MyDeereMaple
12-29-2007, 09:32 PM
I got my first taste of sugaring about 25 years ago when I was about 11 or 12years old. My dad was a boiler maker and we used a well made barrel stove to boil on. Last winter, I thought I'd pull the old unit out of the heap pile and give sugaring another try. With a little help from family we produced a few gallons of syrup from about 25 taps for only our consumption. The sweet aroma and rewarding taste made me wonder why I waited 25 years to give it another go. It probably had something to do with all the work.
Well it won't be another 25 years. With the hopes of avoiding the 3 day continuous boil downs in the future, I was able to acquire a used leader Vermont Special (I beleive a 2x4) this past summer. I am looking for any tips that can be offered on using this evaporator. Since I don't have a sugar house (yet) I built a frame for the unit so I can pick the unit up with my tractor forks and move it out of my barn to operate. I should be able to set up the automatic feed. I am assuming to get started I fill all compartments in the pans with sap. Won't the back compartments (drop sections) boil quicker than what I start off with in the front pan? If anyone can walk me through the process I'd apprecaite it. Hope to learn and tap more. Oh yeah, I also bought some more property for the mature maples that were on it. As seems to be the case with alot of the postings I've read on this site, I'm looking to increase this years yields. Thanks in advance.
Well it won't be another 25 years. With the hopes of avoiding the 3 day continuous boil downs in the future, I was able to acquire a used leader Vermont Special (I beleive a 2x4) this past summer. I am looking for any tips that can be offered on using this evaporator. Since I don't have a sugar house (yet) I built a frame for the unit so I can pick the unit up with my tractor forks and move it out of my barn to operate. I should be able to set up the automatic feed. I am assuming to get started I fill all compartments in the pans with sap. Won't the back compartments (drop sections) boil quicker than what I start off with in the front pan? If anyone can walk me through the process I'd apprecaite it. Hope to learn and tap more. Oh yeah, I also bought some more property for the mature maples that were on it. As seems to be the case with alot of the postings I've read on this site, I'm looking to increase this years yields. Thanks in advance.