how many taps for 2by8

[markct]

i have a 2 by 8 airtight arch with 6ft flue pan, what number taps would be doable while still keeping my boils 4 to 6 hours? i usualy boil in the evening and was planning to have about 250 taps but now a new section of my woods will soon be accesible since the power company is putting in a nice gravel road right past where the lowest part is which would be ideal for a storage tank. so it opens up about another 150 taps or so, should i try and tap them or will i be boilin all night tryin to keep up

[3% Solution]

markct,
I would think 250 would work for you to start with.
Try it and see what happens, those other 150 aren't going to run away, they'll be there.
See what you do and go from there!
Just my thoughts.

Dave

[partsrus1974]

happy turkey day!!!250 should be no problem.I have a 2.5x8 and I have 700 taps with no RO,or steamaway.I'm going for 1000 this year.:p

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

markct,
That rig should be capable of 50gph or better. The additional 150 taps puts you at 400. A real good run (no vacuum I assume) puts you at 400 gallons of sap=8hrs boil time. This won't happen every day. If you have the money to set up the new taps, I'd do it. Do you have a pre-heater? Any one near you who might buy extra sap if you got more than you felt you could handle?

[Uncle Tucker]

Let’s do the math-
Evaporator dose 50 gallons per hour
Times 6 hours = 300 gallons of sap per day

1 tap = 1 gallon of sap per day
300 taps =300 gallons of sap divided by 50 gallons per hour = 6 hours
300 taps is the # to shoot for

[tapper]

I have a 2 1/2 x 8. Last season with 350 taps boiling time was 3 to 6 hours with wet wood. But be prepared for close to 2 gallons per tap at least once in the season. Those days usually come when you have the least time to deal with it.

[tuckermtn]

we have a 2.5 x 8 with 5.5 flue pan, and we handle 335-350 without much trouble...

going to add 150 this year and hope for the best...

-Eric

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have a Leader 2 x 8 drop flue with a 5' syrup pan, inferno arch and preheater and hood and I handle 500 taps without much problem. I average around 60gph including startup and shutdown. The two days I checked it last year, I got 62 and 65 gph including startup and shutdown but the 760cfm blower on the inferno arch makes a ton of difference. I was at 35gph before going to an airtight arch, preheater and big blower.