Common newbie questions

[barnbc76]

This is my second year making maple syrup and i have found a very fun new hobby and a great way to make good gifts. Last year i tapped 2 trees and got about 44 gals of sap which i got about 2.25 gals out of. I expanded to 7 taps and i still feel like i should do more, but i really dont like spending $3.50 a tap at a local store.

I'm interested in making things simpler by using the plastic taps w/plastic tubing into buckets so i can use a lid on my buckets (right now i nothing covering them) I found the website leaderevaporator and they seem like a great deal. What should i buy, i saw the plastic tubing comes in 500ft lengths i dont need more than like 25 ft.

I'm still working on upgrading my arch/evaporator but i think i'm doin pretty good at 3.5-4.5 gals/hr. I seem to always second guess my thermometer whether or not my syrup is finished, especially considering the fact that it takes most people 2 times as much sap as mine. Is it really worth getting a hydrometer if im only making 1/2 gal syrup at a time? Also how many times should i filter it? I have just a simple filter from tapmytrees.com. i enjoy reading all the ideas and opinions on here thanks for respoding.

[psparr]

You can find tubing and taps on eBay. Look around there though, some are way over priced.
A hydrometer is a nice investment and piece of mind. Just nice to know when you have "actual" syrup. The hydrometer cup is the pricey part. But you could store up the syrup you make and put it in a deep enough container to check your density.
As filtering goes, you don't even need to filter it. Just let it settle a few days and pour off the clear syrup. If you are filtering it, once should be enough. I wish I had trees like yours. Takes me around 80 gallons of sap to a gallon.

[barnbc76]

I'm also curious as to what people use to bottle it with. Mason jars seem to be the cheapest, does anyone know a good place in western ny to buy some quart sized glass containers.

Another question i have is i tapped 2 trees and they never had sap run, should i just tap them in a differnt location, just curious why 3 taps didnt produce anything. The wood shavings were not dark.

[psparr]

It's cold yet. Are the trees larger diameter? Did you tap on the northern side? Those factors will affect sap flow. I have one tree that hasn't given a drop in three years. Beautiful healthy tree.

[barnbc76]

They were all south side but in a more wooded area, the one tree is large the other med, my other trees ive tapped have given me about 20 gals so far. We have been fortunate to have 2 weeks with decent warm ups.

[psparr]

I treat my trees like they're women. VERY unpredictable 😋

[pathfinder22]

this is my 2nd also, but this is what i have bought.
leader evaporator 5/16 plastic taps with check valve .40 each. with very fast delivery.
cheapest place for mason jars and lids is walmart. around 12.00 for case of pint jars. think about 15 for the quart jars.
country max hydrometer 17.99 (this is new for this year)
meter cup 19.99
lowes 5/16 clear plastic tube, .39 ft. (food grade)
so 30ft is $11.70
I have 3ft drops to my buckets.
free food grade buckets from top market bakery. You can never have enough. I call em every couple weeks to save some for me with lids.

All seemed to work for me last year.

[barnbc76]

I should have ordered those taps, i think someone bought everything on their website, its all out of stock.

[mellondome]

Find a dealer... where in wny are you?

[Ray_Nagle]

The first thing I'd do is buy a refractomer and/or hydrometer. You don't need anything expensive, but your sap-to-syrup ratio last year doesn't make much sense without applying . My guess is you didn't quite make it to 66 brix, which is why you had so much production from so little sap. When you do get a refractomer, you can test last year's batch (if it's still available) to confirm.

[Tickle]

Hi I am also in WNY and I usually make the trip to Wendell's ,Nick is very helpful and has everything you need from small scale operations to large scale ,for me it is about hour drive but well worth it ,his shop is located in east Concord

[barnbc76]

The first thing I'd do is buy a refractomer and/or hydrometer. You don't need anything expensive, but your sap-to-syrup ratio last year doesn't make much sense without applying . My guess is you didn't quite make it to 66 brix, which is why you had so much production from so little sap. When you do get a refractomer, you can test last year's batch (if it's still available) to confirm.

Your probably right, I really just didn't want to spend the money. Im trying to keep this as simple as possible. What is the diffence between a refractometer and a hydrometer? I live just outside of Buffalo.

[rhwells2003]

Another question i have is i tapped 2 trees and they never had sap run, should i just tap them in a differnt location, just curious why 3 taps didnt produce anything. The wood shavings were not dark.

I had a tree like this at my place too. 20" diameter, beautiful canopy. bucket tapped it for two years. I bet I didn't get a gallon of sap from that tree in two years. So I cut the **** thing down and sold it as firewood. I got money from it one way or another :)

I also relate my trees to women, some are pretty, some are ugly, some give it up easy, some make you really work for it ;)

[Sugarmaker]

A refractometer needs only a small amount of sap or syrup to do the test for sugar content. Not all refractometors can check sap and syrup you might need one tool for each. hydrometer and matching cup are for checking hot or room temp syrup unless you get eh Accucup or the smoky Lake Murphy cup.
You can also check for syrup by using a flat edged spatula and check the syrup for aproning (some call it sheeting) As the liquid gets close to syrup it will have very large wide web of syrup hanging on the edge. If you haven't learned this you may want too. Since you really don't need any other equipment to get within a degree of syrup if your watching the boil and using this antique method of checking density. So if your really frugal try this along with your temp checking.
Regards,
Chris

[pathfinder22]

leader evaporator showing taps back in stock.
I want to say that when you looked was at the same time they re-did their web page, and was not totally updated yet.

[barnbc76]

Thanks I just ordered 25 taps. Can you use the plastic jugs they sell or do you need equipment to bottle it.

[pathfinder22]

Personally I like to put it in pint mason jars.
We can a lot of meat and veg's so I have ample supply.
Plus it makes it a little easier to share with friends without giving up my whole supply, (we ran out 2 months ago).

[Timster]

Ok here is a newbie question. Can I tap a stump? The power company recently cam through, December 2015, and cut a road through my property. Now I have access to some trees to tap. They left behind some nice stumps cut off at a height of three to four feet or so. One of the stumps is over three feet in diameter. I was wondering if the stump will yield any sap once the trees start running and if I could tap what's left. I would expect that it would only last one season but better than wasting something that could be salvaged.

[barnbc76]

After my last boil i did 1/2 gal and 8 oz, from 24 gal sap. I did as someone suggested and looked for the sheeting as i got closer to syrup...it is much thicker than most i have made and i still have difficulty reading that thermometer....look at it at one angle it says 219... another it looks like 222...also when is the best time to filter it, this time i waited to the end and it plugged the filter so i changed it, then that one plugged up too. Is it normal for the syrup to look like there is a slight cyrstalized layer on top while you are boiling? It isnt there now that i bottled it but it was while boiling, looks pretty cooo... I think im just going to order a hydrometer...

[Galena]

Hmmm....Timster, I really don't think you would get anything from tapping a stump, as the whole idea of the sap running is the sap's going up into branches as the day warms and back down as it cools...you could give it a go but I personally wouldn't bother.

Barnbc, when boiling your sap and checking the temp, make sure the bulb of the therm is NOT touching the sides or bottom of the pot in which you are boiling. Ideally you should check the temp of boiling water before boiling sap, as water boils at 212. Or is supposed to anyway, that can fluctuate depending on altitude, humidity etc. Then add 7.1 degrees to get the temp at which you can expect your nearup (or sap concentrate) to start turning to syrup. Again that's only a starting point - last year I helped a noob finish off a batch of syrup and it finished at 224!! Watch videos to see what is meant by aproning, which is what we used to help gauge the syrup being ready.

Now, if you've got crystals atop boiling water, I'd say you've overboiled and will have to add more sap to make syrup, unless you want to make maple sugar. Watch for fine little clear crystals in the bottom and sides of your jar. If you get them, then you've overboiled, but the crystals are just sugar. You can melt them out of the jar with warm distilled water or fresh sap and add it to the next batch you have going.

[saphound]

Seems like I remember a thread last year from Dr. Tim where they were cutting maple saplings off and getting sap from the stumps with a special condom-looking gizmo that went over the stump, and maybe some vacuum too, not sure. But a big stump I don't see how you could do it. You might get a little from a tap, but most is going to just ooze out the top and then probably stop.

If you're in a pinch for buckets and can't find free ones, Walmart sells food grade 5 gal pails for about 2.25..lids another buck or so. I just picked up 5 more. Look for a 2 inside the triangle on any plastic container and it's good to go for sap. My local Tractor Supply is selling cases of pint canning jars for about 7.50 right now on sale..regularly around 12 bucks.

[Galena]

A quick added-value thought to my original post for barnbc...I think what you thought were crystals atop your boiling syrup were just water bubbles, getting progressively smaller and smaller, to the point where the bubbles are tiny. I find that the surface looks a lot like suede when this happens, and yes it's a good thing, and another very good indicator that you're reaching syrupdom :-)

[barnbc76]

Thanks for the responses, i wont have to battle the syrup testing anymore as i ordered a hydrometer i will test my last batch and the one i will be working on once it comes. How long does it take for the cyrstals to form? I already gave one bottle away from my last batch, im hoping it doesnt cyrstalize on them...oops

[Galena]

In my experience, crystals start to form within a day or so. Usually it just looks like a very fine layer of sugar inside the jar and possibly up the sides. There's nothing wrong with it, it doesn't affect the flavour of the syrup. It's just sugar. Let them know that if they do see any crystals at the bottom, it's nothing to worry about.

I used to know one guy who did things REALLY old-school...boiled out in the open with a huge cauldron suspended over the fire, pretty sure he never had a hydrotherm...his syrup had chunks of sugar in the bottom like huge rock crystals!!

[saphound]

I've had small sugar crystals form a few times. If you heat the syrup bottle in the microwave (minus the cap of course), pretty hot but not boiling, then cap it and shake, the sugar melts back into the syrup for that mornings breakfast. ;)

[Run Forest Run!]

Saphound, I think I recall reading on this site that if you heat syrup in the bottle (even with the cap off), the glass can shatter or explode. I was shocked when I read it as I used to do that all the time.

Does anyone else remember seeing that? If it's true it is a good thing to let the newbies know.

[happy thoughts]

I don't remember seeing that, Karen but I can see how that could be possible knowing how quickly syrup in the microwave heats up. Much faster and much hotter than water. If reheating in the microwave I always pour the amount I want to serve into a microwave safe container like a pyrex measuring cup and then heat for only 10-15 seconds at a time. If the container is going to crack, I'd rather lose a little than a lot. If heating in the original bottle I'd also suggest doing it in short bursts and be very very careful if you're starting with a cold bottle out of the fridge since microwaves do not heat evenly. Most glass doesn't do well with drastic temp changes and even pyrex is known to shatter when heated.

[Polish Wizard]

This is my first year in the hobby and I can tell you Dr. Tim suggested I purchase a manual refractometer to gauge the quality of my syrup. He cautioned me I may not have enough syrup from my anticipated 10 taps to make a hydrometer work very well. Add in the concern of hydrometers breaking easily, you may be spending more money during the season than you planned. Make sure you look for one that is ATC --- automatic temperature compensation. A refractometer only requires a couple drops, as was already mentioned, and no batteries to wear out.

I also purchased a 12" long Thermoworks digital thermometer to keep an eye on my cooking. If you aren't familiar with the temperature process, look through this site to learn how to measure syrup temps 7-degrees over the temp at which water boils at that moment. It all involves elevation, barometric pressure, etc --- which can change during each day.
If you have time and ability, spend time on the web looking for these items and you'll be surprised at the great differences in price for identical items. I don't think we're allowed to include vendor details on this site.

I opted to use blue collection bags, but I use 2" PVC pipe for my collector instead of metal frames or buckets. Folks on this site offer videos of their process to make this style holder. I cut the pipe to 6" lengths, purchased 2" couplings and cut them in half to glue on the bottom--- to serve as a "lip" when I use a plastic zip ties to hold the bag in position. I drilled a 1-1/8" hole near the top of the pipe, which is just big enough for a 5/16" Leader Tree Saver plastic spout to fit inside and hold the collector to the tree. I also drilled a smaller hole overlapping the 1-1/8" hole, so the collector will sit a bit better on the spout. (Think of a keyhole shape for the combined hole)
I'm amazed how well a single zip tie can hold a full collection bag on the holder, and how well the Leader Tree Saver spout supports the entire assembly. The spout sinks nicely into the tree when you tap with a hammer, and still leaves enough shoulder exposed to hold the PVC pipe.
I put a cap on the collector to keep out rain and some bugs.

So far I've increased my plan and have 20 taps installed, which resulted in 40 gallons of sap boiled down to about 1/2 gallon of nearup in the fridge waiting to be completed and bottled.
I plan to use 1/2 pint Mason jars that I purchased for this project.

I have another 30 gallons of sap waiting for my next boil when I make the 100 mile trip to my bush and shack.

Hopefully you're having as much fun with this hobby as I am, and you're receiving as much help and encouragement as I received from fellow posters.
I'm still a newby at this hobby, but maybe the methods I adopted will give you some ideas how to improve your process.

[barnbc76]

Thanks for the input, yeah i'd say i'm enjoying this...its a little like hunting in that there is alot of waiting, i get to enjoy it with my family except so far i've yet to come away with nothing ,plus its the perfect outdoor activity in the late winter...oh yeah and it can be an expensive hobby.

i think i have the set up i want now, 5 gal buckets w/plastic tubing and the correct drill bit, i'm always looking to improve though. I bought the hydrometer because it seemed the cheaper route, stil waiting for it to come in the mail. A digital thermometer would defanately be nicer,

[Sugarmaker]

Thanks for the input, yeah i'd say i'm enjoying this...its a little like hunting in that there is alot of waiting, i get to enjoy it with my family except so far i've yet to come away with nothing ,plus its the perfect outdoor activity in the late winter...oh yeah and it can be an expensive hobby.

i think i have the set up i want now, 5 gal buckets w/plastic tubing and the correct drill bit, i'm always looking to improve though. I bought the hydrometer because it seemed the cheaper route, stil waiting for it to come in the mail. A digital thermometer would defanately be nicer,

Yes add the digital thermometer to the list too. Have fun!
Regards,
Chrius