Tapped in north N.J.

[5050racing]

Only got 3 of my 3/16 runs done for ever fixing all the chews from deer,bears,squirrels,I really think I will remove n mark the runs n reinstall them it will take way shorter then all the time I spent 2 days after work and still more to do,of my 3 runs of 3/16 500,600,700' runs must of fixed 25-30 spots n some drops not happy! 45-50 degrees Wednesday so will see what happens? 25 taps or so to go couple buckets I do also

[sugarwoodacres]

Good Luck ! I'm waiting til the tail end of the cold spell coming tomorrow. I have all new tubing up with tee fitting cut in just waiting to drill them in, should be around 180 taps this year . I hope you get enough today to boil down cause it looks cold for next week. I can help reduce your deer bites on lines for free, lol.

[5050racing]

I jumped in had some time to do it but look Monday -Thursday in 40s rain low pressure?

[John-NJ]

5050, how much did you get today? Not a major run here, but steady and enough that I am cooking again, maybe 75 gallons... Dark now, but still have decent flow, so I am letting it go...

Spent most of the day swapping fittings on things so that process will be a bit smoother, and built a small sap ladder to get the new line across the driveway...

[5050racing]

It's rippin here only tapped late last night my 3/16 had about 25 gal from about 30 taps need to count one day to mad last night and just tapped another 10 trees so 14 taps and it's really running that is a little slope of 5/16 that is was going to change out but the AH deer,squirrels didn't touch any of it and some was on the ground from trees down makes me think to leave it and that's what I did only 12' of drop so maybe next year but if they don't chew it like the 3/16 it's staying!Just got in now from getting my tote tank on my cub volunteer to collect in the morning before work

[John-NJ]

I wonder why they chew on the 3/16 but not the 5/16??? Maybe it looks like licorice!!!:lol:

This year I came through relatively unscathed, just some miscellaneous problems and leaks but I can't prove that anything was chewed. In some places I rolled up my laterals so that I could get through easily during the summer and fall, in other places I left up the laterals. I have very little slope here so I can't do the gravity vacuum thing, that is pretty amazing how it works!

Tomorrow I will be cooking all day.... There is now about 100 gallons in the tank from today. Gonna go out now and shut off the vacuum pump. Looks like we may get a rest break friday and saturday, temp may not get above freezing

Happy collecting and cooking!

[5050racing]

The 5/16 if more rigid I forget think it leaders semi rigid and the 3/16 is more flex like rubber,me being a lineman for power co the squirrels always chew this type of rubber insulation ! Going out to pump tanks now good day to you all!

[5050racing]

Just collected 55 gal and still have around 15 trees to tap looks like it's here! Got down to 25 last night a little ice in drums .

[sugarwoodacres]

The 5/16 if more rigid I forget think it leaders semi rigid and the 3/16 is more flex like rubber,me being a lineman for power co the squirrels always chew this type of rubber insulation ! Going out to pump tanks now good day to you all!
I had left up about 1000' of 5/16 over last 3 years. i changed it all this year with new cdl 5/16 semi rigid. In the 1000 that i took down there were only about 4 small chew spots. Maybe right about 3/16 rubbery lines being chewed , I word for telephone co and the squirrels wreak havoc . I switched out 5 gallon buckets for 55 gallon drums and down to 3 collection spots , humping 30 buckets around sucks when its slippery .

[5050racing]

I have only 6 buckets the rest tubing with 3 collection spots

[5050racing]

Collected another 55gal tonight after pumping them down at 5am and I have about 15 trees to tap yet about 20 taps or so to install,checked my 3 runs of 3/16 all up n running great 29" on one 20" on other 22" on others may have a leak on them but it was late things maybe slowing down by then will check them again.

[5050racing]

Ran good today we had 13 degrees Friday night and 40 Sunday but nothing ran till today collected 85gal Tuesday Wednesday look to be big days?

[John-NJ]

Pretty much same as here in South Hunterdon

I got a few gallons yesterday, but not much. Cooked everything from the tank as of noon today, from noon till 8 tonight I got another 100 gals in the tank. Leaving the vacuum on till I go to bed, cause things are still running.

gonna be rainy and warm tomorrow then stay warm thru Wed's afternoon - not sure what is going to happen - trees may not get a chance to recharge - we'll all see.

5050, lets compare notes tomorrow night again.

Cheers

[sugarwoodacres]

Put in 180 taps this weekend, next to no sap running as of yesterday 5pm . Went out and collected at 630 tonight and only got 75 gallons at 2% sugar content and trees still running . I agree tomorrow should run good.

[5050racing]

Collected 85gal last night didn't collect yet today

[5050racing]

John nj what did it take to build the RO really thinking my sugar is always low I can evaporate 12gal/hr but just need to shorten it

[5050racing]

Collected another 90gal tonight the 4 on buckets did like 4gal each,the 3/16 was still running good.

[sugarwoodacres]

Collected another 90gal tonight the 4 on buckets did like 4gal each,the 3/16 was still running good.
How many tapsbyou have in? Amazed at how cold it stayed today and not much running . About 32 all day today here.

[John-NJ]

So I had 175 gallons to process today. Probably 120 or so from yesterday/last night, the rest from this morning on vacuum. I was working out by the vacuum system and I could tell rate was best in the morning, and got slower and slower throughout the day. I emptied the tank at 1pm, and left the vacuum running. Only got another 25 or 30 gallons until 8 pm tonight.

5050, if you are handy, it is no problem to build a RO. I used mine today to take the 175 gallons and reduce it to about 30 before I began cooking. I average about 45 gallons an hour on the RO. When I start with raw sap, I can take out 60+ per hour, but as it concentrates, it goes slower and slower; I was doing maybe 30 an hour when I turned it off.

If you like I can send you pictures, and the diagram (P&ID). At it's simplest RO is 2 pumps, the membrane/housing, and a valve. You would also want a filter, some gauges, flowmeters, etc.

Don't know if you ever make it down Flemington way, but if you do, I can show you the system.

Cheers

[dcast99]

Planning on tapping this weekend. While doing the final cleanup of the evap today, we discovered 2 dozen pin holes in the syrup pan. :mad:That sucks. The pans are only 4 years old. Hopefully a local welder can fix it tomorrow.

[5050racing]

It's always something hope u get it fixed!

[5050racing]

John I'm not far I'm on Jugtown mountain and will love to come and see it I have to do this RO,with this storm probably busy at work with power co but now I'm sitting on like 170gal dropped frozen cranbury bottles tied to fishing line to keep cold but this snow will be welcome to pack tote tanks

[sugarwoodacres]

200 gallon run from yesterday approx 600pm til 500pm today. Boiling away now

[John-NJ]

Well pretty good run for you today

After working late boiling last night, and needing to go to Philadelphia today, I didn't turn on the vacuum system. Whole day, might have gotten 5 gallons on gravity alone... I turned on the vacuum when I got home at 5pm and wow - 45 more gallons in 5 hours. Not as strong as yesterday, but guess I should have had it on today.

5050, got your note, and will give you a call sometime after the storm. I guess you will be pretty busy with work (maybe we'll see some of your buddies down here!). I am just south of Flemington in East Amwell Twp, maybe 15 mins from the 202/31 circle.

I promise to post some details of the RO build, I have gotten several requests.

Everyone stay safe in the storm!