Barometer

[kpofootball1]

Hey guys I've heard from a lot of people about the use and importance of a barometer. I plan on getting one today for the sugar house and was just wondering what range is ideal for sap flow

[Zucker Lager]

Hey Kpofootball:
I also use a barometer for calculating the boiling point of water then adjust my syrup finish temp using that. Go to the link below for a quick boiling point calculator. I didn't know that it could also be used for calculating sap flow so I learned something here too. Jay

http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oboil2calc.html

[mellondome]

They make a barometer with the boiling point on the dial . No chart needed

[1arch]

I've been watching the barometer and noticed high pressures may = less sap flow

[kpofootball1]

I've been watching the barometer and noticed high pressures may = less sap flow
Do you have any idea what pressures the sap runs the best?

[killingworthmaple]

In my way of thinking and also watching it for a couple of years when it changes from a high pressure system to a low one the sap will flow really good. That being said all other factors need to be favorable.

Nathan

[mellondome]

Lower the pressure the better the flow... this is why vac works on trees to increase production. Artificially creating a low pressure system at the tap hole.

[maple marc]

Here is a much better calculator for boiling point--it factors in pressure AND your elevation:

http://thermoworks.com/software/bpcalc.html

You really don't need a barometer in your shack. You can check NOAA for the pressure at a nearby airport, plug it into the calculator. You'll be amazed at how much the boiling point changes with weather. Instead of adjusting my draw thermometer, I just check the pressure and make a mental adjustment on the draw.

[1arch]

Do you have any idea what pressures the sap runs the best?
I agree with killingworthmaple. Some of the great flows I've seen are when the pressure has been 30+ then drops into the 29's

[bobsklarz]

OK. Question; I've just been boiling for 12 hrs, 2x6 Leader, boiled 240 gallons all from Sugar Maples. Never got any syrup? Got to about 3 degrees above boiling point and never got higher. Wood hard and dry. Cut last fall. First yr had this problem. Help!

[NhShaun]

Sweetening the pans with low Sugar % sap?

[sugarmaker94]

Must be fairly low sugar, we gathered 200 this afternoon and I boiled it and ended up drawing off about a gallon right at the end, I don't think our sugar content was very high, I don't think any more than 2%. Btw, I have a 2by6 too

[NhShaun]

How much sap does it usually take you to sweeten your 2x6? I have a 2x6 as well and still waiting on my first ever boil with the new pans!

[sugarmaker94]

I think I have done it on 150 gallons before, can't remember for sure

[1arch]

My 2*6 with steam away holds an initial 27 gallons. The two previous years I started with 160 gallons and ended up with just around 2 gallons of syrup when I ran out of sap if I remember correctly.
The following boils produced syrup faster though since the pans were sweetened. I have a valve between my flue pan and syrup pan I close during cool down so the almost done syrup does not flow back and mix into the flue pan. During the next cook I open the valve upon coming up to temp and the flow is once again in motion.

[maple marc]

On my Leader 2x6, it took me 5 hours of boiling to get my first draw this year. That's about 150 gallons evaporated. My sap ranges from 2 to 2.6 brix. From a total of 7 hours of boiling I now have about 3 gallons of syrup. From my experience, that evaporator calculator is way off when it comes to sweetening the pan.

[Super Sapper]

With 2% sap this year it took me 70 gallons before I started drawing off of my 2 X 6. I only have 1 1/2 inch deep "V" on my flue pan not the normal drop flue. I think last year it took 45 gallons but that was at 4% sap.