tons of info

[mapleman3]

try this, all kinds of research info, some is old but still holds water!!!
http://www.ontariomaple.com/library.html

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Lof of down to earth info to help new producers!

http://algierevaporatorcompany.com/MapleFacts

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

sounds like your stepping up to the challenge...Kevin you providing the evaporator???? ;)

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

it's appx 50% decrease.. if you were closer I have great eggs here, sell over 14 doz a week now.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

hehe.. Great Job Kevin... bummer though on the free evap :wink: :lol: :lol:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

1963.. vacuum was first used for maple in the 60's

watch darn proctor probably tried it in the 40's

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Chris... Chris !!! this is why we need a live chat room here !! :wink:

that one kevin I have no idea.. unfortunately I have to go "vacuum" the pool so the kids can swim. but I'll come back to play later, hopefully someone else can play too!!!
it's been fun :lol: :lol:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

What year were metal sap spouts first patented?

[mapleman3]

stumped?????

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

buuuuuzzzzzzzzzz wrong close but no

1859 Eli Mosher patents first metal sap spouts.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Looooong drive home from Syrupmakers today... holiday traffic put us on the road for almost 8 hrs... oh well catch ya on the next question possibly.... always fun Kevin!!!

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

Next ? is Have you ever boiled eggs in your evaporator?

[mapleman3]

Yes when I wasn't selling the syrup, we used to boil eggs all the time... love those maple flavored eggs. no unfortunatly I don't get to do any of that fun stuff ... maybe I should boil some sap in the turkey fryer and throw some eggs in there... hmmmmmm :wink:

[syrupmaker]

Hot dogs are pretty darn good boiled in the sap pan and cans of soup opened with the labels peeled are a nice touch. :wink: Even a sweet roll or danish left next to the flue warm rather nicely for a buttery coffee break. 8)
And people wonder why i'm not 300 LBS. :o 8O

Rick

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[syrupmaker]

slightly more than 8.333. But i like to weigh it with the bugs and wood pulp still in the sap. :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Kevin.. just had to ask.. what are you boiling??? are you canning up bulk or something? making candy?? or are ya secretly tapped into a sap flow from way up near the top O Canada where it's still cold??? :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[syrupmaker]

OK i'll bite one more time. :roll: 1 gal/sap=8.39lbs afterthe bugs and the rest are filtered out. Guess i'll have to weigh my bugs and pulp this year and see if there is .06 lbs worth of them a gallon of sap. :P

Rick :wink:

P.s. Kevin you makin wine in your boiler :?: :!: (Sulfites/Alkalinity/Phosphates)

[WF MASON]

Someone tryed to' hack' into your computer Kevin ?? Did you used to work at Enron.??

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

if your buyin, how bout an accu-cup :wink: thats what I'm looking to get soon, put one of those babys up for grabs and I'll research the globe to answer the question :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

Found . deadline...Kevin

[mapleman3]

whew hard bargin.. I'll get crackin!!!! for sure

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

and?

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Hey slow down big boy, had a soccer game to coach, don't worry bout me... I'll find it :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Good idea on the hydrometer cup, as for the question, I guess that sounds good, I started to look it up then time with kids took over.. tough question to find on the net.. good job Kevin :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

Mapleman3?...Kevin

[forester1]

In general the 7", all things being equal. The smaller tree will respond better (faster) if it is vigorous. I say in general because a vigorous 15" tree will respond better than a suppressed 7". Also I doubt I would cut a 15" sugar maple in favor of a 7" sugar maple next to it because the 7" would respond faster. I would keep the 15" in that case if they were equal quality trees in all respects except size. I assume you mean cutting the other species and junky trees around a 15" and 7" in different spots. Also a 15" tree could take 2 taps in about 5 years going by the 18" guideline. A 7" would take 1 in about the same time so you would be even in amount of taps but the 15 inch would likely be sweeter if you had regular thinnings right along. However, younger, vigorous trees respond faster. There is my not so simple answer.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

When I get that sugarbush with 500 taps, and I decide how much $$ I will "put up" my evap for :)

incidently one of my bosses just purchased a 270 acre farm one town from me, maybe 20 minutes drive, It's all APR land, so I will go see what the "Maple Situation " is, see if I can tube it next year.. then maybe.. just maybe go up in size :) ;)

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Al]

Well Jim by the time you get done learning how to weld stainless you can make your own. Open up a company and stay in sugaring year around. Go around the country giving talks on how to become a sugaring millionaire. :lol: Staying busy here. Got some new lights in and the tank stand done.
Take care

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Jim,

I stupid, what is APR land? :oops: :oops:

[brookledge]

In Mass it is a program that puts a deed restriction on the development of agriculture land . In otherwards the goverment buys the development rights so that it can't be built on. APR stands for Agricultural Preservation Restictions

[mapleman3]

Thats exactly what it is, you own the land but it's in the deed that you cant develop it.. which gets you tax breaks also I believe.
he actually will not own it for a year, because in their contract(owners)they need to stay living there for 1 more year, but they have a purchase and sale agreement so they will close on it in a year, so hopefully before the 2006 season I can get there and start scouting it out. 270 acres is a lot, I know that alot is pasture but there is a good amount of woods they won't (can't) do anything with, so if they can lease some trees to me it would be "SWEET", maybe by then I'll find an older 4x4 which I'll make into a flatbed with a permanent tank on it just for collecting and other sugaring stuff. Hey a guy can hope right?

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Better be looking around for an RO and/or a larger evaporator too and hope for those! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[mapleman3]

it's doubtful I'll have to worry about going bigger like that, I know If I didn't have to work a normal job I could get a few thousand taps, but this guy doesn't have that much time to drive around to pick up sap. so we will see if I go much bigger tan 500 in the future.

[syrupmaker]

Jim...couple more years and you can turn Tessa loose with the truck and the boys. They can go collect and have it in the tank by the time you get home from work.Then it's just a big boiling party for you. :wink:

Rick

[mapleman3]

Is that what your planning with your 2 older ones?? :lol: nice idea for sure.. hey got my 12v bilge pump from ebay today, noe to design the dump tank for it to go in behind the truck, WF mason sent me a drawing which I will probably use!!!

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

Chicken Little where are you??

[mapleman3]

hehe kevin, wish I could, been so busy haven't had time to do any research.... been paintin the sugarhouse and planing the oil tank move and such.... heck I don't have a long stem that I could give away.. although I have been looking at that hanheld digital refractometer advertised in the Farmers Magazine. that would be "sweet" :wink:

I'll put up a n old wooden spout for an answer to a question if I find a question :wink: :lol:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Not till I get one for myself :wink: those are sweet, love to have one, I'm going to check on the price, but I bet it's hefty

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

I'll see what I have kicking around lol

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

1916 Metal sap-gathering tubing invented by W.C. Brower, Mayfield, New York. Proves impractical-prone to freezing at night, leakage and vulnerable to damage by deer.

[mapleman3]

And a little later.......1959 Plastic sap-gathering pipeline system patented by Nelson Griggs, Montpelier, Vermont.


how are those for answers Kev.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

actually I had that on another site I have in my favorites.. I remembered seeing that so it was an easy one to find... as for the patent #'s oooh that may be a tough one... lets see.... :idea:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

What do you mean run against the releaser all the time? I have a relay shut it off when it's time for the releaser to be pumped up to the sugarhouse. so it does shut off for appx 2 minutes every half hour to 45 mins

Oh and forget it on the patent #'s sure is alot to serch through for that, going through their website is futile, I guess seeing you have it on paper made it alot easier.. now if you can find it on a website, I'll let you keep the drill bit :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

no last season I used a ball balve and just sortof guessed, this year I definately want a vac releaser. seems like it would make theings a bit safer for the pump

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

well you didn't read the fine print :wink: I wanted a website where I could see it :wink: :lol: ..... sure you earned it lol

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[brookledge]

Most people refer to "Releaser" as the devise that dumps the sap into your holding tank some times refered to as an extractor. The amount of inches of mercury(Hg.) is controled by a vacuum regulator. Which is no more than a spring loaded valve or weighted valve which opens when the desired vacuum level is reached. The use of just a ball valve will not give you good results. When the sap is really flowing you need more CFM to keep up with it or the vacuum level will drop. When the flow is light the regulator will let more air in so you do not burn up your vacuum pump

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Seibold's Sugarhouse]

Kevin,
This may be a stupid question but, What can I do with a refractometer? Or beter yet, why do I need one? Explain this to me and I'm in for $30.
Jason

[mapleman3]

Yes regulator! Thats what I will get, exactly the problem I found last year with the ball valve!

[forester1]

A refractometer tests sugar content of fluids. I use one to test sugar content of trees sap before I thin them. Kevin, What is the percent range on the refractometers? Can you get the ones that are 0-12%? I have one that is 0-32% but I think to test sap it would be easier to read the 0-12%.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[forester1]

OK Kevin, count me in for one of the 0-10% brix w/ ATC.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Yep I'm in sorry forgot to reply!! I'm in ,I'm in, I'm in!! :wink: :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Nope not hiding, have been painting all the outbuildings this weekend, painted the whole front of the barn today, had the whole family helping, I don't think the barn was painted in 50 years, the old paint fell off as I scraped it... I'm so happy the way everything turned out, nice to have all the buildings match and look purty

I posted a pic of the sugarhouse on my gallery on my profile

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Jim,

Why not post some pics of your revamped buildings on your website. I am sure everything looks nice! :D

By the way, have you added any of the new pics you have gotten from others lately :?:

[mapleman3]

Soon as I'm done with the trim that I have to add I will post pics of all!! and also soon to revamp the website, trying to figure out how to dress the site up and make everyones pics fit in too :D

so keep em coming :lol: :wink:

Thanks Al and Kevin for the nice comments on the gallery and yes Kevin the sugarhouse was first to get done.. But we are real impressed how the barn turned out today, it's a good sized barn and now it looks fantastic, everything looks tied together now, even the chicken coop!!
And Al.. I am thinking of a sign, just need to get templates so I can router it out !!! looking at a good sized sign with Maple leaves of course on it!!

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

What is the difference between a tapping bit and a regular bit. I have a 7/16" tapping bit, but didn't like it as much as a good high quality regular 7/16" bit.

I will have to invest in a 5/16" this year since I switched all my taps including my buckets to that size. :?:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

A tapping bit seems to bight the tree and go in a lot faster and it seems too aggressive to me, especially using cordless drills. With the Tanaka last year, it was great, but with a cordless, it seems to require to much torque. :?:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Seibold's Sugarhouse]

Kevin,
I'm in for the refractometer, if it's not to late. I was on vacation last week. Let me know how much $$.
Jason

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Chicken or the egg?

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Took a chicken to lay an egg and a maple tree to make a seed, so I guess I will have to give God credit for both. :D :D :D

First politics now religion. OH BOY! Here we go again.

Rick

[syrupmaker]

OOPS at work it doesn't automatically log me on. Just bustin onions. :wink:

Rick

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Well I'm willing to bet the seeds came before the trees, for the trees most likely started out as bushes and the bushes still gave seeds, then the bushes slowly evolved into taller trees.. so I say the seeds came first.

as for the chicken and the egg... nobody ever specified if it was a chicken egg... therefor the egg came first.. there was eggs from dinosuares so the egg came first before the chicken :D :wink: 8)

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Ok, I got to throw a curve ball in every once in a while just to keep things interesting! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

I already said it in my last answer... the seed

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

unless by osmosis the seed apeared then planted itself into a tree... it may have been a seed to an oak tree that decided it wanted to be a sweet maple.. had the operation, changed it's name moved to Mass got married and became a maple tree... hmmm? 8O could happen

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Cool Kevin. M.O. is in with the CD's on their way

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Why Kevin that would be 1959 if I remember correctly

[mapleman3]

well???? :wink:

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[mapleman3]

Well that I can't answer because I havn't seen that catalog, But I'll research it.

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[can'twaitforabigrun]

I'm wondering what happened to Maple Hill Sugarhouse? This thread would be a lot more interesting and easier to understand if he hadn't deleted all his posts.