Tapping Pennsylvania 2019

[Paddymountain]

Well, It looks like it's my turn to start the Pa tapping thread!
I am tapped!! Ha Ha! I put a bucket out yesterday to see what's going on.
No, It looks like next week will be the week. As long as they don't change the forecast, that is.
I'm about as ready as I can be in the woods. Last week I set a cage tank before it snowed, and today
I ran some 3/16 tubing through a culvert under a road to get the drop I needed.
Tap count this year, about the same, around 375. Plus the neighbor bringing from 40 buckets.
Looking for a great season! Remember to have fun everyone!
If it turns in to work, you should probably look elsewhere for a hobby!!!!!!

[minehart gap]

I'm with you Paddymountain. I'm about crawling out of my skin, this waiting is working on me. I doubled my tap count this year and added an RO and other bells and whistles.

[a.clarke]

Keeping my eye on the forecast, but it is looking like I will be tapping on Sunday 2/3! Everything is all set and ready to go. Can't wait to test out the new Smoky Lake 2x4 divided pan!

[Plutoman15]

I will put most of my taps in Saturday morning (around 18). Starting next Thursday it looks good for several weeks. Might get a short run this Saturday and Sunday. Let the drips begin!!!

[Skeller001]

I put taps in 14 trees this afternoon. A few of them started to drip just a tiny bit. It was right at the 32-33 degree line. The majority of the trees were in the 12-15" range but there were 4-5 that were larger.

After this week and the road is cut in I may have a few more that are big enough to tap. I didn't tap any that may get taken down this week. I hate seeing them come down but there isn't a choice.

Good luck everyone!

[Plutoman15]

Taps are in. Sap was flowing today. Tomorrow should be better.

Sugar was 1.75% on woods Norways.

[Paddymountain]

I have 150 taps in. It didn't get very warm here in central Pa, maybe 28. Tomorrow looks like things will free up.
I'm tapping my 3/16th taps tomorrow, somewhere around 100. I don't think the sap will really start to flow until
Monday! Need to get the Sugarshack cleaned up and the evaporator put back together.
Should be making syrup on Wednesday

[minehart gap]

3/4 of my taps are in as of dark yesterday. Sap is flowing nicely today

Spent the day working laterals. Had a lateral explode in 3 different places and another lateral had the saddle chewed in two by a squirrel. Just waiting now to flush the new RO then sweeten the pans. The season is underway.

Good luck everyone, how we all have our best season yet.

[Paddymountain]

I got all my 3/16 taps in! Some running good; others in colder areas, not so much.
Squirrels are getting fat eating my tubing! They gotta be as many hole as I fixed today.
Tomorrow I'll hook up my 5/16 lines to their tanks and look for some leaks
Need to get the vacuum up and running at the house.
buckets will come later

[Chief103]

I'm kinda new at this and very small scale. Approx 40 taps. Being from central pa the temps can be pretty unpredictable. I put a few taps in yesterday and would like to do more. I'm anxious but is it to early?

[Paddymountain]

Hey Chief103, I think you will be okay. Out of the last 8 years, 4 of them we boiled on or before February 9th.
I am in western Union County so you are exactly east of me about 30 miles.
If you are only boiling with a turkey fryer or such. Why not put out 1/2 your taps,
and then wait a week or so to do the rest. Honestly the forecast for next week doesn't look real
promising, but you being out away from the mountains might make a big difference.

[Paddymountain]

Sap is not flowing very well in Union County. I have 150 taps on 5/16 gravity that has only brought in about 40 gallons as of this morning.
100 taps on 3/16 starting to run; but leaks everywhere! after 3 times fixing leaks, I finally think
I have them under control. All the 3/16 is on marginal slope, so not getting big time vacuum, but better than 5/16 and no vac.
90 some trees at the house on vacuum tapped yesterday, only 10 inches vac after fixing a dozen leaks.
Probably won't boil until Friday, but certainly have a lot of the woods work ready for when we
get thawed out a little more.

[Chief103]

I only got about 18 gallons from the 20 trees I have tapped here in the flat land. Kinda hoping the next few days run good so I can boil the weekend. First boil is always fun, the neighbors always stop by for the sweet smell and a coffee.

[Skeller001]

So I have gone from over 6 gallons a day to 1. Some trees are producing almost nothing. Will it pick back up or are they done for the year?

[Paddymountain]

Skeller001: I would think that you need a good freeze to reset your trees. Here in Central Pa we just started thawing out, even though
we have been well above freezing every day since Sunday. Looks like a little colder on Saturday.
We have finally got everything up and running half decent. Haven't boiled yet but tomorrow we will.
Got the vacuum at the house up to 22" and hooked up to the tank around 4:00 this afternoon. 3/16 is sorted out and running.
150 Taps on 5/16 only had about 40 gallon in the tank yesterday, but until tomorrow should have enough to boil.
I really thought I would have boiled on Tuesday or Wednesday the way it warmed up, but surely can only do what nature allows.

[Sugarmaker]

Skeller,
Very interesting but not very surprising on how the sap production dropped off with continued warming the last few days. You should have good sap flow after the next freeze.
I worked this late afternoon in the rain getting the last of the tubing and gathering systems in place while the weather was favorable. Looking at tapping next week unless its too cold.
Regards,
Chris

[sbedilion]

So I have gone from over 6 gallons a day to 1. Some trees are producing almost nothing. Will it pick back up or are they done for the year?



You’ll be overloaded next week :). The trees will basically shut down after several warm days without a freeze. Everything is freezing up here tmw and Saturday...then next wk is the freeze/thaw everyday we want.

[Skeller001]

Thank you everyone! I have about 7 gallons of 2x RO concentrate to boil off this weekend. Looking forward to it. I tried a small batch last weekend, a gallon, but went too far since I didn’t have a thermometer. So it is super thick.

[Plutoman15]

definitely get a candy thermometer. Make sure to test it with boiling water first to see exactly where it says the boiling point is. Mine is off a degree or 2 so I just add the temp for syrup from there.

sap should starting flowing Saturday afternoon again.

[Skeller001]

definitely get a candy thermometer. Make sure to test it with boiling water first to see exactly where it says the boiling point is. Mine is off a degree or 2 so I just add the temp for syrup from there.

sap should starting flowing Saturday afternoon again.

I ordered a candy thermometer but it was back ordered. I tried to use my turkey fryer one but quickly realized it wasn’t right when it said my boiling sap was 150 degrees. My thermometer has now arrived. Tomorrow will be the test. Thanks for the suggestion on boiling water. So I wasn’t it at that point plus 7 degrees I believe

[Chief103]

My trees gave up. I sure hope they start running when the mercury rises!

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Tapping the rest of the roadside sugarbush today. Hoping for a warming trend this week.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Sap started running again at my place. Nothing yesterday but 7 gallons today. My sap hydrometer arrived yesterday so I tested my sap. It tested out a 2.25. I am now running it through the RO and will do so a second time. I hope to have 6-8 gallons of concentrate for a weekend boil

After the first pass through the RO bucket I was almost 5%, then about 8% after the second pass

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Got a sap run late yesterday but had other commitments today and couldn't get it gathered. It will be a challenge tomorrow. Probably many 100 lb sap cubes!:) Maybe can get some sweet from the center???
Warming some in the PM tomorrow.
Typical hurry up and wait!:)
Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

Things are a little slow here. Hopefully it will run some tomorrow and Friday.
Last week I boiled about 240 gallons; sweetened the pans and made about a half gallon of syrup.
I have to say the window looks a little small for the next two days, but you never know.
Next weeks forecast doesn't look to promising either!

[a.clarke]

Sap was running here as well. My tank at the main sugar Bush was frozen pretty solid so I wasn't able to collect anything there. But my one silver in the front yard was running pretty well. Got 2 gallons of 3% out of it today.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Yea this doesn't look great for syrup making till mid March if you can believe the Accuweather forecast!
Sometime today or tomorrow will be the great sap ice cube dumping competition. I feel bad I was not able to get out and get it gathered yesterday. Big mistake on my part.
May get a little run starting tonight and through tomorrow night.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

I picked up another 8+ gallons of sap today. That is up 2 gallons from yesterday. So a little more than a half gallon per tree. If you guys are saying it is slow now what is normal???

[Paddymountain]

Skeller001:
We are slower because it's a lot colder where we are located. I just went down and turned my vacuum off.
The roofs are dripping, but my lines are frozen already. Tomorrow will be a good day here.
Barely below 30 tonight, and almost 50 in the afternoon.
Then it looks to be cold until the end of next week.hth

[Sugarmaker]

Gathered 180 gallons of 3%+ sap. Boiled it in with some new friends over tonight. Sweetened the pans to about 15%. If we get a small run tomorrow we might make syrup! Gathering was a challenge. Slush and ice in the tubs but no solid cubes! Whew, dodged a bullet on that one.
https://i.imgur.com/SbqTUK3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/82TiiwU.jpg

Regards,
Chris

[Plutoman15]

Wow! That is quite the collection system.

[Sugarmaker]

Wow! That is quite the collection system.

Yea not for everyone! In fact not many folks gather/ tap short run tubing systems. I have 30 stops similar to that on my 30 mile route. Took about 2.5 hours to gather yesterday. Not much labor when set up but it doesn't come to the sugarhouse!

Sap gathered yesterday was at 3.5% due to the slush ice. Had 180 gallons. Boiled that in and sweetened the pans. Looks like 300-400 gallon out there from a run all night. It didnt start to run till 4:00 yesterday afternoon when I was finishing gathering. Not great looking syrup weather. But we will take whatever we get now that we are tapped. Repairs in the sugarhouse today as I forced a float box into position and cracked a fitting! 200 deg sap from the preheater went shooting into the room! Could have been worse than it was no one got wet or burned and I had a valve to shut it off and continued to feed the rig through another inlet to the steamaway float box . Had new friends in the sugarhouse and that seems to be when things happen! May boil again tonight if I get out there and gather. Might be a tank load of sap and it will run for a while this afternoon too. Sap looked very good and it might make some lighter syrup??

Regards,
Chris

[maple flats]

Sap started running again at my place. Nothing yesterday but 7 gallons today. My sap hydrometer arrived yesterday so I tested my sap. It tested out a 2.25. I am now running it through the RO and will do so a second time. I hope to have 6-8 gallons of concentrate for a weekend boil

After the first pass through the RO bucket I was almost 5%, then about 8% after the second pass
When you concentrate ahead, make sure you store the concentrate to keep it cold, under 34 should be OK for 6 or 8% concentrate for up to maybe 4 days. If the storage will be longer just save the sap and concentrate just a few hours before boiling and even then store it cold until ready to boil.

[Skeller001]

When you concentrate ahead, make sure you store the concentrate to keep it cold, under 34 should be OK for 6 or 8% concentrate for up to maybe 4 days. If the storage will be longer just save the sap and concentrate just a few hours before boiling and even then store it cold until ready to boil.

Sounds like if it runs for a full week I will need to do a mid week boil. I don’t have a ton of fridge space to store all of that sap which is why I have been concentrating every evening.

[sbedilion]

Im jealous of your truck. I have a 275gallon tank in the back of my tacoma but that little truck cant hand more than 150gallon and thats pushing it. My next purchase might be a trailer......or a bigger truck :)

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Made 8 gallons of Amber last night with the 440 gallons of sap yesterday. Not a great run on 625 taps, but nice clear sap! Sure glad I didn't wait to gather. At 4:00 yesterday the temp had dropped to 30F and the sap was almost stopped. By 9:00 last night everything was froze up.
Looking for some fittings today, as I snapped the feed hose up to my truck tank. It was 15 years old and not very flexible anymore. Will add in another quick disconnect at the top so this hose can be removed cleaned easier too!.

sbedilion,
Bigger the trucks the bigger the bucks as they say! After gathering in three other Fords prior to this, I finally got this one set up to haul and carry the 325 gallons of sap easily! I added the Timbren solid rubber snubbers to the suspension to replace the original jounce bumpers. They seem to work real good. Air bags would have been good too, but didnt want the maintenance. This diesel does not like the stop go and idle conditions of my sap route. They are built to drive, not set and move and set. It is one of my toys!:)

Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

We gathered 360 gallons today here in Central Pa. Started boiling around 9:30 and finished up at 4:40.
Made about 5 gallons of syrup, have 3 1/2 gallons filtered and bottled, but couldn't coax the rest through my 5" hand press.
I think it had cooled down too much.
Doesn't look like much happening here until next Thursday; kinda hope we don't get dumped on as I have pigs to butcher on Saturday!
But whatever comes our way we will try and process.
I have 50 buckets to put out yet; holding off until the last week of February.

[Skeller001]

Boiled off another 3 pints today. So that makes 6 so far.

Nothing like others do but it is cool for me.

[Sugarmaker]

Steve,
Your doing great! Keep in mind you have made 6 pints more than just about all the other folks (non syrup makers) in the world! Nice!
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

I went a little too far today. The filters probably had a half a pint of sugar in them. I believe that means I was at 219 too long.

[deacm]

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE NEXT BEST TIME TO TAP? (I only have buckets so keep that in mind). It looks like we are starting Feb 20th to get about 4-5 days here in NW PA of High 30's/Mid 20's (day/night) which makes it tempting to set up and tap. Then it shuts down for about a week until around March 5th when we get 40's/20's for well over 2 weeks! Maybe I should just wait for the good long run? Opinions?

[weaver]

Just got tapped in this weekend. 61 taps on buckets. Just have to finish up the sugar shack now. Weather looks great here thu- Sunday.

[minehart gap]

deacm, why do you say it shuts down when you get 40's/20? That temperature variation is when I get some of my best runs. Combine that with changing barometric pressure and sunshine and look out. You might need to collect a little more often so the sap doesn't spoil but could be great sap flow.

I think I would already be tapped

[Sugarmaker]

Deacm,
Good to hear from you.
I think you should tap this coming Tuesday or Wed. Looks like we may have some good runs?
Roll that unit into the drive and get boiling!
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

I went a little too far today. The filters probably had a half a pint of sugar in them. I believe that means I was at 219 too long.
Not sure there is any problem being at 219 too long! Its when you get to 230 you have issues BTDT! Are you sure it wasnt sugar sand in the filters?
BTW we are generally around 217 F when we make syrup. Water boils at about 210.5 here.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Not sure there is any problem being at 219 too long! Its when you get to 230 you have issues BTDT! Are you sure it wasnt sugar sand in the filters?
BTW we are generally around 217 F when we make syrup. Water boils at about 210.5 here.
Regards,
Chris

It was like sand. It threw me off since there was almost none the other time I did it

[Paddymountain]

Just finished up boiling 220 gallons of 2% sap, and made 4 gallons of syrup. I had collected on
Saturday morning. I kind of forgot that it was really nice here that day. when I checked a drum last evening
with about 40 3/16 taps running into it; I was surprised to see how much was in it.
Anyway, I got out after lunch and collected sap. Right now at 820 gallons of sap.
Sugar content not too bad, but a little ice in the barrels, so probably running a little high.
Glad I boiled tonight, because I believe Thursday and Friday will be really good. Looks like a good balance of freeze and thaw
for awhile!!

[Sugarmaker]

It was like sand. It threw me off since there was almost none the other time I did it

Steve,
Not sure but will ask? Are you familiar with sugar sand? Or niter (correct name for sugars sand)?
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Steve,
Not sure but will ask? Are you familiar with sugar sand? Or niter (correct name for sugars sand)?
Regards,
Chris

No sir, never done this before

[Sugarmaker]

Steve,
Sugar sand occurs when we bring sap to syrup. It can be light to heavy as far as the quantity and can change during the season. Also the color can change too. Sometimes light colored early and dark brown to purple at the end of the season. Lots of info out there on sugar sand. Basically you dont want to eat it. Therefor most folks strain/ filter the sugar sand out with filters. You can let it settle out but it can take days.
I did a short talk on filtering at LEME (Lake Erie Maple Expo) 2 years ago.
Hope this helps a little.
If you can go to a local sugarhouse that is making some syrup it may help you. Every sugarhouse runs a little different. So just keep a open mind and try to scale things to fit your size and needs.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Thanks Chris!!

It was a good day for sap. I had about 15 gallons from the last two days. Ended up with a little more than 3 gallons of 7% after RO

[Chief103]

Last week me and my girls collected around 130 gallons of sap and got to boil on Sunday and Tuesday. It made for a couple fun days. Can't wait to see how my trees run until Sunday. I have my little ones all worked up about the mega boil coming on Sunday!

[Paddymountain]

Chief103:
That's great to get the kids involved! Sounds like you are cranking in the sap!
This weekend looks really good. Last night I got 55gallons of sap from my 90 reds on vacuum
here at the house in about 5 hours.
How many taps do you have?

[D and D Sugar Camp]

We tapped in on 2/3/19. 30 on 3/16 . Boiled the last 2 weekends 157 gallons. Sugar is averaging 1.4ish. Boiling today from this weeks haul. Hoping sugar gets higher. I'll let you know.

[Chief103]

Paddy mountain I have 42 taps on buckets an bags and a few more taps to put in. But I'm waiting all little because I'm not sure how much they will produce and I don't want more sap than time allows me to handle!

[Skeller001]

Today was a high for me, 4.5 pints. That is up from 3 each of the last two weeks and 1 the first week. So my season total is at 11.5 pints. That is higher then my goal of a gallon and it looks like there may be a few weeks to go???

My syrup is getting darker. The first 2 times it was very light and I thought I did something wrong but it tasted great. Today it looks like what I am familiar with. I heard it gets darker throughout the season and near the end it is better to use for baking and not syrup. Is that correct?

Thank you all for the guidance, it is truly appreciated!

[Plutoman15]

I think that is correct but last year I made my lightest syrup the last 2 weeks of March. I think last year was strange though.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Making syrup, completing bathroom remodel, visiting with sugarmakers, resting! Boiled 4 times. Sugar content good! At 41 gallons and it is all Amber at this point.
Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

We are catching our breath here after the (whirlwind) weekend! On Friday we gathered around 385 gallons of sap.
Started boiling at 6:00 and gave up around 12:30am. Got up Saturday and spent all day butchering
2 pigs. Sunday after church, got my sausage and bacons in the smokehouse. Then went and brought in another 300
gallons or so of sap. Started boiling around 4:00. We were on a really good roll to get it all kicked, and amazingly
had made around 9 gallons of syrup! At 9:30 we lost power with about 75 gallon to go! Still no power Monday morning
so got up at 6:00 and tinkered with the generator (grrrr..) to get it going. Pretty well running on vapors until last night.
It might be sacrilege for a sugarer to say " glad for a couple day freeze" , but don't think I could of continued at that pace!!!
Still have the 9 gallons to filter and bottle , and need to look at some lines. It doesn't look like we will get another run
until Thursday or Friday.

[KV Sappers]

Season has begun for me . Tapped 32 trees and sap was running good. Next couple of days look good.

[springhillsmaple]

Good early season so far. We set up all new gravity 3/16 lines for about 1500 taps this year. They really work well, pulling 28" of vacuum at the tops of the longer lines. It has been easy to find air leaks by observing the pattern of sap and bubble flow and I've found leaks everytime I've looked. Squirrels and pushed out spouts mainly. Anytime it has thawed, it's been running into the collection tank in the woods at about 120 gallons. We made 50 gallons the first week of February while tapping. We are now up to about 155 gallons total after two good thaws simce then. We are on target to handily beat last total of 300 gallons with half as many taps this year.

[Paddymountain]

Although it was fairly cold today, the sap is really running on 3/16th lines. I have 250 gallons of 2.1 percent
at the sugar shack now. I'm going to wait until tomorrow morning to boil, as I have 9 gallons of syrup to
filter and bottle. It would get too late tonight to get it done. After I get done tomorrow I want to hose out all
my tanks at the sugar shack, and start all over again with everything clean.
My cage tank at one of my bushes away from the house was looking kind of crappy, so after hauling the sap home
I took back around 40 gallons of water and gave it a good scrubbing. Looks like 40 degrees here tomorrow
and Saturday. Having everything cleaned up for that run will maybe give us a little lighter grade syrup.
I have boiled around 1500 gallons and used 1/3 of my wood , should be able to make it until the end of the season.

[KV Sappers]

Great run today on sap. Collected 41 1/2 gal. this morning. Started sweetening the pans. Hoping the snow does not amount to much next couple of days. I still have snow in the woods and can't get my tractor around the bush so I'm footing bucket fulls out. Great exercise, twice the time to collect. But hey, that's why we do what we do.

[Skeller001]

So after next to nothing yesterday I got about 8 gallons of sap today. RO down to 2 gallons of almost 8%. It has been a slow week. Hopefully more tomorrow and Saturday for a good amount to boil down Sunday.

[D and D Sugar Camp]

Our lines made it through the wind event earlier this week. Someone was looking out for us. Managed to collect around 129 gallons of water this week. Started boiling after work yesterday slept a little and started again around 5am. Last weeks sugar was back down only made 1.25 gallons of syrup from 91 gallons of water. Not sure why sugar is so low this year. Any thoughts? I usually average 2% for the year. I only have 2 taps on Soft Maples and the other 28 are in Sugars.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Checked sap at the collection stations at several locations. Found 4 gallons of ice and about a gallon of sap. Decided to let is set till the next run which looks like it might be on March 9th? Then maybe very busy after that. Taps will be about 4 weeks old at that point. Hoping cold weather is a plus to keeping the taps open and active a little longer.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Wasn’t expecting much this morning when I went to empty my buckets. I was wrong, they were dripping pretty good. So now I am running that through the RO while the other 5 gallons of concentrate is boiling down. I am sure with this snow the buckets won’t have much in them tomorrow.

[Paddymountain]

We were a little surprised on Sunday. On Saturday we barely scratched up 50 gallons of sap. So, I
had everything washed out to start up after this weeks freeze up. Until it was all said and done we ended
up boiling 250 gallons Sunday evening! It really didn't get that warm here, but it was a little sunny in the morning.
On Thursday I put about 50 buckets out; but Saturday afternoon, after emptying them I took them off the trees and set
them on the ground behind them. No need to have the Township plow them full of cinders after just putting them out.
Just over 30 gallons of syrup as of Sunday, looking to make 75; we'll see!!!

[Chief103]

Last week I had issues with my sap bags freezing and the wind shredding them . So I pulled all my bags on Monday morning hoping to save some work replacing the bags. Most likely gonna put them back out Friday. On the brighter side of things having my taps in earlier this year I was fortunate enough to collect almost as much sap as I did all of last year. Approx 450 gallons so far. Can't wait till Saturday it looks like it's going to be the start of a really good run with daytime highs in 40's. Thanks for all the great info and good luck everyone!

[Sugarmaker]

Cold and colder seems to be the norm this week. Making maple value added products and hoping for some good runs over the weekend and into next week. Maple crumb and maple coated peanuts completed today! Early amber syrup has awesome flavor!
Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

Froze up here too! We have a group from the library coming on Saturday.
Not sure how I'm going to proceed. I should just boil water , because that would clean out my flue pan good.
I do have a little sap I could try and thaw out, but would probably have to add water anyway.
Next week looks like good weather for sap flow, hopefully we'll get 3 weeks yet. I think
I would be able to make another 40 gallons or so, with about 6 or 7 more boils.

[Sugarmaker]

Froze up here too! We have a group from the library coming on Saturday.
Not sure how I'm going to proceed. I should just boil water , because that would clean out my flue pan good.
I do have a little sap I could try and thaw out, but would probably have to add water anyway.
Next week looks like good weather for sap flow, hopefully we'll get 3 weeks yet. I think
I would be able to make another 40 gallons or so, with about 6 or 7 more boils.

Paddymountain,
Sounds like water demo might be best if you dont have the sap available. Or I have put all my sap in the front pan and had water in the back, that can work too. Just have to be careful. Can also use the water to push that syrup through and then clean the rig when done. Uses some wood but it will work.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Started to thaw today, got about 3 gallons of sap. Hopefully tomorrow is good. So far I only have about 3 gallons of concentrate for the week. This was the least amount of sap I have gathered in a week during my 4 week maple sugaring career...lol.

[Sugarmaker]

Might have to clean out gathering containers today. Will have ice to dump. Very cold again last night. Just too cold to get much run today. Maybe start to run this afternoon, all night and through tomorrow? Got to get moving!:)
Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

Warming up quickly here! We have 25 people signed up for a tour.
Decided to boil water with a little sap in the syrup pan for the smell.
Thought I would try candy on snow for the crowd, should do fine!

[KV Sappers]

Trees thawed out mid afternoon. Dripping a little hopefully will run all night. Will collect tomorrow and start boiling again. Temps this week look good.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Well I decided to get the containers emptied of the sap and ice thats been in there for the last two weeks. Lots of ice chunks. in the big 50 gallon containers I had a tough time getting it out. Anyway I did bring home about 60 gallons of sap. Raun it into the big head tank and drew off a bucket to check the sugar content. Yep right at 6%! I think that is the highest I have ever gathered!
Should have a fresh sap run tomorrow. Most lines were running.
Regards,
Chris

[heus]

Chris its just starting to get cranking here right across the border.

[iby]

Started dripping here late morning... has been running good since about noon. About 100 gal of sap so far
Had pa state inspection yesterday and all went well
So those are the positives, now the negative.
Had to put my sap dog down yesterday. 4 year old pup that walks the lines every day with me. Even though wearing a flea and tick collar and had the Lyme disease vaccine, she got a bad case of Lyme disease that sent her straight into renal failure. Walking the lines today alone was really rough, but got through it. ��

[minehart gap]

sorry to hear about your buddy iby.

[HowardR]

Had to put my sap dog down yesterday. 4 year old pup that walks the lines every day with me. Even though wearing a flea and tick collar and had the Lyme disease vaccine, she got a bad case of Lyme disease that sent her straight into renal failure. Walking the lines today alone was really rough, but got through it. ��

Here's what I put on my line checking clothing to protect myself from Lyme Disease: https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Permethrin-Clothing-Repellent/dp/B001ANQVYU

[Paddymountain]

Our tour went well yesterday! We had 23 people! I left a young girl drill a hole for a bucket tap
and a young lad put in the tap. Had sap flow immediately, which was great to see. They were there
almost 1 1/2 hours. My friend said it was the biggest event ever signed up for at the library.
I just boiled water with a little sap in the syrup pan for the smell. All in all, I think everyone
learned something and enjoyed the tour. Only about 2 or 3 people raised there hand when I asked them
if they had ever been to a sugar shack before.
I have the evaporator cleaned out good and ready to go. I don't think it ran real well here yesterday,
it took until about 2:00 for my vacuum here at the house to thaw out. I wasn't away from the house, so
not sure of my trees out on the road. This week looks like the deluge will be coming, hopefully
we will be able to keep up!

[Sugarmaker]

iby,
Not a good day when you lose a dog!
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Very true our dogs are like family members. Try to concentrate on all of the good memories

Just finished boiling, and it was a quick boil. Ended with a dismal 1.5 pints. That takes me to 2 gallons for the year. This is a fair amount of work but I enjoy it. I need to implement a better boiling strategy for next year. The turkey fryer and 6” steam pan are my weak link.

[Sugarmaker]

Steve,
Continuous Improvement Project.
I just finished boiling too. Resting! Gathered about 420 gallons of sap, plus the 60 gallon from yesterday. Finished up making 15 gallons of syrup today.
Getting colder. Might freeze?
Regards,
Chris

[KV Sappers]

Collected 28 gal of sap today. Boiled and got 3 pints syrup today. Sap tested at 2% today.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Just a glimpse of our sugarhouse.

https://i.imgur.com/NM2e3s2.jpg?1

Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
I took some pictures Friday of the ribbon cutting at the new sugarhouse built for the FFA and the school to use for educating kids about making maple syrup. Northwestern School district. We are proud to have this in our school district!
They are boiling on a Leader 2 x 4. and have a RO processing sap.

https://i.imgur.com/D2fufJf.jpg

FFA teacher Mr Honeycutt
https://i.imgur.com/qp8j7MO.jpg

In the evaporator room:
https://i.imgur.com/oUPmx7Y.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hCUndeE.jpg

Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Sugar maker... nice operation!!!

The FFAsetup isn’t bad either

[iby]

Thanks all for the comments. She will be hard to replace, but never forgotten

450 gallons since the start yesterday. Got 4 gallons of syrup... I’m a slow boiler. :/. Still a lot left to boil. Tomorrow is another day though

-brian

[Skeller001]

So was today just a bad day or is it over for me this year? My 14 trees produced about 2 gallons of sap today and most of that was from 2 trees.

[Icefisher]

I don't think we're done yet at least I hope not.
Looks like another good run on Thursday.
I'm in South West Pennsylvania

[KV Sappers]

Not sure what your weather looks like or how long you've been tapped but I don't think the season is over yet at least in my area. The sap is running crystal clear yet for me, no signs of end of season yellowing, no moths. Thurs and Fri temps don't look good but starting Sat and all next week temps look great.

[Skeller001]

Not sure what your weather looks like or how long you've been tapped but I don't think the season is over yet at least in my area. The sap is running crystal clear yet for me, no signs of end of season yellowing, no moths. Thurs and Fri temps don't look good but starting Sat and all next week temps look great.

I have been tapped for four weeks now. I had virtually no sap yesterday.

How well have others in SE PA done the last two days?

[KV Sappers]

Since you've been tapped 4 weeks my guess is your trees are starting to seal the hole. I'm from sc pa and have only been taped since Feb 26. Yesterday I collected 20 gal. We folks on buckets have about 4-6 weeks once we tap that hole.

[Ed R]

Skeller 001, According to post 5 of the thread you tapped on January 31st, which is pushing 6 weeks. Unless you have new trees to tap, you are probably done

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Last year we tapped end of Jan and still made syrup into early April. First time I ever boiled in all 4 months!

I need lunch then off to gather and pay rent bills in syrup! I expect around 300 gallons of sap. Tomorrow may be a big run??
Had a good visit with Scott R. a new producer in the neighborhood, who is doing a great job for only making syrup a couple years! Made some maple cream this morning.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Skeller 001, According to post 5 of the thread you tapped on January 31st, which is pushing 6 weeks. Unless you have new trees to tap, you are probably done

Great catch! I was thinking that might be the case. About 4 are not producing at all. Should I pull the taps out of them right away? That is something I don’t know, how to know when to pull the taps.

I did get about 3-4 gallons today. I am totally happy with the 2 gallons of syrup I have made.

[Ed R]

I would wait to see what it does after it freezes this weekend. Then you will know for sure whether it's done done. A few days won't hurt anything.

[Paddymountain]

I have 200 gallons of sap to boil tomorrow. Most of it 2.6 percent. Sap hasn't been flowing very
hard the last few days, actually took two days to get what we have. Doesn't really look like the end is in site. Like
Sugarmaker, I tapped around the beginning of February. Looking at my books last year, I caught a run the last weekend
in January and boiled for the last time around March 17th. Funny thing is, I've only boiled 8 or 9 times.
Once again records show on average about 12-15 boils per season. We do have a warm up tomorrow and Friday, but it
is really the first of the season. Last year we had 11 consecutive days in February above freezing. There has been hardly 2 days in
a row above freezing this year. Anyway, I'd really like to make about 30 more gallons of syrup. We will see if it happens!
Next week looks good.

[Paddymountain]

We ended up with 370 gallons of sap on Thursday to boil! Made about 7 1/2 gallons of syrup.
It's all bottled but the last 2 gallons I made in the evening. It was really hot here yesterday.
We brought in all our collection barrels and gave them a good pressure washing. Out they go today, as we got a trace of snow last
night. Looking back at last years gatherings, we got 1000 gallons of sap the last week
of the season. Hopefully we can repeat that this year. If not it's gonna be a pretty poor season.
Got the batteries on the charger thinking about a little redrilling to get me there.

[Skeller001]

Since the 3+ gallons I got on Wednesday I have had next to no sap since. I thought maybe this morning I would have some but no dice. I will see how the next two days go and if it doesn't get better by Wednesday I will pull them.


I did manage over 2 gallons of syrup this year which is AWESOME!


I would like to thank several members of this group for providing guidance to me over the season so far. I truly appreciated it!

[Paddymountain]

Was able to scare up about 70 gallons of sap today. Made just about 2 gallons of syrup. It's not looking good
here, I think the end is in sight. I redrilled 100 taps on my one gravity bush. It didn't look too promising,
most were bone dry. We aren't collecting again until Tuesday. It's cold enough to get by on gathering every other day.
Looks like Saturday will be the last hurrah. Might end up being one of my poorest seasons. Guess you need
lows and highs to get an average!

[KV Sappers]

Season over for me. Pulled all taps today and did final boil. I thought my reds would start backup after warm spell but they just have not run since. Season was only 20 days long but I ended with a little over 3 gals. of syrup. Good luck to everyone for rest of season.

[Skeller001]

I got about a gallon of sap today. If tomorrow isn’t any better I will pull mine as well. I am very happy with my year one results

[Sugarmaker]

Busy since last Wednesday! Lots of sap, many hours boiling. many visitor to the sugarhouse over the weekend. Just hit 100 gallons of syrup! Tubs cleaned and pans sweetened again.
Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

I'm back in the game! Boiled a little over 200 gallons tonight and made almost 4 gallons of syrup.
With the cold nights we have been able to go two days until we gather. Tonight low of 24
and Monday night I believe 18 will get us into early next week. I was sure we would be done Saturday
but looking better. The bush I redrilled gave 75 gallons and my buckets are still doing well. Might be able to get
60 gallons for the season.

[Skeller001]

Pulled my taps out last night. Out of 14 taps I only had about a cup of sap.

2 gallons the first season, I’m happy

Good luck to those still tapping well!

[Chief103]

So far only three of my trees gave up on me. The rest are having there slow spells but seem to bounce back. I've boiled 600 gallons so far for the year and hope to get to 1000. But I will be happy with whatever I get from here on out for I have already exceeded my expectation for this year. My time will soon run out for my trees anyway with a wounded corn planter calling my name!!

[Paddymountain]

Hang in there Chief! Weather looks good until next Wednesday!

[Chief103]

Thanks Paddy. I am gonna hang in as long as I can but mother nature is soon gonna tell me its time to go to work and my hobby will have to wait until next year!! Maybe sometime in the future if you don't mind I will stop by and check out your operation.

[Paddymountain]

Chief: Come over when you can , that would be great. I boiled about 160 gallons today, and
filtered and bottled 7 1/2 gallons of syrup. Sugar content is falling a little, hope it comes back after the next freeze.
Looks like the season will go to Wednesday now. Still have a little over a half a row of wood.
Ambition is starting to wane! But want to get as much syrup as I can!
Anybody else still going in Central Pa?

[Sugarmaker]

In the great white north we are back in winter mode for a couple days. Looks like at least another gentle warming spell next week. I may have to gather a little more wood to make the 150 gallon, .25 gal of syrup per tap mark, but we are close at 135.5 gallons of finished syrup. Off to can some dark robust. The grade went back to nice Amber and we made 12.5 gallons last night. Sap has been good and cleaning out the tubs and tanks plus the cool weather has helped keep the sap in good shape.
BTW I had a blast visiting with folks on our Taste and Tour last weekend!
Regards,
Chris

[cjf12]

Chief: Come over when you can , that would be great. I boiled about 160 gallons today, and
filtered and bottled 7 1/2 gallons of syrup. Sugar content is falling a little, hope it comes back after the next freeze.
Looks like the season will go to Wednesday now. Still have a little over a half a row of wood.
Ambition is starting to wane! But want to get as much syrup as I can!
Anybody else still going in Central Pa?
Just over the mountain from you. I'm the one who got your English pans a few years back. We just boiled last night with about 450 gal. Haven't added it up yet but thinking were close to 85-95 gallon total this year.

[Chief103]

Hey paddy, in regards to my post about stopping by to check out your operation please give me a call or text when you can and I will get directions to your place. I am somewhat familiar with the area your in but need fine tuned. I would really like to stop by before you shut down for the year. I've seen some larger scale operations on youtube but not in person. Thanks spike 570 490 4705

[lightstreetmaplesyrup]

Here in Lightstreet, it's slowed to a trickle. Anyone still collecting in NE PA?

Total taps: 12
Finished syrup: 6 gallons

[doocat]

Yup. Our biggest runs of the season the last few days.

[lightstreetmaplesyrup]

Where are you located?

[lightstreetmaplesyrup]

Did you have to redrill to get these big runs?

[Maplewalnut]

We are still going strong. Warm weekend followed by sugaring temps again next week!!

[doocat]

No just good vacuum and woods management. Susquehanna county.

[shoefly180]

I tappend the trees on Feb. 1st and fired the evaporator up two days later. We pulled the taps on March 15, but probably could of gone another week.

[Sugarmaker]

Looks like maybe one more run after the freeze Sat night. May have sap Monday? We are getting tired. Gathered every day this week and boiled several times too. Have reached the .25 gal of syrup per tap average. 170 gallons of finished syrup. Grade has moved down to dark robust. Flavor is great and the hard maples still look good. Taps are about done. Still trying to keep up fixing things as we go. Replaced the SPA blower for the steam away. and got the old one fixed to have as a spare. The thick rubber heat shield had failed. Tore my Oberdorfer gear pump on the filter press apart and found the gears to be worn. It is very noisy! Just ordered a replacement set of gears. Received some new plastic hose from Bascom's for the suction and bypass lines on the filter press. 5/8 I/D, very nice product!

Regards,
Chris

[Paddymountain]

We pulled the plug on Thursday. No sap to speak of. Boiled out the evaporator, filtered and bottled some syrup made on the
previous Thursday and Sunday. Evaporator is soaking in vinegar water. Concentrate from syrup pan is in 2 pots and a half full bucket.
Worked all day yesterday and today flushing tubing. We have about 50 buckets to wash yet and finish cleaning up the evaporator.
Looks like a little over 60 gallons for the season. Will know for certain syrup total after cooking down and bottling what's left out of the evaporator.
Kind of thought my season would be better! Two things I think need done for next year.
Putting buckets out earlier: Last year and this I tried to time my buckets for the perfect weather. I don't think that worked.
Second: I need to change all my drops this year: Some have gone way too long, and I think I'm paying the price for it in lower production.
Also: I am changing my 3/16 drops over to 5/16 . Some of my 3/16 bushes are less than 30 feet elevation change, and I believe the 5/16 drop on 3/16 tubing
might not back up as much.
Overall; Things went really smooth! No disasters, or massive sap dumps from not turning a valve.
Already thinking about how to go about things more efficiently next year.

[lightstreetmaplesyrup]

Collected a couple of gallons yesterday. Hopefully we'll get a couple of more tomorrow after the last night of cold temperatures here in Columbia County. That's all folks. It's gotten very very buddy!

Total sap this year: about 240 gallons
Total taps: 12
Finished syrup: about 6 gallons

[DRoseum]

Based in Murrysville outside of Pittsburgh and our season has been over for a solid week or more. My last boil was on the 20th. Already looking forward to next year and making improvements. Thinking about vacuum lines and scaling up the RO!

But in the meantime... Maple Festivals!
https://www.sugartree.run/2019/03/2019-maple-syrup-season-recap.html

[minehart gap]

Finished the season at 5 taps per gallon of syrup. I had really low sugar content all season, averaging 1%.

The RO, AOF and AUF, auto drawoff and front pan float box we're all great improvements. I want a on demand hot water heater for next year and to expand the RO. Planning to double my taps again next year if we can sell all of the syrup. And I am definitely going to start some thinning around my maple trees.

Good luck to everyone still boiling, have a great rest until next season. I think that I'm going to try to make a few gallon of birch syrup and a couple batches of birch bear.

[Paddymountain]

Finished my syrup bottling tonight: 61 gallons 5 pint 3086 gallons of sap.

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
No sap today, at least not yet. Still cold. Should have sap by Tuesday night! Everyone is invited to my place to watch sweet water boil!
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Pulled the lines from the tubs. Gathered that last of the sap, !60 gallons of 1.8%. Will boil that in tonight and start to pick up the 30 gathering stations in the next few days. Then flush the short run tubing systems with water and bring them back to the sugarhouse till next year.
Regards,
Chris