330 gal tote around the trails and suck up the sap into that. I'm all ears for better ideas!

You're welcome Bryce. Nice to see an excited new sugarer! Bear in mind that during heavy sap days you can easily overflow a 2 gallon bucket - on each tap. You don't want to be filling 5 gallon buckets and then finding 15 gallons of sap on the ground underneath each of them.;) You won't believe how much sap you can get in one day from one tap when things really cut loose!

[DonMcJr]

Welcome and hello to the newbies! My 17 tap tube line didnt thaw enough to flow today...checked my buckets at noon and no dripping yet...hopefully tomorrow it flows while im scrubbing my evaporator pan!

[Blaze]

75 taps today. No sap run here yet.

[austin357]

75 taps today. No sap run here yet. blaze are you also on ms forum i only had one tree out of the 4 i have tapped drippin a lil today puttin 30 more taps in in the morn

[Sanford MI Mapler]

25 taps in yesterday afternoon (no flow yet), 25 more taps today.

[Leadft]

I've still got a few hundred to put in each day this week and my Local Kids decided this wasn't for them......
You'd think I'd be used to this happening each year.... When Did everyone get the concept that each farmer has a pile of cash in their pocket ready for any joker to empty his wallet on the first day ??? LOL..... Life of a sugar maker..

[ehausinfrats]

200 taps yesterday. Few weeping. Looking at the extended forecast doesn't look the greatest. I fear it will be a short season. Still lots to do today. Good luck everyone

Eric

[Cedar Eater]

200 taps yesterday. Few weeping. Looking at the extended forecast doesn't look the greatest. I fear it will be a short season. Still lots to do today. Good luck everyone

Eric

I'm a noob, so that means I get to ask dumb questions for a while. ;) What's a short season and what's an average season?

[CWebster]

50 taps yesterday, 50 today. Everything dripping pretty good, some were running well.

[Sanford MI Mapler]

30 taps today and sap starting to weep. Now I have 25 on bags and 30 on buckets.

[Creekwood_Farm]

40 taps in today. About half are weeping just a bit.
Holland Michigan here.

[DonMcJr]

Sap flows when daytime temps go above freezing and night below freezing...when it does that every day for a few weeks thats a long season. When it goes above freezing and stays there for a few days it only runs after it drops below freezing again then back above...that happened last year for me...4 runs 4 days apart and it ran great but then that was it.

Im near Port Huron...a little flow today but not much...tress should be thawed out enough for a good fliw Tuesday. .. all pans cleaned and to boot i saw all 14 of my bee hives alive today!

[Joe Meyer]

10927

15 taps in. Most were dripping. Not exactly flowing yet. Overall just about 5 gallons of sap. Here's the result.

[Don(MI)]

We put close to 300 in today. Got around 10 more or so to go tomorrow.

All in; all on!!! LET THE SAP FLOW!!!

[retubjb]

I had help from my sons this weekend to get ready for the season, one had his friend come with his v plow and move the 2 foot of snow away from our block arch, and then one to help me erect our portable walls around it to make our sugar shack with no roof. He then proceeded to get 35 taps in for us but had to head back downstate, hopefully he can make it back up to enjoy his first love, the boiling process. Some taps just weeping here is Scottville.

[MartinP]

All in this weekend, looks good for midweek. It will take a few of these nice days to thaw them out.

[ronintank]

I have 55 taps set up on 3/16 gravity lines and 42 on buckets.
I still have so many good trees to tap I may buy more taps and tube monday.

[huntingken111]

Put in 76 taps for bags, 28 on gravity tubing, and 62 in for first year on sureflo dc pump. Vacuum gauge at end only read 12 inches so I hope when sap really runs pressure will go up. It was cool to see no sap dripping put pump on and see sap comming out for about 5 minutes in steady stream but then nothing. Good luck everybody

[toquin]

10940
499 to go

[alsappo]

244 Taps, 122 buckets, 6 in Bucket Brigade, 2x6 Leader Ready to go!

[vinkandy]

85 Taps over the weekend. South trees along field started flowing a small amount. Trees 50'+ into the woods not running at all. Hoping to get a good run on Tuesday.

[Michmaple]

42 taps in today all dripping pretty good s.e. Jackson county!
Built my arch in two days anxious to see how it works!10950

[BoarsNest]

One of my friends missing tapping because he was in Florida. This is how he got his fix. Looks like it works.10951

[Cedar Eater]

The first tree we tapped started to drip today. :D

[Urban Hillbilly]

Put in 40 taps Saturday before leaving on a business trip in California this week. Didn't get much before taking off. Does it take a few days for the tress to thaw out after the extreme cold? Told the kids they needed to collect while I was gone. Hope to have report from them soon. I'll put in another 20 when I get home and start boiling this weekend.

[CWebster]

Collected 45 gallons off of 100 buckets.

[ronintank]

Well my trees started running a bit today, that 3/16 line running down hill is the deal. I have 4 runs and they all are from 16 to 18 on the vac gauge. Also added 10 more on buckets.

[austin357]

Got 5 gallons today only 2 of my 30 trees ran good

[Spartazoo]

Nine trees tapped and maybe 3-4 gal of sap today. Added 8 more taps today that showed 3% sugar, so hopefully everything gets going soon.

[ronluyk]

90 gallons on approximately 200taps
Celebrating our 10th year

[DonMcJr]

Didnt collect yesterday but my 17 tap tube line got around 4 gallons and one bucket i can see from the driveway had about a gallon...today should be a good flow day!

[vinkandy]

Brought in 18 gallons yesterday (3/9) with 85 Taps. About half the taps running and only about 6-8 taps with good flow. Hoping things let lose these next few days.

[bryce]

95 taps in...probably thats all I'll get in this year. The trees were dripping good yesterday when I checked them in the AM. Didn't get back out to check them...hopefully not overflowing....

[bakerrunner]

Slow start to the season.
This past Sunday we set 13 taps, using 5/16" smart spouts and blue tubing running into 5 gallon, food grade plastic buckets. We tapped two of our biggest trees near the house and a few in the woods, all trees that can take 2 taps. These trees usually run like a faucet...so far, nothing. We're near Pinconning.

[Kbrooks80]

Got 22 gallons yesterday. Many trees not running yet. First run on the home brew evaporator last night. Got between 9 and 10 GPH.

[Lethalbowman]

I tapped and hung about 35 bag holders on Sunday and a a few of them started dripping right away. I did a spot check after dinner yesterday and the first 3 bags has from 3-5" of sap in them. Headed out today after work to collect and perhaps hang a few more bag holders. I will have 50 taps this year once they are all in. I am liking these (new to me) bag holders. I still have to work to collect the sap but after a "Long" hard winter I welcome the fresh air and exercise.
10976

[splendid]

Got one gallon of 2.0 brix sap in the last 24 hours, from the 6 taps I have in 5 Black Walnut trees. Not enough, yet, for my turkey fryer. I'm putting this on the stove inside the kitchen //impatient

Two Sugar Maple taps gave up 5 quarts during the same time, at 2.5 brix.

[homelite770g]

Got about fifty gallons of sap from Monday and Tuesday got evaporator fired up and making steam now just so it of scottville

[Greenthumb]

Just checked the 70 or so taps on buckets here in livingston county did not check all but a good portion have yet to run I had two trees with about half a bucket many dry taps still. I would imagine the ground is still frozen fairly deep. Maybe they will turn on tomoorow. The closer to the weekend the better it will be anyways. Looking to be a average to below average year with the 10 day forecast. Saw 60's next week.

[Jonnyp390]

I guess I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who has trees that are still frozen. I got a total of 9 gallons so far off of 50 taps. A couple in the woods made a gallon or so but the majority of my trees are just barely weeping. My big trusty silver maple in my backyard is still bone dry. I added copper drop tubes to one of my steam pans and I can't wait to see how it does. Hopefully the trees will wake up soon.

[splendid]

I ended up with two tablespoons of Black Walnut syrup from a gallon of sap. I figure that's 32:1, which is not bad?

[Spartazoo]

My trees are being very stingy this year. They have yet to flow more than a couple inches per bucket. :(

[ronintank]

From monday and today I collected 7 gallons from 52 taps on buckets and 65 gallons from the 4 runs of 3/16 gravity lines with 13 taps per line. I am totally sold on the 3/16 and will be changing over to all gravity next year and selling the buckets cheap.

[Cedar Eater]

Hopefully you underestimated your yield, because 32:1 = half a cup.

[Sam Caruth]

Had a good Monday, Only got down to 33 Monday night. So Tuesday was a bit slow. Getting down to 31 here tonight, so hoping for a bit of a better Wednesday. Getting back into the 20s Wednesday night, but then warm again... Ugh. Can't seem to catch a break! But extended forecast looks good for next week. Hope to get at least one good boil in this week!

[mchuntress]

Mine aren't doing anything yet either. They're pretty deep in the woods and usually run later. Seeing these other flow reports is making me restless.

[Spartazoo]

The forecast here, nights don't go below 35 until the second half of next week. It's gonna be a short short season...

[Ausable]

Grrrrrrr! I'm a bit stubborn and my own worst enemy. Till about five years ago - I hung coffee cans from Grimm style spiles and received a lot of kidding about my coffee trees. They were small and I had to collect often and lost a lot of sap. So - I read on the Site about drop tubes to 5 gallon buckets and switched to that. All went well - I could pile all my tapping stuff on the 4-wheeler and drive near the trees to be tapped. Then - last Winter happened and the game changed - all the 4-wheeler could do was get stuck. I did my easy side (lol) where I keep the paths open and on the hard side had to revert back to Mr. Grimm and Coffee cans and more kidding in order to tap those trees. So - Once again - the easy trees are tapped and the sap is finally going drip - drip - a little and the hard side is still not tapped. No More Coffee Can grrrrrrrr! ------- I Hope.

[sugar daddy 1]

Keep clam my fellow sapers. Yes it's started a little slow. But the trees aren't going to bud with a few warm days. We had a lot of cold, frost is a foot or more. When the frost goes then the big runs start. We didn't make our first syrup till March 21st last year, still had a good season.:lol:

[DonMcJr]

Right on Sugar Daddy! How ya been?

I just emptied my Buckets. Out of 43 taps ( 17 are on a Tube Line) I only have 15 Gallons so far. Creek is still froze Solid in the woods and woods trees still mostly frozen. It will go well into April this year is my guess. Also even though the Weather Online says it's not going below 32 F at Night it is here...got down to 29 F here last night and has been below 32 F every night since December LOL!

The Flow will come... Patience Young Grasshoppers! :)

[bryce]

I was one of those young grasshoppers...until I read the latest posts. I am deep in the woods and only a few of the trees are running. I ended up pulling about 30 gals off yesterday, but all that came from about 1/3 of my 95 taps. I was getting nervous...maybe today is the day!

[DonMcJr]

Anyone who makes maple syrup is young at heart...gotta be to sit and boil for hours on end!

[Tweegs]

Finished tapping everything on vacuum by Sunday eve, no flow.

Monday saw low vacuum due to critter damage. Managed 60 gallons of the vilest vinegar and tubing snot laden sap I’ve ever seen…let it hit the ground.

Was at 23” vacuum yesterday (still have a few leaks to fix), had around 120 gallons in the tank by days end.

Wife reports that the pump from holding tank to head tank is on the fritz, I’ll need to grab a new one on the way home.

First boil this afternoon!

[Lethalbowman]

Collected just shy of 15 gallons yesterday off the 33 taps that I had gotten in on Sunday. Some of the bags were half full while others had next to nothing. I hung the last of my bag holders and now have 50 in the woods. I think that will keep me busy once things get flowing big time.

[BeeRay Farms]

54 taps in. All on buckets/ bags. Northeast Ann Arbor, some flow yesterday, got about 22 gallons. Ran it into half pint rig last night and started to sweeten. Not really running much yet, hoping for better today. Wondering if maybe barometric pressure is a bit too high....

[huntingken111]

Did not collect but ibc tank on new shurflo pump was running but only half the trees are getting sap pulled from them and about 40 gallons of sap in there. Found two more maple trees to add to vacuum. Neighbor came out on farm next door to where I tap and told me for a pint of syrup and pound of raw honey could tap the huge six sugar maples just on his property and this summer he said he would like some beehives on his property by his little 1/3 acre orchard.

[Spartazoo]

Just collected my 26 taps and dumped about 20 gallons into tank. All my trees are very large roadside sugar maples with a couple of Norways mixed in for flavor. ;) All sap mixed in the storage tank, the sugar is still over 3% on the refractor.

Ground still has A LOT of frost in it.

[maple creek]

Checked sap today and it was 1.3 Brix, still not pumping anything from the roots yet. Looks like it's going to be a while yet.

[TreeTapper2]

Collected around 20 gallons a day the last three days. Sap sugar is low 1.2 -1.4 Still waiting for the trees to let loose.

[Lethalbowman]

Collected 11 gallons off my 50 taps last night. The snow cover is melting fast so I hope we start getting good flows soon. I have 25 gallons going into Fridays 1st boil, I hope to add another 10-15 gallons to that. My dad boiled down 3 gallons and ended up with 1/2 cup of syrup. Enough for a stack of pancakes he said.
11043

[sutphenj]

Collected only 60-70 gallons since tapping 90 trees on sunday. Slow start thus far....

[maple milker]

This start to the season seems incredibly slow for the warm sunny days we've been having. Were the nights not cold enough earlier in the week? Is the frost down that deep? Even today after 27 degrees last night and beautiful sun today they are only dripping like it is the last of the season, they should be putting out like carzy! I hope that cold weather next week makes a difference.

[DonMcJr]

She let loose here near Port Huron Michigan...went from 15 to 40 gallons since 10am and its still flowing ...43 taps...woods trees still not giving much up but the 17 tap tube line and the five 7/16 buckets are pouring it out!

[Too Tall]

Boiled 50 gallons last night (from 26 taps over 4 days). I have a second line with 10 taps on it and it hasn't produced anything yet. Ditto what everyone else is saying...slow start.

[Run Forest Run!]

That's great to hear Don! Here's to a flood of sap into your tanks tonight!

[austin357]

Good to hear don im close to you cant wait to check buckets after work tonight

[Cedar Eater]

13 of 14 reds running today, most only just barely. Collected 3 gallons today. Most of that from 3 trees. Probably going to boil tomorrow.

[bakerrunner]

Rhodes, Michigan, near Pinconning. Collected 5 yesterday and 5-1/2 today from 13 taps. A few trees in the woods aren't dripping at all. They need sun exposure. Willl hopefully start boiling Saturday.

[Don(MI)]

Firing up tomorrow night. Have around 90-100 gallons of sap in the bulk tank...we usually start with that much to get things going.

Tapped more trees tonight too...so dang it all, if we can't make syrup with alotta of sap from a few trees, we sure gonna try with a little sap from alotta trees!!! Haha

[vinkandy]

Running 85 taps. Brought in 44 gallons today. Seeing a large improvement each day.

[Todd Postill]

60 taps in last weekend on my property most are dripping.some still frozen.looked at a 18 acre piece of property tonight a family member bought lots of mature maples will be for next year.need this frost to leave so these trees can warm up.

[homelite770g]

Still about 60 gal from 66 taps have a couple that have yet to trip getting more half full buckets near ludington

[DonMcJr]

60 taps in last weekend on my property most are dripping.some still frozen.looked at a 18 acre piece of property tonight a family member bought lots of mature maples will be for next year.need this frost to leave so these trees can warm up.

Todd that 18 acres isnt out my way is it? Theres 18 acres for sale behind me...wish i had the money to buy it...

[Tweegs]

Sugar content looks low, like everyone else has said.
30 gallons to fill the evaporator, fired up and ran another 80 gallons through Wednesday evening. Didn’t quite get to syrup, but close.

Boiling again today, looks to be around 200 gallons in the tank as of this morning.

Buckets go out this weekend.

[Todd Postill]

no don this is a portion of a 80 acre piece for sale off lapeer if only i had the money lots of rolling hills.

[CWebster]

45 gallons off of 98 taps last night. All woods trees, buckets on the trees at the perimeter and higher up the hill were 1/2 to 3/4 full.

[austin357]

Got 10 gallons from my 32 taps last night gettin better each day it seems

[JBIV]

Still sloooooow for me. Getting about 22gals a day on 70 taps. My woodlot trees are still sleeping......or dead??

[Sanford MI Mapler]

Put out 55 taps on the 8th, collected 60 gallons sap this afternoon, starting to drip decently now.

[Cedar Eater]

8 gallons from 14 taps today. All maple taps running. Boiled 5 gallons down to <2 qts. on a propane grill in 5 hours with no preheat.

[bryce]

Still hardly any flow here...all my trees are deep in the woods! From 100 taps I maybe got 10 gals sap today...hopefully it all breaks loose soon!

[Todd Postill]

big difference in flow today but still slow.snow is starting to melt around base of tree.next week should be good.

[Creekwood_Farm]

About 60 taps now. All on buckets. Only 40-42 gallons this week. Several trees dry today. Hope it picks up or I'll be boiling water just to have fun.

[Spartazoo]

I collected Wednesday and just checked a couple buckets tonight... Bone dry. :(

[Don(MI)]

Slammed today. Got 106 gallons. We added more taps this season but its finally busting loose here. Got a feeling we will be doing the Chinese fire drill the next week or so.

[Jonnyp390]

Things are finally starting to get going today. Came home from work and the milk jugs on the silver maple in my front yard were full. Woods trees were a little better than they have been. Got 15 gallons total off 50 taps on a two day soak.

[austin357]

Got 15 gallons off my 32 taps tonight gettin better only got 10 last night its commin we are all about to be busy and im sure we all will be lovein it on the down side my shed i just made into my sugar shack is about to be flooded goina have to where the rubber boots i guess lol

[Eric K]

I put in 42 taps Wednesday. 9 in 4 old roadside giants (4-5' diameter). 33 in the woods. My 9 roadside taps produced 10 gallons Thursday and 10 gallons today. My 33 taps in the woods trees did 7 gallons Thursday and 13 gallons today. Seems like things are starting to get going.

[Eric K]

I put in 42 taps Wednesday. 9 in 4 old roadside giants (4-5' diameter). 33 in the woods. My 9 roadside taps produced 10 gallons Thursday and 10 gallons today. My 33 taps in the woods trees did 7 gallons Thursday and 13 gallons today. Seems like things are starting to get going.

[Lethalbowman]

Boiled 35 gallons down to about 7 gallons on my revamped block arch yesterday. I hope to collect more sap later today or tomorrow and fire the arch back up and reduce it all down and then finish on the stove. Starting to get a nice light amber color in the pan.

[austin357]

Well as of this morn my shed/shack has water on the floor goina have to do some trench diggin tonight after work

[Tweegs]

Vacuum pump motor took a dump yesterday, would hum then pop the breaker at start up. Hoping it’s just the capacitor.
Replaced it with a smaller motor and smaller diameter sheave I had in the barn just to get up and going again.
Lost an inch of vacuum, probably due to lower CFM from not turning the pump fast enough and still having leaks out in the woods.

Let the pump run all night since it didn’t freeze. Haven’t been down there yet to see how much sap is in the tank (still working on the coffee).

My wife ran 170 gallons yesterday and drew off 3 gallons of a nice medium.

[Joe Meyer]

I got 8 gallons of sap off 15 taps yesterday. Just as the taps seem to be coming alive, it only got down to 45 last night. Everything is dry today.

[Cedar Eater]

Not much flow today. Winds were high. Not much sun. Do either of those decrease the flow?

[Run Forest Run!]

Yes, both will.

[sutphenj]

Tapped 90 trees last Sunday. Only got 80 gallons of 1% sap since......just went and dumped it. Slooowww going thus far.

[DonMcJr]

6 hours into my 1st boil of 2015! Boiled about 55 gallons so far and have 50 gallons to go! Made this video for fb...


https://youtu.be/KJ3fc2rA84w

Saps 2.25%

[Run Forest Run!]

Thanks for sharing the video Don. I was doing my first boil today too. I've called it a night after a very successful day of sweet steam. Can't wait to pick it up again tomorrow! Good luck with your batch!

[DonMcJr]

Thanks Karen...i have to get my holding tanks empty...we had a fire at work and i go in Sunday at 3pm for a double shift to fix burned pipes and lines...

[DonMcJr]

Got a new toy too...lets see if pic works...

11082

[Cedar Eater]

I boiled 10 gallons down yesterday and added the concentrate from five gallons the day before. My frankensmoker had a little trouble in the high winds, but the gas grill did fine.So 15 gallons yielded 36 ounces of syrup. Outside temp only got down to 31.6 last night. Not expecting much sap today.

[twofer]

In with 500 taps as of last night. Letting the first run go to ground but did notice that there was a little bit of flow, enough to clean out the lines.

Today will be spent finding the squirrels teeth work.

[Woody_Woodruff]

Started tapping our new gravity system Thursday, as of Sat night we had about 70 gallons. This is the first year for our 2x8 Leader American. Sugar Bush Supply did a great job referbing this classic at a good deal. We got it full and ran out of sap after 5 hours or so. Since we just graduated from a Half Pint, we know how to do a single pan finish. We shut it down,drained what was left in the flue pan, set it aside and replaced that with water. after that we fired it again, Used the single cone filter pan to feed the syrup pan. we finished off 6 qts of Medium amber. sap was at best, 2 brix but hadn't got out my sap hygrometer yet.

Im using a bosworth for general pumping and amateur vacuum. neighbors 10 acre is still completing the 3/16 stuff, at least we aren't missing much. poor year to invest in a new rig

[fishman]

Working on the first boil of the year. Ran good on friday but yesterday stunk. Did an early pickup today because we were running out. Should boil about 110 gal.

[Tweegs]

Moderate run here today.

Boil #3
Pushed 200 gallons through the evaporator by days end.
3.75 gallons of medium.

Sap was still coming in good when we shut down, 2.0%.
Letting the pump run all night, not supposed to go below freezing.

Oh, wire popped off the cap for the motor, easy fix, full speed ahead.

[Greenthumb]

Collected about 50 gallons from Friday none yesterday and about 5-8 today. Nothing ran today. Ended up with about a gallon and almost a half of syrup today.

Got the kinks out of the new smoky lake full pint hybrid and sugar shack set up. Did find out my wood is not as dry as i wad hoping which wasnt helping the fire.

I did also get the homemade ro running today. It was spitting out about 6% sap. Maybe the run will start Tuesday or Wednesday this week.

[retubjb]

I got 60 gallons today off 35-40 taps and it was still dripping slowly when we emptied at 8 pm. Going to boil tomorrow after work. Not expecting much tonight and tomorrow.

[homelite770g]

Got another 80 gal or better from 66 taps most all taps dripping well. Neighbor got hundred gallons from 200 taps in the woods

[JBIV]

Got a new toy too...lets see if pic works...

11082


Nice!!!!! I need one of those!

[Lethalbowman]

111331113411135
Added another 10 gallons of sap to my batch and reduced it down to about a gallon on the fish fryer before finishing it in the house. Ended up with 92 oz. of MED. Hardly any thing dripping right now as it just didn't get very cold the last few nights. Expecting a cold snap this week so things should pick up after that.

[vinkandy]

11137

Ran the RO yesterday morning and boiled all afternoon/evening. Came out with 23.5 pints of Grade A Amber Rich.

[Michmaple]

Pulled 15 gallons yesterday and 18 gallons today all off of 74 taps. Put another 52 taps in today, the past week has been slowwww. Does anyone think this week will be better with the cooler night temps? I'm a second year addict I just wanna fire the eavap up so bad. Ran on a 2'3' block arch last season. Built a 30" x72" pan and arch about two weeks ago I've got the fever! Jackson co.

[maple creek]

150 gallons out of 500+taps on two nights. I think it was just the moisture in the tree thawing out. Looks like it's setting up for a quik and crazy year.

[CWebster]

All the bugs and none of the sap..boiled 100 gallons down saturday to sweeten the pans and haven't had any significant sap since to start making syrup. Guess it'll give me time to repair my flue pan where it started leaking around the welded fitting going to the syrup pan...

[sugarmangraham]

I put out 35 taps over the last week and only gathered about 25 gallons so far. Hopefully I can get out about 20 more in the next day or so as time permits. I boiled what I did have tonight and no syrup yet. Sugar content was at 3.5% so not to bad there.

[Creekwood_Farm]

Better day yesterday/this am. Gathered about 20 gallons on 60 taps yesterday early am and added a few more taps. Boiled down everything year to date to about 1.4 gallons. Picked up about 35 gallons this evening. Looking forward to "perfect" weather for a couple days.

[David in MI]

We collected about 350 gallons from 500 taps so far. I was really hoping for more sap at this point but the night time temperatures haven't dropped below freezing as often as predicted so we haven't really seen much of a run yet.

[twofer]

We're up to 900 gallons off from 500 taps since Sunday morning. Not great but thank the lord for the vacuum.

In case anybody else wants to watch, or if it might help gauge your own sugarbush, here is a link to the system I designed that monitors the tank level (in real time) with an ultrasonic sensor:

http://www.wilsonsugarhouse.com/tanks.php

You can see the collection over the past two days and where I am getting our numbers.

[Lethalbowman]

I collected 20 gallons from my 50 bag holders after work yesterday, I hope to double or triple that for a Sunday boil.

[DonMcJr]

Holy Sap coming out of my ears! Since Saturday not much has flowed cause it's been over freezing...today I got 50 Gallons of sap from my 43 Taps and it's still flowing!

[Run Forest Run!]

That's fantastic news Don! I want to see syrup photos when you get a break from the flood!

[Cedar Eater]

Having a serious run here today. 10 gallons from 15 taps and it's still running. It got down to 17 last night and up to 44 today. Tonight it's supposed to drop to 9 and then back in the thirties tomorrow. Looks like the trees woke up.

[Hannah]

Finally flowed well today after a three day lull. Collected about 35 gallons from 38 taps. Looking forward to our second boil this weekend!

Question, neighbor convinced me to tap his Box Elder tree, the thing is a like a water well giving up at least two gallons a day, my question is will it make my syrup taste different if I mix it in?

[austin357]

Got 25 gallons from my 32 taps today

[DonMcJr]

Hannah I have been told Box Elder has more of a Butterschotch taste...I'd boil it separate and see the difference 1st...

Anyone mix it? How does it effect Taste?

[Run Forest Run!]

Hannah I have been told Box Elder has more of a Butterschotch taste...I'd boil it separate and see the difference 1st...

Anyone mix it? How does it effect Taste?

I find that all maples have a slightly different flavour, box elder included. I've had it straight up and also mixed into blends. While pure sugar maple is delicious, I find that a blend of soft and sugar is wonderful. I've had friends over for tasting sessions and all are amazed at the differing flavours.

[Woodznwater]

Well today was a good day, 25 gallons sap on 25 taps

[bryce]

11200

I wanted to check the sap Brix, but my Hanna 96801 won't read accurate at the Brix the sap is at. I ended up boiling down 15 cups of sap, which made 1/2 cup of 65.9 Brix syrup. This calculated out to 2.2 Brix sap I believe...mostly from silver maples. It was so fun to hear my wife say "It's actually working"! I had been putting in so much time without any syrup, but now it's ON! I think she is a believer :D


The trees were running good yesterday! Over 100 gallons from the 100 taps...Wish I would have finished the mainlines...that was a lot of work carrying 5 gal pails all over.
@Karen, thanks for the tip to get bigger collection bins! Definitely would have lost some sap to the ground if I hadn't upgraded!

[Run Forest Run!]

You're welcome Bryce. None of us would want to think that you were watering the ground with that precious stuff. Enjoy your syrup and remember to post more pictures when you get a chance. :) "

"It's actually working" hahahaha That's a classic.

[CWebster]

110 gallons from 98 taps last night. Most were running pretty good. Hope it continues...

[Lethalbowman]

Collected another 25 gallons last night as that was all the containers I had would hold. I targeted the Sugar Maples and left the reds alone. I think Mother Nature has turned on the spigot here in Northern Michigan. I need to pick up a 55 gallon food grade drum on my way home so I can collect more sap for this weekends boil.

[huntingken111]

Collected 260 gallons in last 2 days running like crazy. Love my shurflo pump 44 taps and 95 gallons

[Todd Postill]

still nothing exciting happening here 65 taps and only collected 10gal.yesterday and 18 today the numbers are increasing.still have a lot of solid frozen ground in spots and a couple trees budding on the other side of my property.a little mix of everything going on.

[Don(MI)]

Have 290 gallons of sap in last 2 days...the faucet is on. Did loose 40 gallons after it spoiled from last weekend on Sunday I think. Had those few warm days and we didn't fire up then cause it wasn't enough to get cooking. No big deal though. We are back on track and going strong now. Sap tonight was really clean and clear. Looks good compared to earlier in the week.

[Greenthumb]

Collected 150 gallons from last night to tonight. Its running through the ro sapanator right now. My wife and father in law are going to boil tomoorow while I am at that dreaded place called work. Will take over when I get home

[DonMcJr]

Another 55 gallons today on 43 taps! I gotta boil tomorrow or Ill run out of storage...gotta save half for Saturday when the local newspaper is coming by to do a story!

[David in MI]

Collected 750 gallons today from good flow late yesterday and today. Looks like tomorrow will be another good one, too. :cool:

[Run Forest Run!]

Another 55 gallons today on 43 taps! I gotta boil tomorrow or Ill run out of storage...gotta save half for Saturday when the local newspaper is coming by to do a story!

Don, make sure you give us a link to the newspaper article when it comes out.

[austin357]

Way cool don what paper i would like to check it out i got another 20 gallons today from my 32 taps some running good others not much got 40 gallons cooked down to 2 gal and another 45 gal sap in storage at the end of today happy sappin my friends cant wait to boil

[DonMcJr]

Austin its the Port Huron Times Herald...I'll post a link once its online and will find out what day they are running it!

[austin357]

Thanks don

[bryce]

Firebox, pan and door completed! Just need to assemble and...Just in time to boil that sap!

11211112121121411213

Also added the last picture of the RO unit (prior to assembly -- which I still haven't done yet!)

[Tweegs]

Vacuum pump trouble, seized a bearing.

Grainger had one that fit, but ordered a bearing and seal kit anyway.
Off vacuum for a day and a half. Since I use a ladder to bring sap up to the shack, the mains were loaded, took a while to clear.

Going to be a long boil tomorrow.

[Spartazoo]

I find that all maples have a slightly different flavour, box elder included. I've had it straight up and also mixed into blends. While pure sugar maple is delicious, I find that a blend of soft and sugar is wonderful. I've had friends over for tasting sessions and all are amazed at the differing flavours.

I tap Sugar and Norway maples and people that taste my syrup really like it. I agree combining different types does create unique flavors.

[satch]

I've collected about 20 gallons of sap from 1 tree. But it's now starting to bud. The other 5 trees I have tapped have only given about 1 gallon each. Hopefully they'll start running soon.

[DonMcJr]

Been getting 55 gallons a day from 43 Taps! Just boiled down 55 Gallons and then collected and now I have 110 Gallons to boil tomorrow! The Newspaper Reporter came by today and Interviewed me and took Video and the Camera guy is coming by tomorrow. Got to use my new Smoky Lake Complete Steam Filter/Finisher and let me tell ya I only had a gallon of syrup but man it's the Cat's Arse! Had it at 185 when I dumped the Finished Syrup in and it went through the filters like water!

Here's my 1st Small Batch of 2015... Video of Smoky Lake Filter in the filter section...

11230

[Run Forest Run!]

Don you should be proud of that batch. It looks perfect.

[DonMcJr]

Thanks! Just found out the video will be online tomorrow and the article is running in Mondays paper!

[Don(MI)]

What a day!

240 gallons in ONE day for us is ALOT.

We are flat out buried with sap now. Finished off 6.5 gallons of syrup to tonight and wouldn't surprise me if we get another 5-6 gallons tomorrow.

[Cedar Eater]

Collected 13 gallons from 15 taps today. Closest day yet to 1 gallon per tap per day. Probably going to finish my first half gallon batch tomorrow.

[Sanford MI Mapler]

Collected 55 gallons of sap from 35 taps today, collected 100 from 55 taps Wednesday and 100 gallons Sunday. Going to boil down in the morning, this will be a learning experience since it will be the first time on the new 2X4 Sunrise Hobby evaporator. Sap is really flowing here in Sanford.

[Cedar Eater]

Holy smokes! 12 gallons from 15 taps over night! One tree with two taps produced almost 5 gallons in the last 24 hours. My boil rate is about 2 gph. Hopefully I can keep up with a 9 AM to 1 AM schedule.

[DonMcJr]

Just stoked the fire for a 120 gallon boil!

[Snappyssweets]

I am in my first year of tapping.
So far have hauled 286 gallons of sap.
Boiling this year is on propane side burner on grill and the house (since I got so much)
Today is slower thank goodness allowing me to catch up.

Made my own taps
Metal tube, Plastic tubing, and gallon jugs. Collection is in buckets.
I see a lot of things changing for next year. Including building a wood burning processing area.

[Greenthumb]

Not much of a run today. Tonight is supposed to dip below 32 maybe a run tomorrow. Have made about 2 gallons of syrup on 70 taps. Had to pull a few taps that where to hard to get to with the water in the woods

[sugarmangraham]

Collected about 100 gallons off of 45 taps the last couple days. I only managed to get about 35 gallons thru the evaporator today before I had to shut down. With not much of a run today hopefully I will finish off the rest on Sunday and clean up my storage tanks and get ready for next week's runs.

[Cedar Eater]

Welcome to the Michigander page, Snappyssweets. How many taps did you make to get that much?

[DonMcJr]

Ok took 15 hours to boil 110 gallons. Had and hour where I flooded pan to get photos taken by newspaper. So I got about 8 gph and with the sweet from my other 2 boils I got almost 4 gallons of Syrup and theres still sweet in the pan. In all 18 hours start of boil to cleanup. So...Goodnight!

[Snappyssweets]

Thanks Cedar Eater
I made 100 taps
I will put something up in the Homemade equipment area and pictures to show.
The collection is easy keeping up with boiling is my issue right now. :)

[Run Forest Run!]

Ok took 15 hours to boil 110 gallons. Had and hour where I flooded pan to get photos taken by newspaper. So I got about 8 gph and with the sweet from my other 2 boils I got almost 4 gallons of Syrup and theres still sweet in the pan. In all 18 hours start of boil to cleanup. So...Goodnight!

Don that's an impressive amount of syrup to show for your long day. You're going to need all the syrup you can make once the newspaper article comes out! Congrats on all the super publicity.

[DonMcJr]

Went down to 17 F last night and not very warm today...no flow here...gonna let loose when it warms next though!

[ronintank]

This weekend I boiled Friday Saturday and half of sunday and made 9 gallons of finished syrup.
It's good to be back at work for the rest.
My home made arch and pan are running around 15-16 gallons per hour evap.11282